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person_profile-Ann Rutherford

Ann Rutherford Died at age: 94

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

Ann Rutherford

Date of Birth:

Nov 02, 1917

Country of birth:

Canada

Died:

Jun 11, 2012

Biography of

Ann Rutherford

    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.

Photos of

Ann Rutherford

Photos ( 7 Photos

Filmography of

Ann Rutherford

Found 60 Movies in total

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

Self (archive footage) ( Actor )

... 2009

... 1988

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Self (archive footage) (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1983

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Grayson's Studio Secretary ( Actor )

... 1976

... 1972

Operation Haylift

Clara Masters ( Actor )

... 1950

Adventures of Don Juan

Donna Elena ( Actor )

... 1948

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Gertrude Griswold ( Actor )

... 1947

Inside Job

Claire Norton ( Actor )

... 1946

... 1946

The Madonna's Secret

Linda 'Morgan' North ( Actor )

... 1946

Her Favorite Patient

Lola Cross ( Actor )

... 1945

Two O'Clock Courage

Patty Mitchell ( Actor )

... 1945

Take It or Leave It

Herself ( Actor )

... 1944

Bermuda Mystery

Constance Martin ( Actor )

... 1944

Whistling in Brooklyn

Carol Lambert ( Actor )

... 1943

Happy Land

Lenore Prentiss ( Actor )

... 1943

Whistling in Dixie

Carol Lambert ( Actor )

... 1942

Andy Hardy's Double Life

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1942

Orchestra Wives

Connie Ward Abbot ( Actor )

... 1942

The Courtship of Andy Hardy

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1942

This Time for Keeps

Katherine 'Kit' White ( Actor )

... 1942

Badlands of Dakota

Anne Grayson ( Actor )

... 1941

Life Begins for Andy Hardy

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1941

Whistling in the Dark

Carol Lambert ( Actor )

... 1941

Washington Melodrama

Laurie Claymore ( Actor )

... 1941

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1941

Keeping Company

Mary Thomas ( Actor )

... 1940

Wyoming

Lucy Kincaid ( Actor )

... 1940

Pride and Prejudice

Lydia Bennet ( Actor )

... 1940

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1940

The Ghost Comes Home

Billie Adams ( Actor )

... 1940

Judge Hardy and Son

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1939

Gone with the Wind

Carreen O'Hara ( Actor )

... 1939

Dancing Co-Ed

Eve Greeley ( Actor )

... 1939

These Glamour Girls

Mary Rose Wilston ( Actor )

... 1939

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1939

The Hardys Ride High

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1939

Four Girls in White

Patricia 'Pat' Page ( Actor )

... 1939

A Christmas Carol

Spirit of Christmas Past ( Actor )

... 1938

Dramatic School

Yvonne ( Actor )

... 1938

Out West with the Hardys

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1938

Love Finds Andy Hardy

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1938

Judge Hardy's Children

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1938

Of Human Hearts

Annie Hawks ( Actor )

... 1938

You're Only Young Once

Polly Benedict ( Actor )

... 1937

The Bride Wore Red

Third Peasant Girl (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1937

The Devil Is Driving

Kitty Wooster ( Actor )

... 1937

Public Cowboy No. 1

Helen Morgan ( Actor )

... 1937

Espionage

Train Passenger ( Actor )

... 1937

The Lonely Trail

Virginia Terry ( Actor )

... 1936

Comin' 'Round the Mountain

Dolores Moreno ( Actor )

... 1936

Doughnuts and Society

Joan Dugan ( Actor )

... 1936

The Lawless Nineties

Janet Carter ( Actor )

... 1936

The Oregon Trail

Anne Ridgeley ( Actor )

... 1936

The Singing Vagabond

Lettie Morgan ( Actor )

... 1935

The Fighting Marines

Frances Schiller ( Actor )

... 1935

Melody Trail

Millicent Thomas ( Actor )

... 1935

Waterfront Lady

Joan O'Brien ( Actor )

... 1935

Student Tour

Student ( Actor )

... 1934