Cathy O'Donnell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cathy O'Donnell
O'Donnell in 1959
Born	Ann Steely (1923-07-06)July 6, 1923 Siluria, Alabama, U.S.
Died	April 11, 1970(1970-04-11) (aged 46) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Alma mater	Oklahoma City University
Occupation	actress
Years active	1945–1964
Spouse(s)	Robert Wyler ​ (m. 1948)​

Cathy O'Donnell (born Ann Steely, July 6, 1923 – April 11, 1970) was an American actress. She was famous for her roles in movies like The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben-Hur. She also appeared in exciting crime films, often called film noir, such as Detective Story and They Live by Night.

Early life and acting dreams

Cathy O'Donnell was born Ann Steely in Siluria, Alabama. Her dad, Grady Steely, was a school teacher and owned a local movie theater. Her family moved a few times when she was young. First, they went to Greensboro, Alabama, when she was seven. Then, they moved to Oklahoma City when she was twelve.

In Oklahoma City, she went to Harding Junior High School and Classen High School. Cathy told a reporter in 1946 that she first wanted to be an actress when she was fourteen. This happened after she saw the movie A Star Is Born with Janet Gaynor.

After high school, she worked as a secretary for the U.S. Army. But she left that job to study acting at Oklahoma City University. There, she played Juliet in a college play of Romeo and Juliet. She then saved money for a short trip to Hollywood. She hoped to start a movie career there.

During her quick trip to Hollywood, someone from Samuel Goldwyn's team saw her at a drugstore. Samuel Goldwyn was a famous movie producer. Even though a screen test showed she had a strong Southern accent, Goldwyn liked how she looked. He signed her to a contract. He sent her to acting and speech lessons. He also had her act in local plays, including a play of Little Women.

Later, she changed her first name to Cathy. She picked it from the main character in the book Wuthering Heights. Then, she changed her last name to O'Donnell. Goldwyn's wife suggested this, saying that audiences liked actors with Irish last names.

Becoming a movie star

Cathy O'Donnell acted on stage in Boston in a play called Life with Father in 1944. She first appeared in a movie as an extra, without her name in the credits, in Wonder Man (1945).

Her first big movie role was in 1946. It was in the film The Best Years of Our Lives. She played Wilma Cameron, the high school girlfriend of Homer Parrish. Homer was a Navy veteran who had lost both his hands in World War II. The actor who played Homer, Harold Russell, was also a real-life World War II veteran with similar injuries.

Harold Russell and Cathy O'Donnell in The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946

Cathy O'Donnell was then loaned to another movie studio, RKO, for the film They Live by Night (1948). In this movie, Farley Granger played the person she loved. This film is considered one of the top crime films. Cathy and Farley acted together again in Side Street (1950).

Later, she starred in The Miniver Story (1950) as Judy Miniver. She also had a big supporting role in Detective Story (1951) with famous actor Kirk Douglas. She appeared in a western movie called The Man from Laramie (1955). In this film, she played Barbara Waggoman, who was the love interest of James Stewart's character.

Her last movie role was in the very famous film Ben-Hur (1959). She played Tirzah, who was the sister of the main character, Judah Ben-Hur.

In the 1960s, Cathy O'Donnell also appeared in TV shows. These included Perry Mason, The Rebel, and Man Without a Gun. Her very last appearance on screen was in 1964. It was in an episode of the popular western TV show Bonanza.

Family and later life

In 1946, while working on The Best Years of Our Lives, Cathy O'Donnell met Robert Wyler. He was the older brother of the film's director, William Wyler. On April 11, 1948, when she was 24, she married Robert, who was 47.

Cathy O'Donnell passed away on April 11, 1970. This was her 22nd wedding anniversary. She died after a long illness.

She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Filmography

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Cathy O'Donnell para niños