Ann Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Robinson
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![]() Robinson in 1955
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Born | May 25, 1929 |
Years active | 1949–2005 |
Spouse(s) |
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Children | 2 |
Ann Robinson, born on May 25, 1929, is a former American actress. She was also a skilled stunt horse rider. She is best known for her role in the science-fiction movie The War of the Worlds (1953). She also starred in the 1954 film Dragnet. In Dragnet, she played a Los Angeles police officer.
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Ann Robinson's Early Life and Horse Riding Skills
Ann Robinson was born on May 25, 1929. She went to Hollywood High School in California. Her father worked at the Bank of Hollywood. He taught her how to ride horses when she was only three years old.
Ann became a very good horse rider. This skill helped her get her first job in Hollywood. She worked as a stunt rider in the movie Frenchie. She even doubled for actress Shelley Winters in that film.
Ann Robinson's Acting Career in Movies and TV
After her stunt work, Ann Robinson began acting. She starred in many Western movies. These included The Cimarron Kid (1951) with Audie Murphy. She also appeared in Gun Brothers (1956) and Gun Duel in Durango (1957).
Becoming a Star in The War of the Worlds
In the early 1950s, Paramount Pictures signed Ann Robinson as an actress. Her first main role was Sylvia Van Buren in The War of the Worlds (1953). She starred alongside Gene Barry in this famous science-fiction movie.
She played a similar character in later films. These included Midnight Movie Massacre (1988) and The Naked Monster (2005). She also appeared in three episodes of the TV series War of the Worlds (1988).
Other Notable Roles
Ann Robinson worked on several other movies. She was in Imitation of Life (1959). She also appeared in the thriller Julie (1956) with Doris Day.
She had a starring role in Dragnet (1954). This movie was based on a popular TV show. From 1955 to 1959, Ann was in 10 episodes of the NBC children's Western TV series Fury. She played Helen Watkins, a teacher.
Ann Robinson also appeared in many other TV shows. Some of these were Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Hospital, and Perry Mason. She was also in Gilligan's Island and Days of Our Lives.
Voice Work and Later Appearances
Ann Robinson also did voice-overs for films. She voiced the main actress in To Begin Again. This movie won an Oscar for best foreign film in 1984.
In 1985, she was in a documentary about George Pal. This was the director of The War of the Worlds. In 2005, Ann Robinson had a small role in the Steven Spielberg film, War of the Worlds. She played the grandmother of Dakota Fanning's character. Her original co-star, Gene Barry, also had a cameo. After this role, she retired from acting.
Ann Robinson's Personal Life
Ann Robinson lived in Mexico for a time. While there, she continued to act in some Hollywood films. She later married Joseph Valdez in 1987. They lived in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.
Selected Filmography
- Rawhide (1960) as Julia Garcia
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1961) as Helen Cox