Biography of Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford was born on November 2, 1917 in Toronto, Canada. However, she had told me and other interviewers that she was born in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada in 1920. Ann explained that when she was making pictures she was embarrassed to have it mentioned in the studio biography, probably because of the “ouver” part. So since her father was originally from Toronto she said she was too. Years later when she visited Vancouver she fell in love with the city. I know many actresses adjusted their ages, but I do not know about the "Vancouver" story.
Incidentally, Ann went for years without knowing that she wasn’t a U.S. citizen. She thought that since her mother was born in Kentucky and the fact the she grew up in San Francisco and Los Angeles that she always was a citizen. It wasn’t until the 1950’s when she wanted to visit Europe with her husband she found out that she was not. So Ann became a U.S. citizen and is very, very proud of it. She does not have dual citizenship. She has traveled all over the world and says when you come back, “You really do kiss the ground!”
I obviously knew a lot about Ann before I talked to her. But I did not know that her sister was an actress before her. Ann’s sister Laurette Rutherford went by the name of Judith Arlen, and was one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1934.
Ann Rutherford’s career started in radio around 1934. She is the first to admit that she lied her way into the business. One day she was in school and instead of learning about the ancient Phoenicians, she was writing a poem. Ann’s teacher caught her and made Ann stay after school and she missed skating home with her friends.
She skated to the local radio station KFAC and thought about getting a job. Ann applied for a job and when they asked her what experience she had, Ann mentioned every play she had ever seen with her mother and sister, and they thought she had actually been in these plays. Ann was very convincing and knew what she wanted even at a young age!
The radio station eventually called and Ann got her first job, a part in “Nancy and Dick and The Spirit of ’76.”
This led to another opportunity when an older producer wanted her for a movie role, “Waterfront Lady” in 1935. Then it was on to westerns with Gene Autry and John Wayne. Ann then signed a contract with MGM, the famous studio who boasted, “We have more Stars then there are in heaven.” From 1937 to 1942 Ann Rutherford starred as Polly Benedict in the famed “Andy Hardy” series of movies. These films starred Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy and took place in the fictional town of Carvel in the Midwest. The people of Carvel represented a slice of American life. They were patriotic, generous, and fun-loving. Andy Hardy’s father, Lewis Stone, was a judge who always gave sound advice to his son. Ann played Andy Hardy’s long suffering girlfriend. This series of films became very popular with audience because they wanted to have a life like the Hardy’s.
One of Ann Rutherford’s most coveted roles, of which she is most proud of today, was Careen O’Hara, sister of Scarlett O’Hara, in the MGM masterpiece “Gone with the Wind.”
Ann had read Margaret Mitchell’s book of “Gone with the Wind” twice when Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, called her to his office. As Ann recalled in our telephone conversation, Mayer told her that David O. Selznick (his son-in-law), wanted her for a nothing part in some movie about the South, but he wouldn’t lend her out because she would be getting a lower billing. Ann asked if the movie was the one from the book by Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind? He said it sounded like that. She said what was the part? Mayer told her nothing much, a younger sister. Ann began crying and told Mr. Mayer, 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! She wanted to be a part of one of the greatest movies in history. She already knew it would be. Ann immersed herself in the atmosphere of the set. She wanted to experience everything! She remembered that Vivien Leigh who played Scarlet O’Hara was such a hard worker. Leigh was practically in every scene and worked every day. Clark Gable who played Rhett Butler was recalled as a true gentleman, who talked to everyone, including the many people behind the scenes. I asked Ann what she thought of Leslie Howard who played Ashley Wilkes, and she said her mother told her to stay away from him, because he had a reputation with the ladies. Ann became fast friends with Evelyn Keyes who played her other sister, Suellen O’Hara. Evelyn shared her enthusiasm in the making of Gone with the Wind. She had respect for Thomas Mitchell who played her father, Gerald O’Hara, who in Ann’s words could just stand there and act. She also thought Barbara O'Neil, who played her mother, Ellen O’Hara, was so beautiful and Ann was upset when she had to view her body lying on a catafalque after she died in the film.
Ann Rutherford’s experience with Gone with the Wind was like no other. She recalled the premiere in Atlanta, December 15, 1939. Ann arrived with her mother a few days early and the town and Mayor really did not know what to do with her. So the Mayor gave her a key to the city and took her to visit a nursing home for Confederate Soldiers. Ann was amazed to find these delightful gentlemen still alive. They were now in their 90’s, some having gotten into the Civil War by lying about their age. The Soldiers were so happy to receive their visitor. One gentleman presented her with some Confederate money; another gave her an old, yellow, newspaper clipping of the Lincoln/Douglas debate. Ann cherished these gifts and still has them today.
In 1939, Atlanta was a small town. Ann loved it, but did not understand segregation, with the separate drinking fountains for blacks and whites, and stores and restaurants. That was the only thing that marred her visit. She was so happy that in her lifetime, this has changed.
Some of the many other movies Ann was in were A Christmas Carol (1938) as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Pride And Prejudice (1940) with, Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier and, Maureen O'Sullivan. Orchestra Wives (1942) with George Montgomery and, bandleader Glenn Miller and, Happyland (1943) my personal favorite film of Ann. She also made a series of three mystery comedies with Red Skelton. About Red, Ann said she laughed so hard at his antics that she broke a few ribs!
Ann also appeared in a few television shows. Two of my favorites were The Donna Reed Show and The Bob Newhart Show. In Donna Reed, she played a pesky friend who invited Donna and her husband Alex to her get-togethers. Donna always tried to come up with some excuse, but Ann persuaded her to come, saying her guests were “Just mad, wonderful fun!” When Donna and Alex finally came over, Ann put on the record player and asked in that charming voice, “Donna, Alex, do you CHA?” That just broke me up! Typical Ann! It turned out to be a wonderful evening!
In The Bob Newhart Show, Ann played Bob’s wife Emily’s mother. She was her usual, charming self and could have really passed for Suzanne Pleshette’s mother!
Ann had a chance to return to MGM for the film, They only Killed Their Masters in 1972. She said it was not a pleasant experience. Much of it was filmed on the old Andy Hardy set. However, they told her to bring her own clothes and she was looking for the make-up department and there was none. Such a change from the old studio, where everything was done for you, all you had to do was show up and act!
Ann’s last movie was “Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood” in 1976.
She refused other roles, such as Rose from “Titanic”, preferring a life of travel and friends, philanthropy, and “Wind.”
Ann was married to David May, heir to the May Company, in 1942. They adopted a daughter, Gloria in 1944. However they were separated in 1946 and later divorced.
Ann then married writer and producer, William Dozier in 1953. She helped raise her stepdaughter, Deborah (daughter of William Dozier and Joan Fontaine.) Ann and William Dozier remained married until his death in 1991.
She remained very active in her later years, often attending Gone With the Wind events. As Ann would often say, "Who would have thought that 70 years later they would prop me up and wheel me out to talk about Wind!" "Wind" as she called it was like a personal friend to her.
She also attended many Hollywood social events with her dear friends, Al Morely and Anne Jeffreys.
After suffering from heart ailments in the last few months of her life, Ann passed away on June 11, 2012 at her beloved Beverly Hills home, with her faithful friend Anne Jeffreys at her side. She was 94.
Ann Rutherford was born on November 2, 1917 in Toronto, Canada. However, she had told me and other interviewers that she was born in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada in 1920. Ann explained that when she was making pictures she was embarrassed to have it mentioned in the studio biography, probably because of the “ouver” part. So since her father was originally from Toronto she said she was too. Years later when she visited Vancouver she fell in love with the city. I know many actresses adjusted their ages, but I do not know about the "Vancouver" story.
Incidentally, Ann went for years without knowing that she wasn’t a U.S. citizen. She thought that since her mother was born in Kentucky and the fact the she grew up in San Francisco and Los Angeles that she always was a citizen. It wasn’t until the 1950’s when she wanted to visit Europe with her husband she found out that she was not. So Ann became a U.S. citizen and is very, very proud of it. She does not have dual citizenship. She has traveled all over the world and says when you come back, “You really do kiss the ground!”
I obviously knew a lot about Ann before I talked to her. But I did not know that her sister was an actress before her. Ann’s sister Laurette Rutherford went by the name of Judith Arlen, and was one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1934.
Ann Rutherford’s career started in radio around 1934. She is the first to admit that she lied her way into the business. One day she was in school and instead of learning about the ancient Phoenicians, she was writing a poem. Ann’s teacher caught her and made Ann stay after school and she missed skating home with her friends.
She skated to the local radio station KFAC and thought about getting a job. Ann applied for a job and when they asked her what experience she had, Ann mentioned every play she had ever seen with her mother and sister, and they thought she had actually been in these plays. Ann was very convincing and knew what she wanted even at a young age!
The radio station eventually called and Ann got her first job, a part in “Nancy and Dick and The Spirit of ’76.”
This led to another opportunity when an older producer wanted her for a movie role, “Waterfront Lady” in 1935. Then it was on to westerns with Gene Autry and John Wayne. Ann then signed a contract with MGM, the famous studio who boasted, “We have more Stars then there are in heaven.” From 1937 to 1942 Ann Rutherford starred as Polly Benedict in the famed “Andy Hardy” series of movies. These films starred Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy and took place in the fictional town of Carvel in the Midwest. The people of Carvel represented a slice of American life. They were patriotic, generous, and fun-loving. Andy Hardy’s father, Lewis Stone, was a judge who always gave sound advice to his son. Ann played Andy Hardy’s long suffering girlfriend. This series of films became very popular with audience because they wanted to have a life like the Hardy’s.
One of Ann Rutherford’s most coveted roles, of which she is most proud of today, was Careen O’Hara, sister of Scarlett O’Hara, in the MGM masterpiece “Gone with the Wind.”
Ann had read Margaret Mitchell’s book of “Gone with the Wind” twice when Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, called her to his office. As Ann recalled in our telephone conversation, Mayer told her that David O. Selznick (his son-in-law), wanted her for a nothing part in some movie about the South, but he wouldn’t lend her out because she would be getting a lower billing. Ann asked if the movie was the one from the book by Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind? He said it sounded like that. She said what was the part? Mayer told her nothing much, a younger sister. Ann began crying and told Mr. Mayer, 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! She wanted to be a part of one of the greatest movies in history. She already knew it would be. Ann immersed herself in the atmosphere of the set. She wanted to experience everything! She remembered that Vivien Leigh who played Scarlet O’Hara was such a hard worker. Leigh was practically in every scene and worked every day. Clark Gable who played Rhett Butler was recalled as a true gentleman, who talked to everyone, including the many people behind the scenes. I asked Ann what she thought of Leslie Howard who played Ashley Wilkes, and she said her mother told her to stay away from him, because he had a reputation with the ladies. Ann became fast friends with Evelyn Keyes who played her other sister, Suellen O’Hara. Evelyn shared her enthusiasm in the making of Gone with the Wind. She had respect for Thomas Mitchell who played her father, Gerald O’Hara, who in Ann’s words could just stand there and act. She also thought Barbara O'Neil, who played her mother, Ellen O’Hara, was so beautiful and Ann was upset when she had to view her body lying on a catafalque after she died in the film.
Ann Rutherford’s experience with Gone with the Wind was like no other. She recalled the premiere in Atlanta, December 15, 1939. Ann arrived with her mother a few days early and the town and Mayor really did not know what to do with her. So the Mayor gave her a key to the city and took her to visit a nursing home for Confederate Soldiers. Ann was amazed to find these delightful gentlemen still alive. They were now in their 90’s, some having gotten into the Civil War by lying about their age. The Soldiers were so happy to receive their visitor. One gentleman presented her with some Confederate money; another gave her an old, yellow, newspaper clipping of the Lincoln/Douglas debate. Ann cherished these gifts and still has them today.
In 1939, Atlanta was a small town. Ann loved it, but did not understand segregation, with the separate drinking fountains for blacks and whites, and stores and restaurants. That was the only thing that marred her visit. She was so happy that in her lifetime, this has changed.
Some of the many other movies Ann was in were A Christmas Carol (1938) as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Pride And Prejudice (1940) with, Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier and, Maureen O'Sullivan. Orchestra Wives (1942) with George Montgomery and, bandleader Glenn Miller and, Happyland (1943) my personal favorite film of Ann. She also made a series of three mystery comedies with Red Skelton. About Red, Ann said she laughed so hard at his antics that she broke a few ribs!
Ann also appeared in a few television shows. Two of my favorites were The Donna Reed Show and The Bob Newhart Show. In Donna Reed, she played a pesky friend who invited Donna and her husband Alex to her get-togethers. Donna always tried to come up with some excuse, but Ann persuaded her to come, saying her guests were “Just mad, wonderful fun!” When Donna and Alex finally came over, Ann put on the record player and asked in that charming voice, “Donna, Alex, do you CHA?” That just broke me up! Typical Ann! It turned out to be a wonderful evening!
In The Bob Newhart Show, Ann played Bob’s wife Emily’s mother. She was her usual, charming self and could have really passed for Suzanne Pleshette’s mother!
Ann had a chance to return to MGM for the film, They only Killed Their Masters in 1972. She said it was not a pleasant experience. Much of it was filmed on the old Andy Hardy set. However, they told her to bring her own clothes and she was looking for the make-up department and there was none. Such a change from the old studio, where everything was done for you, all you had to do was show up and act!
Ann’s last movie was “Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood” in 1976.
She refused other roles, such as Rose from “Titanic”, preferring a life of travel and friends, philanthropy, and “Wind.”
Ann was married to David May, heir to the May Company, in 1942. They adopted a daughter, Gloria in 1944. However they were separated in 1946 and later divorced.
Ann then married writer and producer, William Dozier in 1953. She helped raise her stepdaughter, Deborah (daughter of William Dozier and Joan Fontaine.) Ann and William Dozier remained married until his death in 1991.
She remained very active in her later years, often attending Gone With the Wind events. As Ann would often say, "Who would have thought that 70 years later they would prop me up and wheel me out to talk about Wind!" "Wind" as she called it was like a personal friend to her.
She also attended many Hollywood social events with her dear friends, Al Morely and Anne Jeffreys.
After suffering from heart ailments in the last few months of her life, Ann passed away on June 11, 2012 at her beloved Beverly Hills home, with her faithful friend Anne Jeffreys at her side. She was 94.
