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Ann Rutherford‌

Gender

Female

Birthday

calendar1917-11-02

Popularity

star2.1

Ann Rutherford

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Ann Rutherford

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Gender

Female

Birthday

calendar1917-11-02

Popularity

star2.1

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.

Movie Credits

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind‌
star7.9
calendar 1939

Inside Job

Inside Job‌
star5.6
calendar 1946

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol‌
star7.0
calendar 1938

Adventures of Don Juan

Adventures of Don Juan‌
star6.4
calendar 1948

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty‌
star6.8
calendar 1947

The Madonna's Secret

The Madonna's Secret‌
star5.9
calendar 1946

Her Favorite Patient

Her Favorite Patient‌
star5.8
calendar 1945

Andy Hardy's Double Life

Andy Hardy's Double Life‌
star4.6
calendar 1942

Orchestra Wives

Orchestra Wives‌
star5.8
calendar 1942

Two O'Clock Courage

Two O'Clock Courage‌
star6.2
calendar 1945

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary‌
star5.3
calendar 1941

Life Begins for Andy Hardy

Life Begins for Andy Hardy‌
star5.7
calendar 1941

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante‌
star5.1
calendar 1940

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice‌
star6.9
calendar 1940

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever‌
star5.5
calendar 1939

Love Finds Andy Hardy

Love Finds Andy Hardy‌
star6.2
calendar 1938

They Only Kill Their Masters

They Only Kill Their Masters‌
star5.1
calendar 1972

Flag of Mercy

Flag of Mercy‌
star0.0
calendar 1942

The Courtship of Andy Hardy

The Courtship of Andy Hardy‌
star5.6
calendar 1942

Whistling in the Dark

Whistling in the Dark‌
star5.8
calendar 1941

Whistling in Dixie

Whistling in Dixie‌
star5.0
calendar 1942

Whistling in Brooklyn

Whistling in Brooklyn‌
star6.3
calendar 1943

Badlands Of Dakota

Badlands Of Dakota‌
star5.6
calendar 1941

This Time for Keeps

This Time for Keeps‌
star6.0
calendar 1942

Out West with the Hardys

Out West with the Hardys‌
star6.2
calendar 1938

Judge Hardy and Son

Judge Hardy and Son‌
star5.3
calendar 1939

The Lawless Nineties

The Lawless Nineties‌
star5.4
calendar 1936

Murder in the Music Hall

Murder in the Music Hall‌
star4.6
calendar 1946

Four Girls in White

Four Girls in White‌
star6.3
calendar 1939

Of Human Hearts

Of Human Hearts‌
star5.8
calendar 1938

The Ghost Comes Home

The Ghost Comes Home‌
star5.0
calendar 1940

You're Only Young Once

You're Only Young Once‌
star5.2
calendar 1937

The Lonely Trail

The Lonely Trail‌
star4.9
calendar 1936

The Singing Vagabond

The Singing Vagabond‌
star7.0
calendar 1935

Waterfront Lady

Waterfront Lady‌
star5.5
calendar 1935

Public Cowboy No. 1

Public Cowboy No. 1‌
star5.7
calendar 1937

The Fighting Marines

The Fighting Marines‌
star6.0
calendar 1935

Operation Haylift

Operation Haylift‌
star5.0
calendar 1950

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage‌
star6.5
calendar 1983

Dramatic School

Dramatic School‌
star6.3
calendar 1938

These Glamour Girls

These Glamour Girls‌
star5.5
calendar 1939

Down to the Sea

Down to the Sea‌
star4.5
calendar 1936

Melody Trail

Melody Trail‌
star4.7
calendar 1935

Comin' 'Round the Mountain

Comin' 'Round the Mountain‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

The Harvester

The Harvester‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

Judge Hardy's Children

Judge Hardy's Children‌
star6.1
calendar 1938

Happy Land

Happy Land‌
star6.2
calendar 1943

Washington Melodrama

Washington Melodrama‌
star5.0
calendar 1941

The Devil Is Driving

The Devil Is Driving‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Doughnuts and Society

Doughnuts and Society‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

Keeping Company

Keeping Company‌
star6.4
calendar 1940

Wyoming

Wyoming‌
star5.9
calendar 1940

The Hardys Ride High

The Hardys Ride High‌
star6.0
calendar 1939

Dancing Co-Ed

Dancing Co-Ed‌
star6.2
calendar 1939

The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

Espionage

Espionage‌
star6.5
calendar 1937

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

Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things‌
star0.0
calendar 1940

Bermuda Mystery

Bermuda Mystery‌
star6.0
calendar 1944

Angel of Mercy

Angel of Mercy‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Annie Laurie

Annie Laurie‌
star5.0
calendar 1936

Carnival in Paris

Carnival in Paris‌
star6.0
calendar 1937

Student Tour

Student Tour‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Show-Business at War

Show-Business at War‌
star7.0
calendar 1943

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards‌
star6.5
calendar 1940

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood: Style Center of the World‌
star5.5
calendar 1940

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood‌
star4.1
calendar 1976

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind‌
star8.0
calendar 1988

Take It or Leave It

Take It or Leave It‌
star4.0
calendar 1944

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year‌
star7.5
calendar 2009

The Bride Wore Red

The Bride Wore Red‌
star6.7
calendar 1937

Four Hours in White

Four Hours in White‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Tv Credits

The Bob Newhart Show

The Bob Newhart Show‌
star7.4
calendar 1972

Perry Mason

Perry Mason‌
star7.6
calendar 1957

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater‌
star5.5
calendar 1953

Climax!

Climax!‌
star2.7
calendar 1954

The Donna Reed Show

The Donna Reed Show‌
star6.1
calendar 1958

Suspense

Suspense‌
star4.2
calendar 1949

Robert Montgomery Presents

Robert Montgomery Presents‌
star4.3
calendar 1950

Panic!

Panic!‌
star0.0
calendar 1957

Perry Mason

Perry Mason‌
star7.6
calendar 1957

Perry Mason

Perry Mason‌
star7.6
calendar 1957

Perry Mason

Perry Mason‌
star7.6
calendar 1957

Love, American Style

Love, American Style‌
star5.8
calendar 1969

Climax!

Climax!‌
star2.7
calendar 1954

Climax!

Climax!‌
star2.7
calendar 1954