Ann Rutherford
Acting • Born 1917-11-02 – Died 2012-06-11
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.
Filmography
86 credits
Gone with the Wind
Movie • 1939
Carreen O'Hara
Inside Job
Movie • 1946
Claire Norton
A Christmas Carol
Movie • 1938
Spirit of Christmas Past
Adventures of Don Juan
Movie • 1948
Donna Elena
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Movie • 1947
Gertrude Griswold
The Madonna's Secret
Movie • 1946
Linda 'Morgan' North
Bedside Manner
Movie • 1945
Lola Cross
Andy Hardy's Double Life
Movie • 1942
Polly Benedict
Orchestra Wives
Movie • 1942
Connie Ward Abbot
Two O'Clock Courage
Movie • 1945
Patty Mitchell
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
Movie • 1941
Polly Benedict
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
Movie • 1941
Polly Benedict
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
Movie • 1940
Polly Benedict
Pride and Prejudice
Movie • 1940
Lydia Bennet
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Movie • 1939
Polly Benedict
Love Finds Andy Hardy
Movie • 1938
Polly Benedict
They Only Kill Their Masters
Movie • 1972
Gloria
Flag of Mercy
Movie • 1942
Clara's Student
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
Movie • 1942
Polly Benedict
Whistling in the Dark
Movie • 1941
Carol Lambert
Whistling in Dixie
Movie • 1942
Carol Lambert
Whistling in Brooklyn
Movie • 1943
Carol Lambert
Badlands of Dakota
Movie • 1941
Anne Grayson
This Time for Keeps
Movie • 1942
Katherine 'Kit' White
Out West with the Hardys
Movie • 1938
Polly Benedict
Judge Hardy and Son
Movie • 1939
Polly Benedict
The Lawless Nineties
Movie • 1936
Janet Carter
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie • 1946
Gracie
Four Girls in White
Movie • 1939
Patricia 'Pat' Page
Of Human Hearts
Movie • 1938
Annie Hawks
The Ghost Comes Home
Movie • 1940
Billie Adams
You're Only Young Once
Movie • 1937
Polly Benedict
The Lonely Trail
Movie • 1936
Virginia Terry
The Singing Vagabond
Movie • 1935
Lettie Morgan
Waterfront Lady
Movie • 1935
Joan O'Brien
Public Cowboy No. 1
Movie • 1937
Helen Morgan
The Fighting Marines
Movie • 1935
Frances Schiller
Operation Haylift
Movie • 1950
Clara Masters
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie • 1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dramatic School
Movie • 1938
Yvonne
These Glamour Girls
Movie • 1939
Mary Rose Wilston
Down to the Sea
Movie • 1936
Helen Pappas
Melody Trail
Movie • 1935
Millicent Thomas
Comin' 'Round the Mountain
Movie • 1936
Dolores Moreno
The Harvester
Movie • 1936
Ruth Jameson
Judge Hardy's Children
Movie • 1938
Polly Benedict
Happy Land
Movie • 1943
Lenore Prentiss
Washington Melodrama
Movie • 1941
Laurie Claymore
The Devil Is Driving
Movie • 1937
Kitty Wooster
Doughnuts and Society
Movie • 1936
Joan Dugan
Keeping Company
Movie • 1940
Mary Thomas
Wyoming
Movie • 1940
Lucy Kincaid
The Hardys Ride High
Movie • 1939
Polly Benedict
Dancing Co-Ed
Movie • 1939
Eve Greeley
The Oregon Trail
Movie • 1936
Anne Ridgeley
Espionage
Movie • 1937
Train Passenger
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things
Movie • 1940
Polly Benedict (uncredited)
Bermuda Mystery
Movie • 1944
Constance Martin
Annie Laurie
Movie • 1936
Annie Laurie
Carnival in Paris
Movie • 1937
Lisette
Angel of Mercy
Movie • 1939
Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
Student Tour
Movie • 1934
Student
Show-Business at War
Movie • 1943
Self
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Movie • 1940
Self
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie • 1940
Self
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Grayson's Studio Secretary
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Movie • 1988
Self
Take It or Leave It
Movie • 1944
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
The Bride Wore Red
Movie • 1937
Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
The Bob Newhart Show
TV • 1972
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Evelyn Cartright Forbes
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Joan
Climax!
TV • 1954
Edith Enders
The Donna Reed Show
TV • 1958
Suspense
TV • 1949
Sally Hastings
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV • 1950
Lacy Holden
Panic!
TV • 1957
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Judith Thurston
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Ellen Chase
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Mona Hodge
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Mrs. Glassmire
Climax!
TV • 1954
Mary Townsend
Climax!
TV • 1954
Bette Sullivan
Danger
TV • 1950
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
Self