|
|
|
|
| Birth Name(s) : Harriette Arlene Lake |
Date of Birth: January 22, 1909 |
| Status:
N/A
|
Partner:
N/A |
| Profession:
Actor |
Official Site
Go to the Ann Sothern Official Homepage |
| << Add Ann Sothern To Your Favorites |
|
Full Ann Sothern Biography
| Ann Sothern's film career started as an extra in 1927. For the comedy roles she would play, Ann bleached her red hair blond. After working at MGM and on Broadway, Ann was signed by Columbia for the 1934 film 'Let's Fall in Love'. It was also the year that she would work with Eddie Cantor in his hit movie 'Kid Millions'. For the next two years, Ann would appear in a number of 'B' movies until she was dropped by Columbia in 1936. She then went to RKO, where the quality of films did not improve. She appeared in a series of 'B' movies with Gene Raymond, but her career was going nowhere. In 1938, she left RKO and played the tart in 'Trade Winds', which got her a contract at MGM. In a film originally intended for Jean Harlow, Ann became Maisie in 'Maisie (1939)'. This became a series of movies about an energetic brassy showgirl that ran until 1947. Ann also appeared in well received features such as 'Brother Orchid (1940)', 'Cry Havoc (1943)' and'A Letter to Three Wives (1949)'. After 1950, the roles vanished and she turned to Television as the meddlesome Susie in the 1953 series "Private Secretary". This series was cancelled in 1957 and she came back in "The Ann Sothern Show" which ran from 1958 to 1961. In 1965, she would be the voice of the 1928 Porter in "My Mother the Car". While the 70's and 80's were relatively quiet for Ann, she would be nominated for Academy Award for her role as the neighbor of Lillian Gish and Bette Davis in 'The Whales of August (1987)'. |
|
|
Additional Ann Sothern Biography
Ann Sothern (January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an Oscar nominated American film and television actress with a career spanning six decades.
Born Harriette Arlene Lake in Valley City, North Dakota, Sothern left home very young and began her film career as an extra in the 1927 film, Broadway Nights at the age of 18. During 1929 and 1930, she appeared as a chorus girl in such films as The Show of Shows and Whoopee! (as one of the "Goldwyn Girls"). She also appeared on Broadway and had a trained voice, occasionally singing in films.
In 1934, Sothern signed a contract with Columbia Pictures, but after two years the studio released her from the contract. In 1936, she was signed by RKO Pictures and after a string of films that failed to attract an audience, Sothern left RKO and was signed to MGM, making her first film for them in 1939.
On November 24, 1941, Sothern performed in the Lux Radio Theater adaptation of Maisie Was a Lady, and the popularity of the film series led to her own radio program, The Adventures of Maisie, broadcast on CBS from 1945 to 1947, on Mutual Broadcasting System in 1952 and in syndication from 1949 to 1953.
Previously a stunning beauty, Southern had a bout of hepatitis which left her with a bloated, overweight appearance; so she preferred not to be seen. In 1965, she was heard as the voice of Gladys Crabtree (the car) in the short lived series My Mother the Car, which co-starred Jerry Van Dyke. The series was unsuccessful and was canceled after 30 episodes.
During this period, Sothern made occasional guest appearances on The Lucy Show with her old RKO and MGM cohort, Lucille Ball. In 1967, her former boss Desi Arnaz, the first husband of Lucille Ball, approached her to co-star with Eve Arden as battling neighbors in The Mothers-in-Law, but NBC felt that Sothern's style was too similar to Arden's. The very differently styled and younger Kaye Ballard got the part.
Soutern was married to actor Roger Pryor from 1936 until May 17, 1943. Less than a week later, she married actor Robert Sterling. The couple had one daughter, actress Tisha Sterling, before divorcing in six years later.
In 1984, Sothern retired from acting and moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where she spent her remaining years.
On March 15, 2001, Sothern died from heart failure at the age of 92. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for motion pictures (1612 Vine Street) and television (1634 Vine Street).
Emmy Award
- Nominated: Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series, Private Secretary (1955)
- Nominated: Best Actress - Continuing Performance, Private Secretary (1956)
- Nominated: Best Comedienne (1956)
- Nominated: Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series, Private Secretary (1957)
- Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series, The Ann Sothern Show (1959)
Golden Globe Award
- Won: Best TV Show, The Ann Sothern Show (1959)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress, The Best Man (1965) |
|
| Add Ann Sothern Biography (SuperUSERS) + |
| Add Ann Sothern Review/Comment
|
HQ Ann Sothern Pictures (17) | Random Ann Sothern Picture
|
| << Back to the Ann Sothern Homepage |
|
