Ann Rutherford
1917-11-02 ( 107 years old ) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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.

Movies

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year 2009-07-02
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind 1988-10-01
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage 1983-02-25
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood 1976-07-26
They Only Kill Their Masters 1972-11-22
Operation Haylift 1950-05-05
Adventures of Don Juan 1948-12-24
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 1947-09-01
Inside Job 1946-06-14
Murder in the Music Hall 1946-04-10
The Madonna's Secret 1946-02-16
Her Favorite Patient 1945-06-22
Two O'Clock Courage 1945-04-13
Take It or Leave It 1944-07-17
Bermuda Mystery 1944-05-01
Whistling in Brooklyn 1943-12-01
Happy Land 1943-11-10
Show-Business at War 1943-05-21
Whistling in Dixie 1942-12-31
Andy Hardy's Double Life 1942-12-01
Orchestra Wives 1942-09-04
The Courtship of Andy Hardy 1942-03-03
This Time for Keeps 1942-03-01
Flag of Mercy 1942-01-31
Badlands of Dakota 1941-09-15
Life Begins for Andy Hardy 1941-08-15
Whistling in the Dark 1941-08-08
Washington Melodrama 1941-04-17
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary 1941-02-21
Keeping Company 1940-12-27
Wyoming 1940-09-13
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards 1940-07-31
Pride and Prejudice 1940-07-26
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante 1940-07-05
Hollywood: Style Center of the World 1940-05-29
The Ghost Comes Home 1940-03-08
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things 1940-01-01
Judge Hardy and Son 1939-12-22
Gone with the Wind 1939-12-15
Dancing Co-Ed 1939-09-29
These Glamour Girls 1939-08-18
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever 1939-07-21
Angel of Mercy 1939-05-20
The Hardys Ride High 1939-04-21
Four Girls in White 1939-01-27
A Christmas Carol 1938-12-16
Dramatic School 1938-12-09
Out West with the Hardys 1938-11-25
Love Finds Andy Hardy 1938-07-22
Judge Hardy's Children 1938-03-26
Of Human Hearts 1938-02-11
You're Only Young Once 1937-12-10
The Bride Wore Red 1937-10-08
The Devil Is Driving 1937-06-25
Public Cowboy No. 1 1937-06-11
Carnival in Paris 1937-05-29
Espionage 1937-02-26
Annie Laurie 1936-10-31
Down to the Sea 1936-05-30
The Lonely Trail 1936-05-25
The Harvester 1936-04-18
Comin' 'Round the Mountain 1936-04-13
Doughnuts and Society 1936-03-27
The Lawless Nineties 1936-02-15
The Oregon Trail 1936-01-18
The Singing Vagabond 1935-12-16
The Fighting Marines 1935-11-22
Melody Trail 1935-10-21
Waterfront Lady 1935-10-04
Student Tour 1934-10-05

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