Ann Rutherford

Following her death, she was cremated and her ashes returned to her daughter, Gloria May, who died just over a year after her mother, aged 69, on October 18, 2013 at her home in San Francisco. May was survived by her own two sons, Tom and David Voeller.

Ann appeared at the Williamsburg Film Festival in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia in 2003 and 2011.

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.

Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired.

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).

Naturalized United States citizen since December 18, 1953.

Hollywood, California: Attended the TCM Classic Film Festival, where she walked the red carpet and attended the 50th anniversary premiere of An American in Paris (1951). [April 2011]

Since her mother was born in Kentucky, she always thought she was a United States citizen. It was not until the 1950s when she made plans to visit Europe that she discovered she was not. She later officially got her citizenship papers in order and became one.

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.

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 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.

She is a pivotal character in the mystery novel, "Dead at the Box Office" by John Dandola, which is set during the world premiere of Edison, the Man (1940).

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. Mayer was no different from any other film tycoon except for the fact that he ran the classiest studio in Hollywood. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer couldn't really maximize profits unless he 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.

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.

Her first big break came after being contracted to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was given the recurring role of girlfriend Polly Benedict in the "Andy Hardy" film series starring Mickey Rooney from 1937 to 1942.

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 star status for her portrayal of "Polly Benedict" in the popular "Andy Hardy" series with Mickey Rooney.

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.