Photos

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.

  • Known ForActing
  • Born2 November 1917 (age 108)
  • Place of BirthVancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Ann Rutherford

Photos
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.

  • Known ForActing
  • Born2 November 1917 (age 108)
  • Place of BirthVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
KNOWN FOR
PHOTOS
CREDITS
Poster
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
star
7.5
2009
Poster
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
star
8.0
1988
Poster
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
star
6.5
1983
Poster
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
star
4.1
1976
Poster
They Only Kill Their Masters
star
5.3
1972
Poster
Operation Haylift
star
3.0
1950
Poster
Adventures of Don Juan
star
6.4
1948
Poster
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
star
6.7
1947
Poster
Inside Job
star
5.6
1946
Poster
The Madonna's Secret
star
5.9
1946
Poster
Murder in the Music Hall
star
4.6
1946
Poster
Her Favorite Patient
star
5.7
1945
Poster
Two O'Clock Courage
star
6.1
1945
Poster
Bermuda Mystery
star
6.0
1944
Poster
Take It or Leave It
star
4.0
1944
Poster
Whistling in Brooklyn
star
6.3
1943
Poster
Happy Land
star
6.2
1943
Poster
Show-Business at War
star
7.0
1943
Poster
Andy Hardy's Double Life
star
4.75
1942
Poster
Orchestra Wives
star
6.0
1942
Poster
Flag of Mercy
star
-
1942
Poster
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
star
5.722
1942
Poster
Whistling in Dixie
star
5.0
1942
Poster
This Time for Keeps
star
6.0
1942
Poster
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
star
5.375
1941
Poster
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
star
5.9
1941
Poster
Whistling in the Dark
star
5.8
1941
Poster
Badlands of Dakota
star
5.9
1941
Poster
Washington Melodrama
star
5.0
1941
Poster
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
star
5.4
1940
Poster
Pride and Prejudice
star
6.9
1940
Poster
The Ghost Comes Home
star
5.0
1940
Poster
Keeping Company
star
6.4
1940
Poster
Wyoming
star
5.9
1940
Poster
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things
star
-
1940
Poster
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
star
6.5
1940
Poster
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
star
5.5
1940
Poster
Gone with the Wind
star
7.929
1939
Poster
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
star
5.692
1939
Poster
Judge Hardy and Son
star
5.643
1939
Poster
Four Girls in White
star
6.3
1939
Poster
These Glamour Girls
star
5.5
1939
Poster
The Hardys Ride High
star
5.8
1939
Poster
Dancing Co-Ed
star
6.2
1939
Poster
Angel of Mercy
star
6.0
1939
Poster
A Christmas Carol
star
7.0
1938
Poster
Love Finds Andy Hardy
star
6.161
1938
Poster
Out West with the Hardys
star
6.375
1938
Poster
Of Human Hearts
star
5.826
1938
Poster
Dramatic School
star
6.2
1938
Poster
Judge Hardy's Children
star
6.5
1938
Poster
You're Only Young Once
star
5.75
1937
Poster
Public Cowboy No. 1
star
6.0
1937
Poster
The Devil Is Driving
star
5.0
1937
Poster
Espionage
star
6.5
1937
Poster
Carnival in Paris
star
6.0
1937
Poster
The Bride Wore Red
star
6.7
1937
Poster
The Lawless Nineties
star
5.227
1936
Poster
The Lonely Trail
star
4.6
1936
Poster
Down to the Sea
star
4.5
1936
Poster
Comin' 'Round the Mountain
star
-
1936
Poster
The Harvester
star
-
1936
Poster
Doughnuts and Society
star
-
1936
Poster
The Oregon Trail
star
4.0
1936
Poster
Annie Laurie
star
5.0
1936
Poster
The Singing Vagabond
star
7.0
1935
Poster
Waterfront Lady
star
4.0
1935
Poster
The Fighting Marines
star
6.0
1935
Poster
Melody Trail
star
4.7
1935
Poster
Student Tour
star
5.0
1934