Ann Blyth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ann Blyth
Blyth in 1952
Born	Anne Marie Blythe (1928-08-16) August 16, 1928 (age 96) Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1933–1985
Known for	Mildred Pierce
Spouse(s)	James McNulty ​ ​ (m. 1953; died 2007)​
Children	5
Family	Dennis Day (brother-in-law)

Ann Blyth (born Anne Marie Blythe; August 16, 1928) is a retired American actress and singer. She started her career very young. First, she worked in radio shows for children. Then, she moved to Broadway, which is famous for its plays. She appeared in a play called Watch on the Rhine from 1941 to 1942.

In the 1940s, Ann Blyth signed a contract with Universal Studios. She made her first movie, Chip Off the Old Block, in 1944. After that, she starred in several musical comedies. Her most famous role was in the movie Mildred Pierce (1945). She played Veda Pierce, a challenging character. This role earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Ann Blyth continued to act in many films during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of her well-known movies include Brute Force (1947), The Great Caruso (1951), and The King’s Thief (1955). Later, in the late 1950s, she started working in theater and television. She performed in popular shows like The King and I. She also appeared on TV shows such as The Twilight Zone and Murder, She Wrote. Ann Blyth stopped acting in 1985. She is one of the oldest living people to have been nominated for an Academy Award. She is also one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Life and career

Early life

Anne Marie Blythe was born in Mount Kisco, New York. Her birthday is August 16, 1928. She later changed her name to Ann Blyth. When her father left, she, her older sister Dorothy, and their mother moved to New York City. Her mother worked hard doing ironing to support the family.

Watch on the Rhine

Ann Blyth started performing on children's radio shows in New York. She was only five years old when she first appeared. She continued doing radio for six years. When she was nine, she joined the New York Children's Opera Company.

Her first big acting role was on Broadway. She was in Lillian Hellman's play Watch on the Rhine. This was from 1941 to 1942. She played Babette, the daughter of the main character. The play was very successful and ran for 378 performances. It also won an award. While the play was on tour in Los Angeles, Ann Blyth was offered a movie contract. This was with Universal Studios.

Universal Studios

Blyth in 1948

Ann Blyth started her movie career as "Anne Blyth." But she soon changed the spelling of her first name to "Ann." Her first movie was in 1944. It was a musical for teenagers called Chip Off the Old Block. She starred with Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan. She then made two more similar musical films with them. These were The Merry Monahans and Babes on Swing Street, both in 1944. She also had a supporting role in a bigger musical, Bowery to Broadway.

Then, she was loaned to Warner Brothers studio. There, she played a very different kind of role. She was Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (1945). Veda was the mean and ungrateful daughter of Joan Crawford's character. Ann Blyth's strong acting in this dramatic role received great reviews. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was only 16 years old when she made this film.

After Mildred Pierce, Ann Blyth had an accident. She broke her back while tobogganing. This meant she couldn't fully take advantage of her movie's success right away.

Once she recovered, she made two more films for Universal. These were Swell Guy (1946) and Brute Force (1947). Universal then loaned her to MGM studio. There, she played the main female role in Killer McCoy (1947). This boxing film with Mickey Rooney was very popular.

Back at Universal, she made a mystery film called A Woman's Vengeance (1948). She used a British accent in this movie. She also played Regina Hubbard in Another Part of the Forest (1948). This film was a prequel to another famous play. She then starred in Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948) with William Powell. She was the top star in the Western movie Red Canyon (1949).

Universal loaned her to Paramount Pictures for Top o' the Morning (1949). She played the daughter of Barry Fitzgerald's character. She was also romanced by Bing Crosby in the film. Back at Universal, she worked with Robert Montgomery in Once More, My Darling (1949). She also made a comedy called Free for All (1949).

She was loaned to Samuel Goldwyn Productions to star with Farley Granger in Our Very Own (1950). Universal then gave her the top role in a romantic comedy, Katie Did It (1951). MGM borrowed her again for The Great Caruso (1951) with Mario Lanza. This movie was a huge success. Back at Universal, she made Thunder on the Hill (1951). She also had the main female role in The Golden Horde (1951). 20th Century Fox borrowed her to star with Tyrone Power in I'll Never Forget You (1952). She also appeared on TV in an episode of Family Theater.

Universal paired Ann Blyth with Gregory Peck in The World in His Arms (1952). She was the top star in the comedy Sally and Saint Anne (1952). RKO studio borrowed her for One Minute to Zero (1952). This was a Korean War drama with Robert Mitchum.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Blyth in 1952

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was very interested in Ann Blyth. In December 1952, she left Universal and signed a long-term contract with MGM. She became the leading lady in All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953). She starred with Stewart Granger and Robert Taylor.

On television, Ann Blyth appeared in a TV version of A Place in the Sun. Back at MGM, she had the main role in the remake of Rose Marie (1954) with Howard Keel. This movie earned a lot of money.

Ann Blyth was supposed to reunite with Mario Lanza in The Student Prince (1954). But he was replaced by Edmund Purdom. The film did well. Blyth and Purdom then starred together in an adventure movie, The King's Thief (1955). She was also teamed again with Howard Keel in the musical Kismet (1955). For her last film at MGM, Ann Blyth starred in Slander (1957) with Van Johnson.

Later films

Sidney Sheldon cast Ann Blyth in The Buster Keaton Story (1957) with Donald O'Connor. Then, Warner Bros. cast her in the main role of The Helen Morgan Story (1957). This movie was directed by Michael Curtiz and starred Paul Newman. Ann Blyth was chosen for the part over many other actresses. Even though her singing voice was similar to the real Helen Morgan, her vocals were sung by Gogi Grant. The music from the movie was more popular than the film itself. Ann Blyth did not make any more films after this.

Theatre and television

Blyth in August 1954 for Modern Screen Magazine

From the late 1950s into the 1970s, Ann Blyth worked in musical theater. She starred in famous shows like The King and I, The Sound of Music, and Show Boat. She also appeared on television from time to time. She co-starred in a 1960 TV movie called The Citadel.

She was a guest star on many TV shows. These included The DuPont Show with June Allyson, The Dick Powell Theatre, Wagon Train, and The Twilight Zone (in an episode called "Queen of the Nile"). She also appeared on Burke's Law and The Name of the Game. Ann Blyth also became a spokesperson for Hostess Cupcakes.

Her last TV appearances were in episodes of Switch and Quincy, M.E. in 1983. Her very last role was in Murder, She Wrote in 1985. After that, she officially retired from acting.

Ann Blyth has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is at 6733 Hollywood Boulevard. This star honors her contributions to the film industry.

Live performance

Ann Blyth performed live in concert tours for many years. Harper MacKay was her accompanist and music director.

Personal life

In 1953, Ann Blyth married James McNulty. He was a doctor who delivered babies. James was the brother of singer Dennis Day, who introduced them. Other actresses like Joan Leslie and Jane Withers were bridesmaids at her wedding. The couple received a special blessing from the pope. After she got married, Ann Blyth took a break from her career. She wanted to focus on raising their five children.

Honors

In 1973, Ann Blyth and her husband, who were both Roman Catholics, received a special honor. They were named Lady and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. This was in a ceremony led by Cardinal Cooke.

In 2003, Ann Blyth received the Living Legacy Award. This award was given by the Women's International Center.

Later years

Ann Blyth's husband, Dr. McNulty, passed away on May 13, 2007. He was 79 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio appearances

Award nominations

See also

In Spanish: Ann Blyth para niños