About Ann Sothern (1909 - 2001)

Ann Sothern was born on January 22, 1909 in Valley City, North Dakota. Ann's name given at birth was Harriette Arlene Lake.

On March 15, 2001, Ann Sothern died of heart failure in Ketchum, Idaho.

Roger Pryor married Ann Sothern in 1936, they were divorced in 1943. In 1943 Ann married Robert Sterling and they had one daughter. They were divorced in 1949. Their daughter, Tisha Sterling was cast with her Mother in THE WHALES OF AUGUST in 1987.

In 1927, Ann Sothern began her film career as an extra. She originally was a redhead but began to die her hair blonde after working for MGM and on Broadway.

Ann Sothern was signed by Columbia Pictures for a role in LET'S FALL IN LOVE in 1933. In 1934 she was cast in the hit film, KID MILLIONS. She was dropped by Columbia Pictures in 1936.

In 1938, Ann Sothern was cast in the film, TRADE WINDS which got her a contract at MGM. She was cast as an energetic showgirl, a part that was intended for Jean Harlow in the film MAISIE, and it wound up being a big hit and began a series of sequels that ran until 1947.

In 1953, Ann Sothern turned to television and was cast on a hit series, PRIVATE SECRETARY.  She played the first working woman on an American TV sitcom.  The series was canceled in 1957 and Ann came back in THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW which ran from 1958 to 1961. In 1965, Ann Sothern played the voice of the 1928 Porter in MY MOTHER THE CAR.

Ann Sothern was cast in the role of Tish Doughty in the drama WHALES OF AUGUST.  The film was about summer people in Maine and how things change.  A viewer's comment about this movie was: it was Timeless Grace and Beauty. Ann was nominated for her role as the neighbor of Lillian Gish and Bette Davis.

Some of Ann Sothern's credits include -

THE WHALES OF AUGUST - 1987
A LETTER TO THREE WIVES - 1985
THE MANITOU - 1978
GOLDEN NEEDLES - 1974
CHUBASCO - 1968
SYLVIA - 1965
THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW - TV Series - 1958
PRIVATE SECRETARY - TV Series 1953 - 1957
SHADOW ON THE WALL - 1950
WORDS AND MUSIC - 1948
THOUSANDS CHEER - 1943
DULSY - 1940
THERE GOES THE GROOM - 1937
KID MILLIONS - 1934
DOUGHBOYS - 1930
HEARTS IN EXILE - 1929

Awards achieved by Ann Sothern -

Golden Globe - THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW - 1959

Ann Sothern in THE WHALES OF AUGUST (1987)

 

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