Beverly June Stovenour was born in Rock Island, Illinois, and later took the surname of her stepfather, Bert Haver.

Her mother Maria Haver (née Carter) was an actress and her father Fred Christian Stovenour was a musician.

[2] When Haver was 10, the family returned to Rock Island, where she began performing for Rudy Vallée and became a well-known child star on the radio.

[2][3] She worked regularly as a band singer by the time that she was in her teens, performing with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra for $75 a week.

She acted in plays in her spare time, and during a performance as a southern belle, she was discovered by a scout from 20th Century Fox.

In 1943, Haver signed a $3,500-per-week contract with the studio and made her film debut playing an uncredited role as a hat-check girl in The Gang's All Here.

[3] She was dropped shortly after because the studio executives felt that she looked too young, but she was later signed again after her costume and hairstyle were changed.

[4] 20th Century Fox had plans to mold Haver as a glamour girl stand-in for the studio's two greatest stars, Alice Faye and Betty Grable.

She debuted on screen in a supporting role as Cri-Cri in Home in Indiana (1944) and had just turned 17 years old when her scenes were filmed.

[2] Even before Home in Indiana was released, she was assigned to replace Faye in the Technicolor musical Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

[6] While filming, rumors about a possible clash between the two actresses arose, mostly because of their frequent comparison, but Haver said: "Betty is a big star and I'm just starting.

"[6] In 1946, Haver starred and received top billing in Wake Up and Dream and Three Little Girls in Blue, both of which were well-received and brought moderate success.

In 1951, Haver was teamed with Fox's newest asset, Marilyn Monroe, and previous costar William Lundigan (her co-star from I'll Get By) in the low-budget comedy Love Nest.

"[3] Around this time, Haver met Fred MacMurray, one of the wealthiest and most conservative actors in Hollywood, and a romantic relationship developed.