- Born
- Died
- Birth nameTherese Ann Rutherford
- Height5′ 3½″ (1.61 m)
- 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, 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 star status 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.
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.
She 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.
Mayer was no different from any other film tycoon except for the fact that he ran the classiest studio in Hollywood. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer couldn't really maximize profits unless he 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, and 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 (1947) and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan (1948) 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.
She died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson and K.P. Manning
- SpousesWilliam Dozier(October 6, 1953 - April 23, 1991) (his death)David May II(December 24, 1942 - June 6, 1953) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- ParentsJohn RutherfordLucille Mansfield
- RelativesJudith Arlen(Sibling)
- Since her mother was born in Kentucky, she always thought she was a United States citizen. It was not until the 1950s when she made plans to visit Europe that she discovered she was not. She later officially got her citizenship papers in order and became one.
- Hollywood, California: Attended the TCM Classic Film Festival, where she walked the red carpet and attended the 50th anniversary premiere of An American in Paris (1951).
- She was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Television at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- Naturalized United States citizen since December 18, 1953.
- Williamsburg, Virginia: Attended the annual Film Festival where she spoke at length about her career and about Gone with the Wind (1939).
- 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.
- There was a quality about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that was so special . . . it was just the most exciting studio in the world. They looked after their people so perfectly. And then to go to a place [Lippert Pictures, a low-budget "B" company[ where you don't know anybody and they don't know you and they don't give a rip, it was not a happy time. I got so ticked off, I got married!
- [to MGM chief Louis B. Mayer, after he told her he wouldn't loan her out to appear in Gone with the Wind (1939) because they wanted her for a "nothing" part] I don't care--I want to be in that film! I would even be a gate or part of the scenery just to be in it!
- [on working with Wallace Beery in Wyoming (1940)] I don't like to speak ill of the dead. But this poor soul--he would steal scenes from that lovable child actor Bobs Watson! He would take to scratching his crotch, or pick his ear and examine the wax. Anything to get attention on himself and off the other actors. We had a scene together. We rehearsed it and when we shot it, Mr. Beery did a monologue--saying both his and my lines! He took all my dialogue and I said, "Cut! I didn't know this was a monologue" and I went to my dressing room. I was right. This was an old trick of his! He was also a kleptomaniac--he would take stuff off the set before we were finished with it. They'd need to shoot at a different angle and things would be missing--he'd swiped them! He drove the script girls crazy!
- [on working with Vera Ralston in Murder in the Music Hall (1946) for Republic Pictues] Herbert J. Yates, the head of the studio and her future husband, put a full page picture of her in the trades once a week, with a caption underneath the photo stating she was the most beautiful woman in the world. I know this embarrassed her. She is dear, sweet and kind. But she married the old toad.
- Comin' 'Round the Mountain (1936) - $150 per week
- The Oregon Trail (1936) - $150 per week
- The Singing Vagabond (1935) - $150 per week
- Melody Trail (1935) - $150 per week
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