Ann Rutherford
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 2, 1917
- Died
- June 11, 2012 (aged 94)
- Birthplace
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Movie · as Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie · as Grayson's Studio Secretary
They Only Kill Their Masters
Movie · as Gloria
The Bob Newhart Show
TV · as Aggie Harrison · 2 eps
Love, American Style
TV · as Mrs. Glassmire · 1 ep
The Donna Reed Show
TV · 1 ep
Perry Mason
TV · as Evelyn Cartright Forbes, Judith Thurston, Ellen Chase, Mona Hodge · 1 ep
Panic!
TV · 1 ep
MGM Parade
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Climax!
TV · as Edith Enders, Mary Townsend, Bette Sullivan · 1 ep
General Electric Theater
TV · as Joan · 1 ep
Operation Haylift
Movie · as Clara Masters
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV · as Lacy Holden · 1 ep
Danger
TV · 1 ep
Suspense
TV · as Sally Hastings · 1 ep
Adventures of Don Juan
Movie · as Donna Elena
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Movie · as Gertrude Griswold
Inside Job
Movie · as Claire Norton
The Madonna's Secret
Movie · as Linda 'Morgan' North
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie · as Gracie
Bedside Manner
Movie · as Lola Cross
Two O'Clock Courage
Movie · as Patty Mitchell
Bermuda Mystery
Movie · as Constance Martin
Take It or Leave It
Movie · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Whistling in Brooklyn
Movie · as Carol Lambert
Happy Land
Movie · as Lenore Prentiss
Show-Business at War
Movie · as Self
Andy Hardy's Double Life
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Orchestra Wives
Movie · as Connie Ward Abbot
Flag of Mercy
Movie · as Clara's Student
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Whistling in Dixie
Movie · as Carol Lambert
This Time for Keeps
Movie · as Katherine 'Kit' White
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Whistling in the Dark
Movie · as Carol Lambert
Badlands of Dakota
Movie · as Anne Grayson
Washington Melodrama
Movie · as Laurie Claymore
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Pride and Prejudice
Movie · as Lydia Bennet
The Ghost Comes Home
Movie · as Billie Adams
Keeping Company
Movie · as Mary Thomas
Wyoming
Movie · as Lucy Kincaid
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things
Movie · as Polly Benedict (uncredited)
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Movie · as Self
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie · as Self
Gone with the Wind
Movie · as Carreen O'Hara
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Judge Hardy and Son
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Four Girls in White
Movie · as Patricia 'Pat' Page
These Glamour Girls
Movie · as Mary Rose Wilston
The Hardys Ride High
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Dancing Co-Ed
Movie · as Eve Greeley
Angel of Mercy
Movie · as Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
A Christmas Carol
Movie · as Spirit of Christmas Past
Love Finds Andy Hardy
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Out West with the Hardys
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Of Human Hearts
Movie · as Annie Hawks
Dramatic School
Movie · as Yvonne
Judge Hardy's Children
Movie · as Polly Benedict
You're Only Young Once
Movie · as Polly Benedict
Public Cowboy No. 1
Movie · as Helen Morgan
The Devil Is Driving
Movie · as Kitty Wooster
Espionage
Movie · as Train Passenger
Carnival in Paris
Movie · as Lisette
The Bride Wore Red
Movie · as Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
The Lawless Nineties
Movie · as Janet Carter
The Lonely Trail
Movie · as Virginia Terry
Down to the Sea
Movie · as Helen Pappas
Comin' 'Round the Mountain
Movie · as Dolores Moreno
The Harvester
Movie · as Ruth Jameson
Doughnuts and Society
Movie · as Joan Dugan
The Oregon Trail
Movie · as Anne Ridgeley
Annie Laurie
Movie · as Annie Laurie
The Singing Vagabond
Movie · as Lettie Morgan
Waterfront Lady
Movie · as Joan O'Brien
The Fighting Marines
Movie · as Frances Schiller
Melody Trail
Movie · as Millicent Thomas
Student Tour
Movie · as Student