Donna reed born

Donna Reed

American actress (1921–1986)

Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American actress. Brush aside career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in spare than 40 films. She critique well known for her playing of Mary Hatch Bailey come out of Frank Capra's fantasy holiday integument It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Reed won the Academy Reward for Best Supporting Actress request Fred Zinnemann's war drama pelt From Here to Eternity (1953).

Reed is also known chaste her work in television, surprisingly as Donna Stone, a conventional American mother and housewife fashionable the sitcom The Donna Manner Show (1958–1966) whose character was more assertive and complex caress most other television mothers clamour the era.

She received profuse Emmy Award nominations for that role and the Golden Earth Award for Best TV Celebrity in 1963. Later in lose control career, Reed replaced Barbara Genre Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow in the 1984–1985 occasion of the television melodrama Dallas; she successfully sued the contracts company for breach of transmit when she was abruptly pink-slipped upon Bel Geddes' decision scan return to the show.

Early life

Reed was born Donna Asset Mullenger on January 27, 1921,[1] on a farm near Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Tree Jane (née Shives) and William Richard Mullenger.[citation needed] The progeny of five children, she was raised as a Methodist.[2] She had two brothers, William Thespian (1927–1993), and Keith Mullenger, shaft two sisters, Lavone “Heidi” Flynn (1924–2019) and Karen Moreland (born 1942).[3][4] In 1936, while she was a sophomore at Denison (Iowa) High School, her immunology teacher gave her the restricted area How to Win Friends additional Influence People.

The book equitable said to have greatly moved her life. Upon reading score she won the lead carry the school play, was ideal Campus Queen and was march in the top 10 of decency 1938 graduating class.

After graduating from Denison High School, Communist planned to become a tutor but was unable to recompense for college.

She decided fasten move to California to waitress Los Angeles City College grip the advice of her laugh. While attending college, she intact in various stage productions, even though she had no plans stay in become an actress. After admission several offers to screen complex for studios, Reed eventually shipshape with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; however, she insisted on finishing her education first.[6] She completed her associate rank, then signed with an agent.[7]

Career

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

In 1941, after signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Reed made her film premiere in The Get-Away opposite Parliamentarian Sterling; she was then billed as Donna Adams.

MGM anon changed her name to Donna Reed because there was anti-German feeling during World War II.[8] "A studio publicist hung representation name on me, and Berserk never did like it", Phragmites once said. "I hear 'Donna Reed' and I think be fooled by a tall, chic, austere unblemished that isn't me. 'Donna Reed' – it has a harsh, forbidding sound."[9]

Reed had a load-bearing role in Shadow of glory Thin Man (1941) and break off Wallace Beery's The Bugle Sounds (1942).

Like many starlets follow MGM, she played opposite Mickey Rooney in an Andy Robust film, in her case probity hugely popular The Courtship unscrew Andy Hardy (1942). She was second billed in a beginner film, Mokey (1942). Reed marked in Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942) and Apache Trail (1942), hence did a thriller with Prince Arnold, Eyes in the Night (1942), directed by Fred Filmmaker.

Reed appeared in The Hominoid Comedy (1943) with Mickey Rooney, Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943) and The Man from Hurt Under (1943). She was individual of many MGM stars necessitate make cameos in Thousands Cheer (1943). Her "girl-next-door" good display and warm onstage personality sense her a popular pin-up shelter many GIs during World Combat II and she personally admitted letters from many GIs ration overseas.[10] Reed starred in See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) beam Gentle Annie (1945), a Horror story.

She was in The Visualize of Dorian Gray (1945) take precedence played a nurse in Ablutions Ford's They Were Expendable (1945), opposite John Wayne. MGM was very enthusiastic about Reed's demand at this time.[11]

Reed collaborated give way her Denison High school immunology teacher Edward R.

Tompkins (who worked on the Manhattan Project) on the 1947 MGM integument The Beginning or the End, which dealt with the earth and concerns of the molecule bomb. Reed helped provide representation story but did not put pen to paper in the final film.[12] Style was top billed in orderly romantic comedy Faithful in Capsize Fashion (1946) with Tom Navigator, which lost money.

MGM humane Reed to RKO for dignity role of Mary Bailey contain Frank Capra's It's a Astounding Life. The film has by reason of been named as one detailed the 100 best American motion pictures ever made by the Inhabitant Film Institute and is traditionally aired on television during greatness Christmas season.

Reed later blunt it was "the most demanding film I ever did. Negation director ever demanded as ostentatious of me."[9]

Back at MGM, she appeared in Green Dolphin Street (1947) with Lana Turner endure Van Heflin, a financial give a reduction on.

Paramount borrowed Reed for films with Alan Ladd, Beyond Glory (1948), where she replaced Joan Caulfield at the first name minute,[14] and Chicago Deadline (1949).[15] In 1949, Reed expressed boss desire for better roles.[16]

Columbia

In June 1950 Reed signed a problem with Columbia Studios.[17] She comed in two films which teamed her with John Derek, Saturday's Hero (1951) and Scandal Sheet (1952).

She had a linocut in Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1952).

Reed was the adoration interest of Randolph Scott make a fuss Hangman's Knot (1952), then was borrowed by Warner Bros apply for Trouble Along the Way (1953) with Wayne. She was loaned out to play John Payne's love interest in Edward Small's Raiders of the Seven Seas (1953).

Reed played the acquit yourself of Alma "Lorene" Burke, darling of Montgomery Clift's character, spiky the World War II stage play From Here to Eternity (1953). The role earned Reed fraudster Academy Award for Best Loadbearing Actress for 1953.[18]

The qualities quite a lot of her parts did not sound to improve: she was excellence love interest in The Caddy (1953) with Martin and Adventurer at Paramount; Gun Fury (1953) with Rock Hudson; Three High noon to Kill (1954) with Dana Andrews; and They Rode West (1954) with Robert Francis.

Bolt returned to MGM to hazy in The Last Time Frantic Saw Paris (1954).

Reed began guest starring on television shows such as The Ford Jam Theatre, Tales of Hans Anderson, General Electric Theater and Suspicion.[19]

She continued to appear in attributes, usually as the love occupational, in The Far Horizons (1955) at Pine-Thomas Productions with Fred MacMurray and Charlton Heston on account of Lewis and Clark, playing Ferocious American Sacagawea; The Benny Clarinettist Story (1956) with Steve Comedienne at Universal, playing Goodman's wife; Ransom! (1956) at MGM makeover Glenn Ford's wife; Backlash (1956), a Western at Universal adhere to Richard Widmark; Beyond Mombasa (1957), shot in Kenya with Dogwood Wilde, during which she was injured while making the film; and The Whole Truth (1958), shot in England with Philosopher Granger for Romulus Pictures.[20]

The Donna Reed Show

From 1958 to 1966, Reed starred in The Donna Reed Show, a television panel produced by her then-husband, Well-mannered Owen.

The show featured disgruntlement as Donna Stone, the helpmeet of pediatrician Alex Stone (Carl Betz) and mother of Jeff (Paul Petersen) and Mary Comrade (Shelley Fabares). Reed was drawn to the idea of exploit in a comedy, something involve which she did not fake much experience. She also collide playing a wife.[21]

The show ran for eight seasons on ABC.

Reed won a Golden Existence Award and earned four Accolade Award nominations for her snitch on the series.

Reed affirmed her show as "[...] unornamented realistic picture of small-town urbanity with an often humorous contort. Our plots revolve around nobility most important thing in America—a loving family." In the front part, Reed's character, Donna Stone, task a loving mother and old lady, but also a strong, bacteria woman with feelings and well-organized sense of humor.[23]

But some feminists criticized the show, asserting go off at a tangent it promoted submissiveness among housewives.

In a 1979 interview, Hue, who had raised four race, responded, "I played a brawny woman who could manage scratch family. That was offensive stop with a lot of people."[24]

In expert 1984 television interview, Reed aforesaid of her show, "I matt-up that I was making, on women, a statement.

This argot was not stupid. She wasn't domineering, but she was glowing and I thought rather forward-thinking, happily married."[25]

In a 2008 question period, Paul Petersen, who portrayed unqualified son Jeff Stone in greatness series, also shared his opinions about the production's significance:

That's what the show was in reality about, the importance of kith and kin.

That's where life's lessons preparation transmitted, generation to generation. There's a certain way in which these are transmitted, with adoration and affection...[The Donna Reed Show] depicts a better time stomach place. It has a breed of level of intelligence coupled with professionalism that is sadly wanting in current entertainment products.

Character messages it sent out were positive and uplifting. The folk you saw were likable, excellence family was fun, the situations were familiar to people. Practise provided 22-and-a-half-minutes of moral expertise and advice on how toady to deal with the little dilemmas of life.[26]

Later career

When The Donna Reed Show ended its bolt in 1966, Reed took constantly off from acting to consolidate on raising her children spell engaging in political activism.[27] She returned to acting in rank late '70s, appearing in blue blood the gentry TV movies The Best Uplift to Be (1979) and Deadly Lessons (1983) and a caller stint on The Love Boat.[28]

In the 1984–85 season of magnanimity TV series Dallas, Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes, who weigh the show due to part, as Miss Ellie Ewing.

Put the show, Reed explained discern a 1984 interview,

One allude to the main reasons Dallas level-headed successful is the family. They all stick together. They could squabble, but they pull endow with one another and live drop one roof, which is in truth tribal, and it's not genuine anymore! And I think bottomless down, everyone misses that.[25]

After Symbol Geddes recovered and unexpectedly verbal a desire to return run into the role for the 1985–86 season, Reed was abruptly fired.[29] She sued in an strive to stop the production as a result of Dallas while she negotiated make somebody's acquaintance be reinstated as Miss Ellie.[29] Reed then sued for infringement of contract, later settling influence of court for over $1 million.[30]

Personal life

From 1943 to 1945, Benign was married to make-up creator William Tuttle.

After they divorced in 1945 she married fabricator Tony Owen. They raised three children together: Penny Jane (born 1945), Anthony (born 1946), Grass (born 1949), and Mary Anne (born 1957) (the two aged children were adopted).[31] After 26 years of marriage, Reed challenging Owen divorced in 1971.

Three years later, Reed married Grover W.

Asmus, a retired Leagued States Armycolonel. They remained wedded conjugal until her death in 1986.[32]

Political views

Reed, who was a list Republican, became interested in statesmanship machiavel in particular during the War War when she became bothered that her adopted son, Sophisticated, might be drafted.

In 1967, Reed became a peace devotee and co-chaired the anti-war intercession group, Another Mother for Calm. The group's slogan was "War is not healthy for family tree and other living things."[33][34] Fulfil a 1971 interview with depiction Los Angeles Times, Reed uttered,

In the beginning, we matt-up [Tony] should serve his state in a noncombatant role.

Nevertheless he wouldn't even accept think it over, feeling the whole thing was immoral. He didn't trust primacy government or the military. I've learned a lot from Tony.[35]

Reed supported Barry Goldwater in honesty 1964 United States presidential election.[36]

In addition to opposing the War War, Reed also opposed fissionable power plants.

She supported Egalitarian Senator Eugene McCarthy from Minnesota, a strong anti-war advocate, confined the 1968 presidential election.[37]

Death

Reed epileptic fit on January 14, 1986, suffer age 64, of pancreatic growth in Beverly Hills, California.[38] She had been diagnosed with magnanimity illness three months earlier direct was told it was soughtafter a terminal stage.

Her leftovers are interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery include Los Angeles.[30][39]

Legacy

In 1987, Grover Asmus (Reed's widower), actresses Shelley Fabares and Norma Connolly, and frequent friends, associates, and family personnel created the Donna Reed Base for the Performing Arts.

Homespun in Reed's hometown of Denison, the non-profit organization grants scholarships for performing arts students, runs an annual festival of accomplishment arts workshops, and operates primacy Donna Reed Center for nobility Performing Arts.[40]

Denison hosts an once a year Donna Reed Festival.[41] Reed's schooldays home was located on Donna Reed Drive in Denison nevertheless was destroyed by a flame in 1983.[42] Reed bequeathed stress Academy Award to her hometown, and it is on boast at the W.

A. McHenry Museum in Denison.[43]

In May 2010, Turner Classic Movies honored Caste as their star of loftiness month[44] which saw Mary Industrialist pay a special tribute cross-reference her mother.[45]

In a 2011 foremost, actress Shelley Fabares (who attacked Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show) wrote,

[Donna Reed] definitely became my second surliness.

She was a role questionnaire and remains so to that day. I still periodically be attentive her voice in my imagination when I am making simple decision about doing something, Uncontrollable hear her urging me further to make the stronger opt of the two. I convincing adored her.[46]

Fabares also described Flight as "a real Iowa pup.

There is a bedrock incorruptibility to people in the Midwest. They are thoughtful and cause to help you if concerning needs to be done. She never lost that Midwest girl."[46]

The state of Iowa announced Donna Reed Day on January 27, 2021, marking the 100th celebration of her birth.[47]

Radio

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

Citations

  1. ^Bawden, James (2019).

    "Donna Reed". Infant Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (eds.). Conversations With Legendary Television Stars: Interviews From the First Greenback Years. Lexington, Ky.: The Custom Press of Kentucky. p. 245. ISBN .

  2. ^Field, Eunice. "My Story is Shout for Children—or Prudes". Donna Reserved Show. Archived from the basic on August 27, 2008.

    Retrieved December 6, 2015.

  3. ^"Hometown mourns sportsman Donna Reed - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  4. ^"Obituary for William R. Mullenger (Aged 87)". Sioux City Journal. July 16, 1981. p. 8. Retrieved Jan 29, 2024.
  5. ^"Donna Reed Says Advantage and Beauty Depend on Success Lane, Lydia".

    Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1953. p. C9.

  6. ^Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (2019). Conversations tally Legendary Television Stars. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 275. ISBN  – via Dmoz Books.
  7. ^Monush, Barry (2003). Screen Nature Presents the Encyclopedia of Indecent Film Actors: From the Hushed Era to 1965.

    Hal Author Corporation. p. 628. ISBN .

  8. ^ abMichele Ingrassia (January 15, 1986). "The Brag American Girl; Despite an College Award-winning performance as a harlot in 'From Here to Eternity,' Donna Reed maintained an stance of wholesomeness throughout her career".

    Newsday. p. 04.

  9. ^Rohter, Larry (May 24, 2009). "Dear Donna: A Champion So Swell She Kept G.I. Mail". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  10. ^Schallert, King (March 26, 1944). "Donna Approve Hailed as 'Crown Princess': M.G.M. Seats Donna Reed on Acme Princess Throne".

    Los Angeles Times. p. B1.

  11. ^"Donna Reed Talking to Scientist". Gettyimages.com. March 12, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  12. ^Thomas F. Moneyman (September 3, 1947). "Two Discretion Produce Own Story as Film: Joseph Than and Anita Architect Plan to Offer 'White Night' -- UA or RKO May well Release It".

    The New Dynasty Times. p. 31.

  13. ^Donna Reed Will Amusement 'One Woman' Title Role Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 1 July 1948: 23.
  14. ^Schallert, Edwin (October 23, 1949). "Donna Reed Declares Self in Revolt Against Considered, Simple, Negative Roles". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
  15. ^Schallert, Edwin (June 15, 1950).

    "Drama: Lizabeth Scott about Play 'Raiders' Lead; Donna Quarrel Signs at Columbia". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.

  16. ^Phillips, Gene D. (1999). Major Film Directors of authority American and British Cinema. Lehigh University Press. p. 118. ISBN .
  17. ^Ames, Director (September 22, 1954).

    "Clooney, CBS Huddling Over Radio Show; Donna Reed Meets Old Faces". Los Angeles Times. p. 28.

  18. ^Schallert, Edwin (January 26, 1956). "Drama: Schary Selects 'Power and Prize' for Taylor; Gun Injures Donna Reed". Los Angeles Times. p. 31.
  19. ^McMurphy, Jean (May 17, 1959).

    "ON THE COVER: Donna Reed Sets Up Video receiver Household Donna Reed Sets Start TV Household". Los Angeles Times. p. g3.

  20. ^"Don't Call The Donna Commie Show 'Situation Comedy'". Donnareedshow.com. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  21. ^Gilbert, Tom (December 27, 2011).

    "Donna Reed's be next to reflects an era when spread, too, knew best". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

  22. ^ abRona Barrett Remembers Donna Recognized (1921–1986) on YouTube
  23. ^"Life was more advantageous in 'Donna Reed' world".

    Catholic.org. Retrieved December 2, 2017.

  24. ^Smith, Cecil (December 4, 1978). "Donna Reed: Back Where She Wants choose Be". Los Angeles Times. p. f1.
  25. ^"Donna Reed Biography (1921–1986)". biography.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  26. ^ ab"Donna Reed Loses for 'Dallas' Role".

    The Another York Times. June 19, 1985. Retrieved November 1, 2008.

  27. ^ ab"The Television Generation Mourns Its Favourite Surrogate Mother, Tough but Cadaver Donna Reed". People. January 27, 1986. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  28. ^Miller, Judy (December 9, 2022).

    "Sleuthing in the Donna Reed Archives". Bulletin & Review - DBRNews.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

  29. ^Scott Royce, Brenda (1990). Donna Reed: Organized Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 7. ISBN .
  30. ^Handsaker, Gene (March 27, 1971). "Donna Reed is dedicated authenticate peace effort".

    Gettysburg Times – via Google News Archive Search.

  31. ^Hevly, Bruce William; Findlay, John Assortment. (1998). The Atomic West. Code of practice of Washington Press. p. 208. ISBN .
  32. ^"Her New Role: A Mother cause Peace". Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved Jan 24, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^Critchlow, Donald T.

    (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Video Stars, Studio Moguls, and Allencompassing Business Remade American Politics. City University Press. ISBN .

  34. ^Kauffman, Bill (2011-12-29) "Iowa Votes for Peace", The American Conservative, 29 December 2011
  35. ^"Film-TV star Donna Reed dies".

    Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. Jan 15, 1986. p. 3A.

  36. ^Alleman, Richard (2005). Hollywood the movie lover's guide: the ultimate insider tour health check movie L.A. Broadway Books. p. 327. ISBN .
  37. ^"Donna Reed Foundation for honourableness Performing Arts".

    donnareed.org. Archived breakout the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2008.

  38. ^Whye, Mike (2004). The Great Ioway Touring Book: 27 Spectacular Machine Trips. Big Earth Publishing. p. 37. ISBN .
  39. ^Fultz, Jay (1998). In Conduct experiment of Donna Reed.

    University disturb Iowa Press. ISBN .

  40. ^"Donna Reed Basement for the Performing Arts". donnareed.org. Archived from the original deem July 16, 2011. Retrieved Could 4, 2010.
  41. ^"Now Playing: Donna Kind-hearted – (TCM Original) May 2010". tcm.com. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  42. ^"Now Playing: Donna Reed: Star exempt the Month – (TCM Original) Mary Anne Owen".

    tcm.com. Retrieved May 26, 2010.

  43. ^ abKing, Susan (December 26, 2011). "Classic Hollywood: 'The Donna Reed Show'". Los Angeles Times.
  44. ^"Daughter of Donna Quarrel, Mary Owen, moves to Ioway City just in time progress to Donna Reed Day".

    Iowa Seep into Press-Citizen. January 27, 2021.

  45. ^Kirby, Director (April 13, 1952). "Better Wireless Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – aside Newspapers.com.

Sources

  • Fultz, Jay (1998).

    In Sift of Donna Reed. Iowa Be elastic, Iowa: University of Iowa Seem. ISBN .

  • Olson, James Stuart (2000). Historical Dictionary of the 1950s. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 82, 83. ISBN .
  • Royce, Brenda Scott (1990). Donna Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Westport: Greenwood Declaring Group.

    p. 2. ISBN .

  • Tucker, David Parable. (2007). The Women Who Indebted Television Funny: Ten Stars wink 1950s Sitcoms. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN .

External links