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Ann Rutherford
Actor
Born November 2, 1917Died June 11, 2012 (94 years)
Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford, and her actress mother, Lillian Mansfield, Ann was destined for show business. Not long after her birth, her family moved to California, where she made her stage debut in 1925.
Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Waterfront Lady (1935). Ann's talent was readily apparent, and she was signed to three films in 1935: Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935), and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends, John Wayne and Gene Autry.
By the time Ann was 17, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of Polly Benedict in the popular Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as Polly was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year: Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann found time to play in other productions, too. One that is still loved today is the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol (1938), in which she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past.
In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played Careen O'Hara, Scarlett's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it just for Ann. The film was unquestionably a super hit. Ann then resumed making other movies.
While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, was under the watchful eye of movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer kept performers' salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was decidedly underpaid during his glory years at MGM. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing him the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise.
In 1942 at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and freelanced her talent. Ann was still in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played Gertrude Griswold in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948.
After that, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972, in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega hit Titanic (1997) but turned it down. She happily enjoyed her retirement being constantly deluged with fan mail and granting several interviews and appearances.
Ann Rutherford died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.
Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Waterfront Lady (1935). Ann's talent was readily apparent, and she was signed to three films in 1935: Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935), and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends, John Wayne and Gene Autry.
By the time Ann was 17, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of Polly Benedict in the popular Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as Polly was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year: Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann found time to play in other productions, too. One that is still loved today is the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol (1938), in which she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past.
In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played Careen O'Hara, Scarlett's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it just for Ann. The film was unquestionably a super hit. Ann then resumed making other movies.
While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, was under the watchful eye of movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer kept performers' salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was decidedly underpaid during his glory years at MGM. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing him the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise.
In 1942 at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and freelanced her talent. Ann was still in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played Gertrude Griswold in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948.
After that, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972, in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega hit Titanic (1997) but turned it down. She happily enjoyed her retirement being constantly deluged with fan mail and granting several interviews and appearances.
Ann Rutherford died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.
Known For
Filmography
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood · as Grayson's Studio Secretary |
| 1972 | They Only Kill Their Masters · as Gloria |
| 1972 | The Bob Newhart Show (TV Series) |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Mrs. Glassmire |
| 1958 | U.S. Marshal (TV Series) · as Mildred Whitley |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Mona Hodge |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Etta Brown |
| 1957 | Panic (TV Series) |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Ellen Turner |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Edith Enders |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Joan |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Joan The Reporter |
| 1951 | Gruen Guild Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | Danger (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | Operation Haylift · as Clara Masters |
| 1950 | Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre (TV Series) · as Lacy Holden |
| 1949 | Suspense (TV Series) · as Sally Hastings |
| 1948 | Adventures of Don Juan · as Donna Elena |
| 1947 | The Secret Life of Walter Mitty · as Gertrude Griswold |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1946 | Inside Job · as Claire Norton |
| 1946 | Murder in the Music Hall · as Gracie |
| 1946 | The Madonna's Secret · as Linda 'morgan' North |
| 1945 | Bedside Manner · as Lola Cross |
| 1945 | Two O'Clock Courage · as Patty Mitchell |
| 1944 | Bermuda Mystery · as Constance Martin |
| 1943 | Whistling in Brooklyn · as Carol Lambert |
| 1943 | Happy Land · as Lenore Prentiss |
| 1942 | Whistling in Dixie · as Carol Lambert |
| 1942 | Andy Hardy's Double Life · as Polly Benedict |
| 1942 | Orchestra Wives · as Connie Ward Abbot |
| 1942 | The Courtship of Andy Hardy · as Polly Benedict |
| 1942 | This Time for Keeps · as Katherine 'kit' White |
| 1941 | Badlands of Dakota · as Anne Grayson |
| 1941 | Life Begins for Andy Hardy · as Polly Benedict |
| 1941 | Whistling in the Dark · as Carol Lambert |
| 1941 | Washington Melodrama · as Laurie Claymore |
| 1941 | Andy Hardy's Private Secretary · as Polly Benedict |
| 1940 | Keeping Company · as Mary Thomas |
| 1940 | Wyoming · as Lucy Kincaid |
| 1940 | Pride and Prejudice · as Lydia Bennet |
| 1940 | Andy Hardy Meets Debutante · as Polly Benedict |
| 1940 | The Ghost Comes Home · as Billie Adams |
| 1939 | Dancing Co-Ed · as Eve Greeley |
| 1939 | Judge Hardy and Son · as Polly Benedict |
| 1939 | These Glamour Girls · as Mary Rose Wilston |
| 1939 | Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever · as Polly Benedict |
| 1939 | Land of Liberty · as Cast |
| 1939 | The Hardys Ride High · as Polly Benedict |
| 1939 | Gone with the Wind · as Carreen O'hara |
| 1939 | Four Girls in White · as Patricia 'pat' Page |
| 1938 | A Christmas Carol · as Spirit Of Christmas Past |
| 1938 | Dramatic School · as Yvonne |
| 1938 | Out West with the Hardys · as Polly Benedict |
| 1938 | Love Finds Andy Hardy · as Polly Benedict |
| 1938 | Judge Hardy's Children · as Polly Benedict |
| 1938 | Of Human Hearts · as Annie Hawks |
| 1937 | You're Only Young Once · as Polly Benedict |
| 1937 | The Bride Wore Red · as Third Peasant Girl (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Public Cowboy No. 1 · as Helen Morgan |
| 1937 | Espionage · as Train Passenger |
| 1936 | Down to the Sea · as Helen Pappas |
| 1936 | The Lonely Trail · as Virginia Terry |
| 1936 | Comin' 'Round the Mountain · as Dolores Moreno |
| 1936 | Doughnuts and Society · as Joan Dugan |
| 1936 | The Lawless Nineties · as Janet Carter |
| 1935 | The Singing Vagabond · as Lettie Morgan |
| 1935 | The Fighting Marines · as Frances Schiller |
| 1935 | Melody Trail · as Millicent Thomas |
| 1935 | Waterfront Lady · as Joan O'brien |
| 1934 | Student Tour · as Student |