Ann Rutherford

Ann Rutherford

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1917-11-02
Deathday: 2012-06-11 (94 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 81

Movies 71

TV Shows 10

self 8

Self
Gone With The Wind: The Legend Lives On

Gone With The Wind: The Legend Lives On (2009)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year (2009)

Movie
Self
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988)

Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983)

Movie
Grayson's Studio Secretary
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)

Movie
Gloria
They Only Kill Their Masters

They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)

Movie
The Bob Newhart Show

The Bob Newhart Show (1972)

TV
4.9
Mrs. Glassmire
Love, American Style

Love, American Style (1969)

TV
The Donna Reed Show

The Donna Reed Show (1958)

TV
6
Judith Thurston / Evelyn Cartright Forbes / Ellen Chase / Mona Hodge
Perry Mason

Perry Mason (1957)

TV
4.33
Panic!

Panic! (1957)

TV
Mary Townsend / Edith Enders / Bette Sullivan
Climax!

Climax! (1954)

TV
Joan
General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater (1953)

TV
Clara Masters
Operation Haylift

Operation Haylift (1950)

Movie
Lacy Holden
Robert Montgomery Presents

Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)

TV
Sally Hastings
Suspense

Suspense (1949)

TV
Donna Elena
Adventures of Don Juan

Adventures of Don Juan (1948)

Movie
Gertrude Griswold
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

Movie
Claire Gray Norton
Inside Job

Inside Job (1946)

Movie
Gracie
Murder in the Music Hall

Murder in the Music Hall (1946)

Movie
Linda
The Madonna's Secret

The Madonna's Secret (1946)

Movie
Lola Cross
Her Favorite Patient

Her Favorite Patient (1945)

Movie
Patty Mitchell
Two O'Clock Courage

Two O'Clock Courage (1945)

Movie
Herself
Take It or Leave It

Take It or Leave It (1944)

Movie
Constance Martin
Bermuda Mystery

Bermuda Mystery (1944)

Movie
Carol Lambert
Whistling in Brooklyn

Whistling in Brooklyn (1943)

Movie
Lenore Prentiss
Happy Land

Happy Land (1943)

Movie
Self
Show-Business at War

Show-Business at War (1943)

Movie
Carol Lambert
Whistling in Dixie

Whistling in Dixie (1942)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy's Double Life

Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)

Movie
Connie Ward
Orchestra Wives

Orchestra Wives (1942)

Movie
Polly Benedict
The Courtship of Andy Hardy

The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942)

Movie
Katherine 'Kit' White
This Time for Keeps

This Time for Keeps (1942)

Movie
Clara's Student
Flag of Mercy

Flag of Mercy (1942)

Movie
Anne Grayson
Badlands Of Dakota

Badlands Of Dakota (1941)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Life Begins for Andy Hardy

Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)

Movie
Carol Lambert
Whistling in the Dark

Whistling in the Dark (1941)

Movie
Laurie Claymore
Washington Melodrama

Washington Melodrama (1941)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941)

Movie
Mary Thomas
Keeping Company

Keeping Company (1940)

Movie
Lucy Kincaid
Wyoming

Wyoming (1940)

Movie
Self
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940)

Movie
Lydia Bennet
Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)

Movie
Self
Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940)

Movie
Billie Adams
The Ghost Comes Home

The Ghost Comes Home (1940)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things

Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things (1940)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Judge Hardy and Son

Judge Hardy and Son (1939)

Movie
Carreen O'Hara
Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Movie
5.55
Eve Greeley
Dancing Co-Ed

Dancing Co-Ed (1939)

Movie
Mary Rose Wilston
These Glamour Girls

These Glamour Girls (1939)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)

Movie
Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
Angel of Mercy

Angel of Mercy (1939)

Movie
Polly Benedict
The Hardys Ride High

The Hardys Ride High (1939)

Movie
Patricia Page
Four Girls in White

Four Girls in White (1939)

Movie
Spirit of Christmas Past
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (1938)

Movie
6.25
Yvonne
Dramatic School

Dramatic School (1938)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Out West with the Hardys

Out West with the Hardys (1938)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Love Finds Andy Hardy

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

Movie
Polly Benedict
Judge Hardy's Children

Judge Hardy's Children (1938)

Movie
Annie Hawks
Of Human Hearts

Of Human Hearts (1938)

Movie
7.33
Polly Benedict
You're Only Young Once

You're Only Young Once (1937)

Movie
Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
The Bride Wore Red

The Bride Wore Red (1937)

Movie
Kitty Wooster
The Devil Is Driving

The Devil Is Driving (1937)

Movie
Helen Morgan
Public Cowboy No. 1

Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937)

Movie
Lisette
Carnival in Paris

Carnival in Paris (1937)

Movie
Train Passenger
Espionage

Espionage (1937)

Movie
Annie Laurie
Annie Laurie

Annie Laurie (1936)

Movie
Helen Pappas
Down to the Sea

Down to the Sea (1936)

Movie
Virginia Terry
The Lonely Trail

The Lonely Trail (1936)

Movie
Ruth Jameson
The Harvester

The Harvester (1936)

Movie
Dolores Moreno
Comin' 'Round the Mountain

Comin' 'Round the Mountain (1936)

Movie
Joan Dugan
Doughnuts and Society

Doughnuts and Society (1936)

Movie
Janet Carter
The Lawless Nineties

The Lawless Nineties (1936)

Movie
Anne Ridgeley
The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail (1936)

Movie
Lettie Morgan
The Singing Vagabond

The Singing Vagabond (1935)

Movie
Frances Schiller
The Fighting Marines

The Fighting Marines (1935)

Movie
Millicent Thomas
Melody Trail

Melody Trail (1935)

Movie
Joan O'Brien
Waterfront Lady

Waterfront Lady (1935)

Movie
Student
Student Tour

Student Tour (1934)

Movie
Actress
Gruen Guild Playhouse

Gruen Guild Playhouse

TV

Ratings

Average 5.74
Based on 418 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1934
1938
1940
1939
2009
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Ann RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn Rutherford

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Female

Birthday
1917-11-02

Deathday
2012-06-11 (94 years old)

Birth Name
Therese Ann Rutherford

Birth Place
Vancouver, Canada

Relationships
William Dozier (1953-01-01 - 1991-01-01)

Children
Gloria May

Citizenships
United States of America, Canada

Also Known As
Therese Ann Rutherford

Awards
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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