ANN RUTHERFORD
Information from IMDb
Date of birth
2 November 1920
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date of Death
June 11, 2012
Beverly Hills, California,
following declining health due to heart problems
Birth name
Therese Ann Rutherford
Height
5' 6" (1.68 m)
Spouse
William Dozier (6 October 1953 - 23 April 1991) (his death)
David May (24 December 1942 - 1953) (divorced) 2 children
Trivia
Mother of Gloria May, born in 1943.
Came from an acting family. Her father, John Defferin Rutherford, was a Metropolitan Opera singer and her mother,
Lucille Mansfield, was a cousin of actor 'Richard Mansfield (III)' and herself a former silent screen actress.
On stage from age 4 in a local production of "Mrs. Wiggs Of the Cabbage Patch."
Personal quotes
"It's titillating to do an occasional film, but really, I don't need it. Oh, I suppose, if you were a Helen Hayes it might mean something if you left the business
You'd be depriving the show world of something. I'm depriving that world of nothing."
Where are they now
(October 2004) Guest of Honor at the Margaret Mitchell Birthday Celebration in Jonesboro,
Georgia in celebration of "Gone With the Wind." Signed autographs and shared memories for 100 fans at the event.
Mini Biography
Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on November 2, 1920.
The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford and her actress mother, 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 CARNIVAL OF PARIS in 1934.
Ann's talent, which was readily apparent, was signed to three films in 1935--WATERFRONT LADY, MELODY TRAIL, and THE FIGHTING MARINES.
By now she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends--John Wayne and Gene Autry.
By the time Ann was seventeen, 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.
Three more Hardy films were produced that same year such as OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS, LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY,
and JUDGE HARDY'S CHILDREN. Ann did find time to play in other productions too.
One which is still loved today was the Charles Dickens' classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL
where she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past. In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in
OF HUMAN HEARTS
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,
Scarlet's little sister, in GONE WITH THE WIND. Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it for Ann herself.
Obviously the film was,
unquestionably, a super hit. She, then, resumed making other movies. While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars,
were under the watchful eye of movie mogul, Louis B. Mayer. Mayer was no different than any other film tycoon.
The bottom line was profit and one couldn't really maximize profits unless they kept performers salaries minimized as much as possible.
Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was turned down. But not Ann Rutherford.
When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing 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 which was ANDY HARDY'S DOUBLE LIFE.
She then left MGM and free-lanced her talent. Still Ann was in demand. In 1943 she appeared in HAPPY LAND,
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 as Donna Elena in THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN in 1948.
After that film Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972 in
THEY ONLY KILL THEIR MASTERS. Her last came in 1976 in WON TON TON, THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD,
whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega-hit TITANIC, but turned it down.
Until her passing she enjoyed her retirement, and was still deluged with fan mail.
IMDb mini-biography by Denny Jackson
Filmography
Actor
1. Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) .... Grayson's studio secretary
2. "The Bob Newhart Show"
- An American Family (1974) TV Episode .... Aggie Harrison
- My Wife Belongs to Daddy (1973) TV Episode .... Aggie Harrison
3. "Love, American Style"
- Love and the Face Bow/Love and the Impossible Gift/Love and the Love Kit (1973) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Impossible Gift")
- Love and the Bachelor/Love and the Other Love/Love and the Positive Man (1969) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Positive Man")
4. They Only Kill Their Masters (1972) .... Gloria, Walter's Wife
5. "Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Tandem Target (1964) TV Episode .... Mona Hodge
- The Case of the Melancholy Marksman (1962) TV Episode .... Ellen Chase
- The Case of the Violent Village (1960) TV Episode .... Judith Thurston
- The Case of the Howling Dog (1959) TV Episode .... Evelyn Forbes
6. "U.S. Marshal"
- A Matter of Friendship (1959) TV Episode .... Mildred Whitley
7. "Tales of Wells Fargo"
- The Branding Iron (1959) TV Episode .... Etta
8. "Panic!"
... aka No Warning (USA: second season title)
- Fire Lookout Post (1958) TV Episode .... Valerie Simmons
9. "Playhouse 90"
- The Male Animal (1958) TV Episode .... Ellen Turner
10. "Climax!"
... aka Climax Mystery Theater (USA)
- Four Hours in White (1958) TV Episode .... Ann
- Pale Rider aka Pale Horse, Pale Rider (1956) TV Episode .... Mary Townsend
- Public Pigeon #1 (1955) TV Episode .... Edith Enders
11. "Kraft Television Theatre"
... aka Kraft Mystery Theatre (new title)
... aka Kraft Theatre (new title)
- Success! (1957) TV Episode
12. "General Electric Theater"
... aka G.E. Theatre (USA)
- Woman's World (1953) TV Episode .... Joan
13. "Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City"
- Episode #1.1 (1953) TV Episode
14. "Robert Montgomery Presents"
... aka Lucky Strike Theater
... aka Montgomery's Summer Stock
... aka The Robert Montgomery Summer Theater
- Second-Hand Sofa (1953) TV Episode
15. "Suspense"
- Portrait of Constance (1953) TV Episode
16. "Gruen Guild Playhouse"
... aka Chevron Theatre (USA: new title)
... aka Gruen Guild Theater (USA: new title)
- The Case of the Cavorting Statue (1951) TV Episode
- Unfinished Business (1951) TV Episode
17. "Stars Over Hollywood"
- The Kirbys (1951) TV Episode
18. "Nash Airflyte Theatre"
... aka Airflyte Theatre
- The Doll in the Pink Silk Dress (1950) TV Episode
19. Operation Haylift (1950) .... Clara Masters
20. Adventures of Don Juan (1948) .... Donna Elena
... aka The New Adventures of Don Juan (UK)
21. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) .... Gertrude Griswald
22. Inside Job (1946) .... Claire Norton
23. Murder in the Music Hall (1946) .... Gracie
... aka Midnight Melody (USA: reissue title)
24. The Madonna's Secret (1946) .... Linda 'Morgan' North
25. Bedside Manner (1945) .... Lola Cross
... aka Her Favorite Patient (USA: reissue title)
26. Two O'Clock Courage (1945) .... Patty Mitchell
27. The Bermuda Mystery (1944) .... Constance Martin
28. Whistling in Brooklyn (1943) .... Carol Lambert
29. Happy Land (1943) .... Lenore Prentiss
30. Whistling in Dixie (1942) .... Carol Lambert
31. Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) .... Polly Benedict
32. Orchestra Wives (1942) .... Connie Ward/Abbot
33. The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942) .... Polly Benedict
34. This Time for Keeps (1942) .... Katherine 'Kit' White
... aka Over the Waves (USA: TV title)
35. Flag of Mercy (1942) (uncredited) .... Clara's Student
36. Badlands of Dakota (1941) .... Anne Grayson
37. Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941) .... Polly Benedict
38. Whistling in the Dark (1941) .... Carol Lambert
39. Washington Melodrama (1941) .... Laurie Claymore
40. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941) .... Polly Benedict
41. Keeping Company (1940) .... Mary Thomas
42. Wyoming (1940) .... Lucy Kincaid
... aka Bad Man of Wyoming (UK)
43. Pride and Prejudice (1940) .... Lydia Bennet
44. Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) .... Polly Benedict
45. The Ghost Comes Home (1940) .... Billie Adams
46. Judge Hardy and Son (1939) .... Polly Benedict
47. Gone with the Wind (1939) .... Carreen O'Hara
48. Dancing Co-Ed (1939) .... Miss Eve Greeley
... aka Every Other Inch a Lady (UK)
49. These Glamour Girls (1939) .... Mary Rose Wilston
50. Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) .... Polly Benedict
51. Angel of Mercy (1939) (uncredited) .... Sister of Dead Soldier
52. The Hardys Ride High (1939) .... Polly Benedict
53. Four Girls in White (1939) .... Patricia 'Pat' Page
54. A Christmas Carol (1938) .... Spirit of Christmas Past
55. Dramatic School (1938) .... Yvonne
56. Out West with the Hardys (1938) .... Polly Benedict
57. Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) .... Polly Benedict
58. Judge Hardy's Children (1938) .... Polly Benedict
59. Of Human Hearts (1938) .... Annie Hawks
60. Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things (1938) (uncredited) .... Polly Benedict
... aka Andy Hardy's Dilemma (USA: short title)
61. You're Only Young Once (1937) .... Polly Benedict
62. Live, Love and Learn (1937) (uncredited) .... Class President
63. The Bride Wore Red (1937) (uncredited) .... Third Peasant Girl
64. Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937) .... Helen Morgan
65. The Devil Is Driving (1937) .... Kitty Wooster
66. Carnival in Paris (1937) .... Lisette
67. Annie Laurie (1936/II) .... Annie Laurie
68. Down to the Sea (1936) .... Helen Pappas
... aka Down Under the Sea
69. The Lonely Trail (1936) .... Virginia Terry
70. The Harvester (1936) .... Ruth Jameson
71. Comin' 'Round the Mountain (1936) .... Dolores Moreno
72. Doughnuts and Society (1936) .... Joan Dugan
... aka Stepping Into Society (UK)
73. The Lawless Nineties (1936) .... Janet Carter
74. The Oregon Trail (1936) .... Anne Ridgeley
75. The Singing Vagabond (1935) .... Lettie Morgan
76. The Fighting Marines (1935) .... Frances Schiller
77. Waterfront Lady (1935) .... Joan O'Brien
78. Melody Trail (1935) .... Millicent 'Millie' C. Thomas
