Ann Sothern

Known For

Acting

Born

Jan 22, 1909

Died

Mar 15, 2001

Place of Birth

Valley City, North Dakota, USA

Credits

112 titles

Ann Sothern

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920s in bit parts in films. In 1930, she made her Broadway stage debut and soon worked her way up to starring roles. In 1939, MGM cast her as Maisie Ravier, a brash yet lovable Brooklyn showgirl. The character, based on the Maisie short stories by Nell Martin, proved to be popular and spawned a successful film series (Congo Maisie, Gold Rush Maisie, Up Goes Maisie, etc.) and a network radio series (The Adventures of Maisie). In 1953, Sothern moved into television as the star of her own sitcom Private Secretary. The series aired for five seasons on CBS and earned Sothern three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 1958, she starred in another sitcom for CBS, The Ann Sothern Show, which aired for three seasons. From 1965 to 1966, Sothern provided the voice of Gladys Crabtree, the title character in the sitcom My Mother the Car. She continued her career throughout the late 1960s with stage and film appearances and guest-starring roles on television. Due to health issues, she worked sporadically during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, Sothern appeared in her final film The Whales of August, starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. Sothern earned her first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. After filming concluded, she retired to Ketchum, Idaho, where she spent her remaining years before her death from heart failure in March 2001. Lucille Ball called Sothern "the best comedian in the business, bar none."

Known For

Filmography

1994

That's Entertainment! III

(archive footage)

Movie
1987

The Whales of August

Tisha Doughty

Movie
1985

A Letter to Three Wives

Ma Finney

Movie
1980

The Little Dragons

Angel

Movie
1978

Flying High

Tv
1978

The Manitou

Mrs. Karmann

Movie
1976

Captains and the Kings

Mrs. Finch

Tv
1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

Movie
1975

Medical Story

Mrs. Metulski

Tv
1975

Crazy Mama

Sheba

Movie
1974

Golden Needles

Finzie

Movie
1974

The Killing Kind

Thelma Lambert

Movie
1972

The Weekend Nun

Mother Bonaventure

Movie
1972

The Great Man's Whiskers

Aunt Margaret Bancroft

Movie
1972

Fol-de-Rol

Queen Gertrude

Movie
1971

A Death of Innocence

Annie La Cossit

Movie
1971

Congratulations, It's a Boy!

Ethel Gaines

Movie
1971

The Chicago Teddy Bears

Tv
1971

Alias Smith and Jones

Tv
1969

The Greatest Mother of 'em All

Dolly Murdock

Movie
1969

Love, American Style

Mrs. Devlin

Tv
1968

Chubasco

Angela

Movie
1967

The Outsider

Mrs. Kozzek

Movie
1966

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

Aunt Magda

Tv
1966

Family Affair

Tv
1965

My Mother the Car

Gladys Crabtree

Tv
1965

The Legend of Jesse James

Widow Fay

Tv
1965

Sylvia

Mrs. Argona / Grace Argona

Movie
1964

Lady in a Cage

Sade

Movie
1964

The Best Man

Sue Ellen Gamadge

Movie
1962

The Match Game

Herself

Tv
1962

The Merv Griffin Show

Self

Tv
1962

The Lucy Show

Rosie Harrigan

Tv
1962

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Helen Cox

Tv
1962

The Virginian

Della Spencer

Tv
1959

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

Martha

Tv
1958

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Tv
1958

The Ann Sothern Show

Katy O'Connor

Tv
1957

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Susie MacNamara

Tv
1956

The Steve Allen Show

Self - Guest

Tv
1955

MGM Parade

Tv
1954

Lady in the Dark

Liza

Movie
1953

Letter to Loretta

Self - Guest Host

Tv
1953

The Blue Gardenia

Crystal Carpenter

Movie
1953

Private Secretary

Susie McNamara

Tv
1952

The Ford Television Theatre

Christine Emerson

Tv
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Liz Quiz

Tv
1950

Shadow on the Wall

Dell Faring

Movie
1950

Nancy Goes to Rio

Frances Elliott

Movie
1950

What's My Line?

Self

Tv