Skip to content
Join free
Ann Rutherford
Actor

Ann Rutherford

2 Nov 1917Born
11 Jun 2012Died
94Age at death
74Credits

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).

Read the full biography

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

Filmography

  1. 1976Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved HollywoodFilm: Grayson's Studio Secretary
  2. 1972They Only Kill Their MastersFilm: Gloria
  3. 1972The Bob Newhart ShowSeries: Aggie Harrison (2 episodes)
  4. 1969Love, American StyleSeries: Mrs. Glassmire (1 episode)
  5. 1958The Donna Reed ShowSeries (1 episode)
  6. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Evelyn Cartright Forbes, Judith Thurston, Ellen Chase, Mona Hodge (1 episode)
  7. 1957Panic!Series (1 episode)
  8. 1954Climax!Series: Edith Enders, Mary Townsend, Bette Sullivan (1 episode)
  9. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Joan (1 episode)
  10. 1950DangerSeries (1 episode)
  11. 1950Operation HayliftFilm: Clara Masters
  12. 1950Robert Montgomery PresentsSeries: Lacy Holden (1 episode)
  13. 1949SuspenseSeries: Sally Hastings (1 episode)
  14. 1948Adventures of Don JuanFilm: Donna Elena
  15. 1947The Secret Life of Walter MittyFilm: Gertrude Griswold
  16. 1946Inside JobFilm: Claire Norton
  17. 1946Murder in the Music HallFilm: Gracie
  18. 1946The Madonna's SecretFilm: Linda 'Morgan' North
  19. 1945Bedside MannerFilm: Lola Cross
  20. 1945Two O'Clock CourageFilm: Patty Mitchell
  21. 1944Take It or Leave ItFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  22. 1944Bermuda MysteryFilm: Constance Martin
  23. 1943Whistling in BrooklynFilm: Carol Lambert
  24. 1943Happy LandFilm: Lenore Prentiss
  25. 1942Whistling in DixieFilm: Carol Lambert
  26. 1942Andy Hardy's Double LifeFilm: Polly Benedict
  27. 1942Orchestra WivesFilm: Connie Ward Abbot
  28. 1942The Courtship of Andy HardyFilm: Polly Benedict
  29. 1942This Time for KeepsFilm: Katherine 'Kit' White
  30. 1942Flag of MercyFilm: Clara's Student
  31. 1941Badlands of DakotaFilm: Anne Grayson
  32. 1941Life Begins for Andy HardyFilm: Polly Benedict
  33. 1941Whistling in the DarkFilm: Carol Lambert
  34. 1941Washington MelodramaFilm: Laurie Claymore
  35. 1941Andy Hardy's Private SecretaryFilm: Polly Benedict
  36. 1940Keeping CompanyFilm: Mary Thomas
  37. 1940WyomingFilm: Lucy Kincaid
  38. 1940Pride and PrejudiceFilm: Lydia Bennet
  39. 1940Andy Hardy Meets DebutanteFilm: Polly Benedict
  40. 1940The Ghost Comes HomeFilm: Billie Adams
  41. 1940Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other ThingsFilm: Polly Benedict (uncredited)
  42. 1939Judge Hardy and SonFilm: Polly Benedict
  43. 1939Gone with the WindFilm: Carreen O'Hara
  44. 1939Dancing Co-EdFilm: Eve Greeley
  45. 1939These Glamour GirlsFilm: Mary Rose Wilston
  46. 1939Andy Hardy Gets Spring FeverFilm: Polly Benedict
  47. 1939Angel of MercyFilm: Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
  48. 1939The Hardys Ride HighFilm: Polly Benedict
  49. 1939Four Girls in WhiteFilm: Patricia 'Pat' Page
  50. 1938A Christmas CarolFilm: Spirit of Christmas Past
  51. 1938Dramatic SchoolFilm: Yvonne
  52. 1938Out West with the HardysFilm: Polly Benedict
  53. 1938Love Finds Andy HardyFilm: Polly Benedict
  54. 1938Judge Hardy's ChildrenFilm: Polly Benedict
  55. 1938Of Human HeartsFilm: Annie Hawks
  56. 1937You're Only Young OnceFilm: Polly Benedict
  57. 1937The Bride Wore RedFilm: Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
  58. 1937The Devil Is DrivingFilm: Kitty Wooster
  59. 1937Public Cowboy No. 1Film: Helen Morgan
  60. 1937Carnival in ParisFilm: Lisette
  61. 1937EspionageFilm: Train Passenger
  62. 1936Annie LaurieFilm: Annie Laurie
  63. 1936Down to the SeaFilm: Helen Pappas
  64. 1936The Lonely TrailFilm: Virginia Terry
  65. 1936The HarvesterFilm: Ruth Jameson
  66. 1936Comin' 'Round the MountainFilm: Dolores Moreno
  67. 1936Doughnuts and SocietyFilm: Joan Dugan
  68. 1936The Lawless NinetiesFilm: Janet Carter
  69. 1936The Oregon TrailFilm: Anne Ridgeley
  70. 1935The Singing VagabondFilm: Lettie Morgan
  71. 1935The Fighting MarinesFilm: Frances Schiller
  72. 1935Melody TrailFilm: Millicent Thomas
  73. 1935Waterfront LadyFilm: Joan O'Brien
  74. 1934Student TourFilm: Student

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.