Ann Sothern

Ann Sothern

Acting
Born 1909-01-22 - Died 2001-03-15Valley City, North Dakota, USA

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."

Movies (86)

Cry 'Havoc'
6.5

Cry 'Havoc'

1943Movie6.5
Madam Satan
5.9

Madam Satan

1930Movie5.9
Kid Millions
6.7

Kid Millions

1934Movie6.7
The Best Man
7.3

The Best Man

1964Movie7.3
A Letter to Three Wives
7.2

A Letter to Three Wives

1949Movie7.2
The Manitou
5.4

The Manitou

1978Movie5.4
The Show of Shows
6.6

The Show of Shows

1929Movie6.6
Panama Hattie
5.7

Panama Hattie

1942Movie5.7
That's Entertainment! III
7.1

That's Entertainment! III

1994Movie7.1
Maisie Was a Lady
7.0

Maisie Was a Lady

1941Movie7.0
Super-Sleuth
5.6

Super-Sleuth

1937Movie5.6
Hotel for Women
7.5

Hotel for Women

1939Movie7.5
Shadow on the Wall
6.7

Shadow on the Wall

1950Movie6.7
Thousands Cheer
6.4

Thousands Cheer

1943Movie6.4
Twenty Years After
8.0

Twenty Years After

1944Movie8.0
Brother Orchid
6.6

Brother Orchid

1940Movie6.6
Crazy Mama
5.6

Crazy Mama

1975Movie5.6
Sylvia
6.3

Sylvia

1965Movie6.3
Ringside Maisie
5.6

Ringside Maisie

1941Movie5.6
Melody in Spring
8.0

Melody in Spring

1934Movie8.0
That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976Movie7.0
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
5.0

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

1939Movie5.0
Maisie Goes to Reno
6.6

Maisie Goes to Reno

1944Movie6.6
Congo Maisie
4.4

Congo Maisie

1940Movie4.4
Danger – Love at Work
7.0

Danger – Love at Work

1937Movie7.0
Blind Date
8.0

Blind Date

1934Movie8.0
The Blue Gardenia
6.5

The Blue Gardenia

1953Movie6.5
Dangerous Number
4.9

Dangerous Number

1937Movie4.9
Maisie Gets Her Man
6.7

Maisie Gets Her Man

1942Movie6.7
She's Got Everything
5.8

She's Got Everything

1937Movie5.8
Dulcy
6.4

Dulcy

1940Movie6.4
Words and Music
5.8

Words and Music

1948Movie5.8
Golden Needles
5.3

Golden Needles

1974Movie5.3
The Outsider
8.0

The Outsider

1967Movie8.0
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
6.8

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940Movie6.8
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
5.8

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940Movie5.8
Folies Bergère de Paris
6.0

Folies Bergère de Paris

1935Movie6.0
Lady in a Cage
6.1

Lady in a Cage

1964Movie6.1
The Whales of August
7.0

The Whales of August

1987Movie7.0
Fifty Roads to Town
10.0

Fifty Roads to Town

1937Movie10.0
Hell-Ship Morgan
6.0

Hell-Ship Morgan

1936Movie6.0
Eight Bells
6.5

Eight Bells

1935Movie6.5
Trade Winds
6.4

Trade Winds

1938Movie6.4
Nancy Goes to Rio
6.0

Nancy Goes to Rio

1950Movie6.0
Swing Shift Maisie
6.8

Swing Shift Maisie

1943Movie6.8
Three Hearts for Julia
6.5

Three Hearts for Julia

1943Movie6.5
The Great Man's Whiskers
8.0

The Great Man's Whiskers

1972Movie8.0
Undercover Maisie
8.0

Undercover Maisie

1947Movie8.0
Up Goes Maisie
6.8

Up Goes Maisie

1946Movie6.8
Lady Be Good
5.5

Lady Be Good

1941Movie5.5
Gold Rush Maisie
6.8

Gold Rush Maisie

1940Movie6.8
April Showers
6.5

April Showers

1948Movie6.5
You May Be Next!
4.8

You May Be Next!

1936Movie4.8
The Girl Friend
7.0

The Girl Friend

1935Movie7.0
Ali Baba Goes to Town
6.0

Ali Baba Goes to Town

1937Movie6.0
The Hell Cat
8.0

The Hell Cat

1934Movie8.0
Grand Exit
6.6

Grand Exit

1935Movie6.6
The Weekend Nun
7.0

The Weekend Nun

1972Movie7.0
The Little Dragons
5.4

The Little Dragons

1980Movie5.4
Fast and Furious
5.2

Fast and Furious

1939Movie5.2
Hooray for Love
5.8

Hooray for Love

1935Movie5.8
Chubasco
4.5

Chubasco

1968Movie4.5
Good News
6.3

Good News

1930Movie6.3
You, John Jones!
6.3

You, John Jones!

1943Movie6.3
My American Wife
7.5

My American Wife

1936Movie7.5
Maisie
4.8

Maisie

1939Movie4.8
There Goes the Groom
6.3

There Goes the Groom

1937Movie6.3
Walking on Air
6.3

Walking on Air

1936Movie6.3
The Killing Kind
6.0

The Killing Kind

1974Movie6.0
Whoopee!
6.5

Whoopee!

1930Movie6.5
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
6.3

Broadway Thru a Keyhole

1933Movie6.3
A Letter to Three Wives
3.8

A Letter to Three Wives

1985Movie3.8
The Judge Steps Out
6.8

The Judge Steps Out

1947Movie6.8
Congratulations, It's a Boy!
6.5

Congratulations, It's a Boy!

1971Movie6.5
A Death of Innocence
7.0

A Death of Innocence

1971Movie7.0
Fol-de-Rol

Fol-de-Rol

1972Movie
Let's Fall in Love
8.0

Let's Fall in Love

1933Movie8.0
Broadway Nights
8.0

Broadway Nights

1927Movie8.0
Don't Gamble with Love
10.0

Don't Gamble with Love

1936Movie10.0
Smartest Girl in Town
5.8

Smartest Girl in Town

1936Movie5.8
There Goes My Girl
7.5

There Goes My Girl

1937Movie7.5
The Party's Over
5.0

The Party's Over

1934Movie5.0
Song of the West
9.0

Song of the West

1930Movie9.0
The Greatest Mother of 'em All

The Greatest Mother of 'em All

1969Movie
The March of Time
7.0

The March of Time

1930Movie7.0
Lady in the Dark
7.7

Lady in the Dark

1954Movie7.7

TV Shows (26)

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
7.9

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

1962Series7.9
Love, American Style
6.2

Love, American Style

1969Series6.2
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Lucy Show
7.0

The Lucy Show

1962Series7.0
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Family Affair
6.7

Family Affair

1966Series6.7
The Steve Allen Show
6.2

The Steve Allen Show

1956Series6.2
The Ford Television Theatre
7.8

The Ford Television Theatre

1952Series7.8
Alias Smith and Jones
7.0

Alias Smith and Jones

1971Series7.0
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
6.9

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

1966Series6.9
MGM Parade
7.5

MGM Parade

1955Series7.5
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
6.8

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

1959Series6.8
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6.3

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958Series6.3
The Match Game
8.1

The Match Game

1962Series8.1
The Legend of Jesse James
5.8

The Legend of Jesse James

1965Series5.8
Flying High
6.3

Flying High

1978Series6.3
Private Secretary
6.0

Private Secretary

1953Series6.0
My Mother the Car
4.8

My Mother the Car

1965Series4.8
Medical Story
5.0

Medical Story

1975Series5.0
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
8.7

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

1957Series8.7
Captains and the Kings
8.8

Captains and the Kings

1976Series8.8
The Ann Sothern Show
7.5

The Ann Sothern Show

1958Series7.5
Letter to Loretta
6.6

Letter to Loretta

1953Series6.6
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
The Chicago Teddy Bears
6.7

The Chicago Teddy Bears

1971Series6.7