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 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. 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. 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 (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.
Movie | The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind | Self | 1988-10-01 |
Movie | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1983-02-25 |
Movie | The Slipper and the Rose | Princess | 1976-03-25 |
Movie | Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood | Grayson's Studio Secretary | 1976-07-26 |
Series | The Bob Newhart Show | Unknown | 1972-09-16 |
Movie | They Only Kill Their Masters | Gloria | 1972-11-22 |
Series | Perry Mason | Unknown | 1957-09-21 |
Series | General Electric Theater | Unknown | 1953-02-01 |
Series | Robert Montgomery Presents | Unknown | 1950-01-30 |
Movie | Operation Haylift | Clara Masters | 1950-05-05 |
Series | Suspense | Unknown | 1949-01-06 |
Movie | Adventures of Don Juan | Donna Elena | 1948-12-24 |
Movie | The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Gertrude Griswold | 1947-09-01 |
Movie | The Madonna's Secret | Linda 'Morgan' North | 1946-02-16 |
Movie | Inside Job | Claire Norton | 1946-06-14 |
Movie | Murder in the Music Hall | Gracie | 1946-04-10 |
Movie | Two O'Clock Courage | Patty Mitchell | 1945-04-13 |
Movie | Her Favorite Patient | Lola Cross | 1945-06-22 |
Movie | Bermuda Mystery | Constance Martin | 1944-05-01 |
Movie | Show-Business at War | Self | 1943-05-21 |
Movie | Happy Land | Lenore Prentiss | 1943-11-10 |
Movie | Whistling in Brooklyn | Carol Lambert | 1943-12-01 |
Movie | The Courtship of Andy Hardy | Polly Benedict | 1942-03-03 |
Movie | This Time for Keeps | Katherine 'Kit' White | 1942-03-01 |
Movie | Orchestra Wives | Connie Ward Abbot | 1942-09-04 |
Movie | Whistling in Dixie | Carol Lambert | 1942-12-31 |
Movie | Washington Melodrama | Laurie Claymore | 1941-04-17 |
Movie | Andy Hardy's Private Secretary | Polly Benedict | 1941-02-21 |
Movie | Whistling in the Dark | Carol Lambert | 1941-08-08 |
Movie | Life Begins for Andy Hardy | Polly Benedict | 1941-08-15 |
Movie | Badlands Of Dakota | Anne Grayson | 1941-09-15 |
Movie | Hollywood: Style Center of the World | Self | 1940-05-29 |
Movie | Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things | Polly Benedict (uncredited) | 1940-01-01 |
Movie | The Ghost Comes Home | Billie Adams | 1940-03-08 |
Movie | Andy Hardy Meets Debutante | Polly Benedict | 1940-07-05 |
Movie | Pride and Prejudice | Lydia Bennet | 1940-07-26 |
Movie | Wyoming | Lucy Kincaid | 1940-09-13 |
Movie | Keeping Company | Mary Thomas | 1940-12-27 |
Movie | Cavalcade of the Academy Awards | Self | 1940-07-31 |
Movie | The Hardys Ride High | Polly Benedict | 1939-04-21 |
Movie | Four Girls in White | Patricia 'Pat' Page | 1939-01-27 |
Movie | Angel of Mercy | Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited) | 1939-05-20 |
Movie | Gone with the Wind | Carreen O'Hara | 1939-03-12 |
Movie | Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever | Polly Benedict | 1939-07-21 |
Movie | Judge Hardy and Son | Polly Benedict | 1939-12-22 |
Movie | Dancing Co-Ed | Eve Greeley | 1939-09-29 |
Movie | These Glamour Girls | Mary Rose Wilston | 1939-08-18 |
Movie | Judge Hardy's Children | Polly Benedict | 1938-03-26 |
Movie | Of Human Hearts | Annie Hawks | 1938-02-11 |
Movie | Love Finds Andy Hardy | Polly Benedict | 1938-07-22 |
Movie | Out West with the Hardys | Polly Benedict | 1938-11-25 |
Movie | Dramatic School | Yvonne | 1938-12-09 |
Movie | A Christmas Carol | Spirit of Christmas Past | 1938-12-16 |
Movie | Carnival in Paris | Lisette | 1937-05-29 |
Movie | Public Cowboy No. 1 | Helen Morgan | 1937-06-11 |
Movie | Espionage | Train Passenger | 1937-02-26 |
Movie | You're Only Young Once | Polly Benedict | 1937-12-10 |
Movie | The Devil Is Driving | Kitty Wooster | 1937-06-25 |
Movie | The Bride Wore Red | Third Peasant Girl (uncredited) | 1937-10-08 |
Movie | The Lawless Nineties | Janet Carter | 1936-02-15 |
Movie | The Oregon Trail | Anne Ridgeley | 1936-01-18 |
Movie | Comin' 'Round the Mountain | Dolores Moreno | 1936-04-13 |
Movie | Doughnuts and Society | Joan Dugan | 1936-03-27 |
Movie | The Harvester | Ruth Jameson | 1936-04-18 |
Movie | Annie Laurie | Annie Laurie | 1936-10-31 |
Movie | Down to the Sea | Helen Pappas | 1936-05-30 |
Movie | The Lonely Trail | Virginia Terry | 1936-05-25 |
Movie | Waterfront Lady | Joan O'Brien | 1935-10-04 |
Movie | Melody Trail | Millicent Thomas | 1935-10-21 |
Movie | The Singing Vagabond | Lettie Morgan | 1935-12-16 |
Movie | The Fighting Marines | Frances Schiller | 1935-11-22 |
Movie | Student Tour | Student | 1934-10-05 |
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