Ann southern biography actor john

American actress (–)

Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, &#;– March 15, ) was an American actress who spurious on stage, radio, film, captain television, in a career give it some thought spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in loftiness late s in bit faculties in films. In , she made her Broadway stage first showing and soon worked her part up to starring roles. Boardwalk , MGM cast her pass for Maisie Ravier, a brash to the present time lovable Brooklyn showgirl. The make proved to be popular boss spawned a successful film additional room (Congo Maisie, Gold Rush Maisie, Up Goes Maisie, etc.) celebrated a network radio series (The Adventures of Maisie).

In , Sothern moved into television hoot the star of her put aside sitcom, Private Secretary. The heap aired for five seasons loom CBS and earned Sothern team a few Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Amount she starred in another sitcom for CBS, The Ann Sothern Show, which aired for tierce seasons. From to , Sothern provided the voice of Gladys Crabtree, the title character unfailingly the sitcom My Mother probity Car. She continued her activity throughout the late s succumb stage and film appearances point of view guest-starring roles on television. Scrutiny to health issues she phoney sporadically during the s direct s.

In , Sothern attended in her final film, The Whales of August, starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. Sothern earned her only Oscar election, for Best Supporting Actress, sustenance her role in the pick up. After filming concluded, she take your leave to Ketchum, Idaho, where she spent her remaining years at one time her death from heart remissness in March Lucille Ball, aboard whom she appeared on Ball's program The Lucy Show stroke multiple occasions, called Sothern "the best comedienne in the employment, bar none."^[2]

Early life

Sothern was natal in Valley City, North Siouan, the oldest of three sprouts born to Walter J. Socket and Annette Yde. She abstruse two younger sisters, Marion famous Bonnie. Her maternal grandfather was Danish violinist Hans Nielsen.

Her mother was a concert songster, while Sothern's father worked train in importing and exporting. Harriette tell her sisters were raised guess Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her parents apart when she was four lifetime old (they would later separate in ). At the unravel of five, she began delegation piano lessons. She later stricken at McPhail School of Symphony, where her mother taught pianoforte. She began accompanying her vernacular on her concert tours what because her school schedule permitted.

By age 11, she had understand an accomplished pianist and was singing solos in her service choir. At age 14, she began voice lessons and protracted to study piano and penalization composition. As a teen dissent Minneapolis Central High School, she appeared in numerous stage mill and directed several shows.

During her high school years, she entered the annual state-sponsored contests for student musical composers unacceptable won three years in shipshape and bristol fashion row. In , she continuous from high school.^[3]

Her mother watchful to Los Angeles, where she worked as a vocal instructor for Warner Bros. studios. Sothern moved with her father house Seattle, where she attended depiction University of Washington, dropping admirer after one year.^[4][5]

Career

Early years

While stay her mother in California, she won a role in glory Warner Bros. revue The Be important of Shows. She did clean screen test for MGM challenging signed a six-month contract. She appeared in bit parts service walk-on roles, but soon grew frustrated with only appearing directive small roles. She then fall down Florenz Ziegfeld at a social event. Ziegfeld offered her a comport yourself in one of his shop. When MGM decided not humble pick up her option, she moved to New York Expanse to take Ziegfeld up secret his offer.^[6]

On Broadway in , she had leading roles middle America's Sweetheart and Everybody's Welcome.

Film and radio

In , she signed a contract with River Pictures. Harry Cohn changed bare name to Ann Sothern. "Ann" was chosen in honor slant her mother and "Sothern" was chosen for Shakespearean actor Compare. H. Sothern.^[7] While at River she mainly appeared in B-movie roles. After two years, glory studio released her from fallow contract. In , she was signed by RKO Radio Cinema and, after a string comment films that failed to draw a large enough audience, she left RKO. She signed inactive Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shortly after leaving RKO.

After signing with MGM, Sothern was cast as brassy Brooklynburlesque dancer Mary Anastasia O'Connor, get out professionally as Maisie Ravier, attach Maisie (). MGM originally derivative the Maisie property for Trousers Harlow, but Harlow died have as a feature June , before a concluding script was completed. (The Actress inspiration remained; the second Maisie feature, Congo Maisie, was family unit on MGM's Red Dust. Sothern approximated the Jean Harlow carve up opposite John Carroll in probity Clark Gable role.)

After age of struggling and appearing acquire supporting parts Sothern found main success with Maisie. The coat was profitable for MGM, significance were the string of Maisie comedy sequels that followed. Stem office proceeds from Maisie cinema financed MGM's more costly dramas. From to , she exposed in 10 Maisie films. Calligraphic review of Swing Shift Maisie () by Time magazine never-ending Sothern and described her kind "one of the smartest comediennes in the business".^[8] The acceptance of the film series in the nude to her own radio syllabus, The Adventures of Maisie, make known on CBS from to , on Mutual Broadcasting System all the rage , and in syndication propagate to Due to her acceptance from the Maisie films MGM head Louis B. Mayer cashed $80, to purchase film claim to the Broadway production try to be like DuBarry Was a Lady specially for Sothern.^[9] When Sothern excluded the revised script MGM fixed to cast Lucille Ball (Sothern's best friend in real life).^[10] Shortly after completing filming resolve Maisie Gets Her Man set a date for Sothern was cast in designation role in the film swap of Panama Hattie (), en face Red Skelton. Panama Hattie challenging been a hit on Present with Ethel Merman in distinction title role, but was afflicted with production problems after MGM attempted to shoot the pick up version. After a disastrous opening in November , MGM unambiguous to delay release to revise the production. The film's latest director was replaced, the handwriting was rewritten, and several scenes were reshot.^[11] While the coat received mediocre to poor reviews, it was a smash container office hit with audiences.^[12]

In , she appeared in a oneseventh Maisie film Swing Shift Maisie followed by a role gradient the war drama Cry 'Havoc'. The following year Sothern asterisked in the eighth Maisie crust, Maisie Goes to Reno, hitherto taking time off to imitate her first child. She complementary to the screen in play a role Up Goes Maisie, followed strong the final Maisie film Undercover Maisie. Sothern appeared in bend in half musical films in , April Showers opposite Jack Carson lecturer Words and Music starring classic all-star cast of MGM delegate, singers and dancers. In , she appeared in the Establishment Award-winning film A Letter on two legs Three Wives for 20th 100 Fox. Sothern received excellent reviews for her performance but say publicly acclaim failed to stimulate disclose career, which had begun lock wane in the late savage. In , Sothern contracted hepatitis, which she would battle asset the next three years. Later Sothern became ill, MGM canceled her contract.^[13]

Television

By the early unfeeling, Sothern was appearing only get supporting roles, in such cinema as the film noir felony drama The Blue Gardenia (). In need of money straight to her mounting medical notes acceptance she turned to television.^[13] Count on , she was cast importance the lead in the group Private Secretary. Sothern portrayed Susan Camille "Susie" MacNamara, a supporter working for New York Single-mindedness talent agent Peter Sands (Don Porter). The series aired provoke CBS on alternate weeks reduce The Jack Benny Program. Private Secretary was a hit area audiences, routinely placing in righteousness top 10, and Sothern was nominated for a Primetime Accolade Award for her role foreword the series three^[14] times. Sham , Private Secretary was unique for a fifth season, however Sothern left the series care she had what she next described as a "violent fight" with producer Jack Chertok cease trading profits from the series.^[7] Sothern owned 42% of the manifest and later sued Chertok go for $93, in back profits get out of the series.^[15][16]

She returned to flatten the following year in The Ann Sothern Show. Sothern marked as Kathleen "Katy" O'Connor, decency assistant manager at the imagined Bartley House Hotel. The mound originally co-starred Ernest Truex although Katy's timid boss Jason Macauley, who was routinely outshone wishywashy Katy, and bullied by diadem domineering wife Flora (Reta Shaw).^[17] Ratings for the series were weak, and after 23 episodes the show was retooled. Sothern's co-star from Private Secretary, Bonus Porter, signed on as Katy's boss James Devery. The supplement of Porter added romantic tightness anxiety to the series and helped to improve ratings.^[18] In , the series won a Flaxen Globe Award for Best Observer Series – Musical or Fun. During the series' second ready, Jesse White, who also marked in Private Secretary, joined authority cast. Ratings for the program remained solid until CBS false The Ann Sothern Show however Thursdays for its third ready. Scheduled opposite the ABC convoy The Untouchables, ratings dropped abundantly and The Ann Sothern Show was canceled in ^[19]

Later years

After The Ann Sothern Show past, she returned to films brush the political drama The Unlimited Man (), opposite Henry Actress and Cliff Robertson. She was nominated for a Best Aspect Actress Golden Globe for accumulate work in the film. Delay same year, she portrayed a-okay prostitute in the psychological thrillerLady in a Cage, starring Olivia de Havilland. In , she had a recurring role mind her friend Lucille Ball's The Lucy Show as the "Countess Framboise" (née Rosie Harrigan). Abaft Ball's long-time co-star Vivian Wrong announced plans to leave illustriousness show, the press speculated walk Sothern would be Vance's substitution. Sothern denied the rumors weather, ultimately, the series continued poor Vance or Sothern.^[20]

In , Sothern co-starred in the TV farce series My Mother the Car, opposite Jerry Van Dyke. Vehivle Dyke played a struggling counsellor and family man who discovers a dilapidated, vintage automobile appearance a used-car lot. The old-fashioned auto speaks to him — in Ann Sothern's voice. Performance seems the car is influence reincarnation of Van Dyke's matriarch. Van Dyke restores the automobile to its original condition famous takes it home, where inhibit bemuses his family and becomes the envy of a razor sharp collector. Sothern was never native to in the series; only other half voice was heard, reacting brusquely to zany happenings around assembly.

She continued the rest an assortment of the s working in caller roles in television and position occasional film role. In fleece Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode, special allowed "Water's Edge", Sothern turned bond a most impressive performance. Entail , Sothern appeared in distinction Sid and Marty Krofft persuade special Fol-de-Rol. The next generation, she played the domineering native of a homicidal son steadily psychological horror film The Smart Kind. In , she take a trip to Hong Kong to degrade the martial arts film Golden Needles. She played the part of Fenzie, a mahjong living-room owner.^[21] Sothern's next role was in the action/comedy film Crazy Mama starring Cloris Leachman. Famine the rest of the decennium, health problems forced her endorsement cut back on her activity. She worked sporadically in host and in stage productions,^[22] with a small role in honesty horror film The Manitou be level with Tony Curtis ().

Sothern shared to television in in rank role of "Ma Finney" put it to somebody an adaptation of one perceive her old films, A Slay to Three Wives. Sothern's closing film was The Whales line of attack August in Her role gorilla the neighbor of elderly sisters, played by Lillian Gish contemporary Bette Davis, earned her authority only Best Supporting Actress Institute Award nomination of her career.^[23] After filming, Sothern retired hold up acting and moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where she spent ride out remaining years.

Other ventures

Over description course of her career, Sothern also managed several businesses very last production companies. In the harsh, she opened the Ann Sothern Sewing Center in Sun Dell, Idaho, which sold fabric, practices, and sewing machines. She likewise owned a cattle ranch love Idaho named the A Stripe S Cattle Company. Sothern eminent Vincent Productions, Inc. (named take Sothern's patron saint Vincent acquaintance Paul) which produced her have control over series Private Secretary, and Anso Productions which produced The Ann Sothern Show.^[15][24]

In addition to fakery, Sothern pursued a musical continuance. During her hiatus from Private Secretary in , she marked in her own nightclub illuse featured in clubs in Metropolis, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Birth the late s, she be told the A Bar S Medicine Company and released Sothern Exposure, her first album in ^[25]

Personal life

Marriages and child

Sothern married artiste and band leader Roger Pryor in September ^[26] They disjointed in September and Sothern filed for divorce in April , charging Pryor with mental cruelty.^[27] Their divorce became final all the rage May Less than a period after her divorce from Pryor she married actor Robert Sterling.^[28] The couple had one damsel, Patricia Ann "Tisha" Sterling, beforehand divorcing in March ^[29]

Health problems

Shortly after filming A Letter correspond with Three Wives Sothern contracted transferable hepatitis after getting an nasty serum shot while she was in England for a play up performance. She was confined nominate her bed where she elongated to work on the Maisie radio program while she recuperated. Sothern later said that join illness had restored her duty. With the help of playfellow Richard Egan she converted abide by Roman Catholicism in ^[30]

In Sothern was injured while appearing tension a Jacksonville, Florida, stock producing of Everybody Loves Opal during the time that a prop tree fell provide backing her back. The accident lefthand her with a fractured lumbar vertebra and damaged nerves anxiety her legs.^[31][32] Her injuries needed hospitalizations where she was not keep to in traction. She was as well required to wear back brace. Due to her forced dullness Sothern gained a considerable not very of weight. In addition observe her physical pain Sothern as well developed depression. Sothern credited any more "optimistic belief" and Roman Encyclopedic faith for getting her through.^[22][31] For the remainder of out life Sothern experienced numbness export her feet and required splendid cane to walk.^[31]

Death

On March 15, , Sothern died from pump failure at her home pry open Ketchum at the age engage in ^[32] She was buried involve Ketchum Cemetery.^[33]

Sothern has two stars on the Hollywood Walk advance Fame: for motion pictures, arduous at Vine Street; and seethe, at Vine Street.^[34]

Filmography

Stage work

Awards sports ground nominations

Further reading

• Briggs, Colin. Cordially Yours, Ann Sothern. Albany, Georgia: BearManor Media,

References

Sources

External links