Ann Sothern

She was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1612 Vine Street; and for Television at 1634 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Daughter of Walter (January 10, 1885 - January 14, 1970), born in the state of Illinois, and Annette (née Nielsen) Lake (June 23, 1884 - December 13, 1962), born in Denmark. Paternal granddaughter of Frank and Sarah (née Conway) Lake. Both were born in England and emigrated to America as children.

Ann Sothern's film career started as an extra in 1927. Originally a redhead, she began to bleach her hair blonde for comedy roles.

After working at MGM and on Broadway, Ann was signed by Columbia Pictures for Let's Fall in Love (1933).

The next year she would work with Eddie Cantor in his hit Kid Millions (1934).

For the next two years, Ann would appear in a number of "B" pictures until she was dropped by Columbia in 1936. She then went to RKO, where the quality of her films did not improve. She appeared in a series of "B' pictures movies with Gene Raymond, but her career was going nowhere.

She wanted to play the prostitute in Lost Horizon (1937), but the role went to Isabel Jewell.

In 1938 she left RKO and played the tart in Trade Winds (1938), which got her a contract at MGM.

After appearing in 20th Century-Fox's Hotel for Women (1939), she turned down the studio's offer of a long-term contract in favor of signing one with rival Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 20th Century-Fox reportedly then cut down Sothern's role in order to favor newcomer Linda Darnell.

Ann also appeared in such well received features as Brother Orchid (1940), Cry 'Havoc' (1943) and A Letter to Three Wives (1949).

Sang the Oscar-winning song "The Last Time I Saw Paris" in Lady Be Good (1941).

She sang on tour with husband Roger Pryor's band. They divorced in 1942.

Although she was announced for Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), the role was eventually played by Lucille Ball.

Gave birth to her only child at age 35, a daughter Patricia Ann Sterling, aka Tisha Sterling, on December 10, 1944. Child's father was her second husband, Robert Sterling.

Ann Sothern has the distinction of co-starring (with Franchot Tone) in the first American film to play in newly-liberated Copenhagen (May 1945), following Denmark's five-year German occupation in World War II; the film is Fast and Furious (1939).

She was given the lead in a "B" comedy about a brassy, energetic showgirl not salesgirl--originally intended for Jean Harlow--that wound up becoming a huge hit and spawned a series of sequels that ran until 1947: Maisie (1939).

Portrayed Maisie Ravier on Mutual Radio's "The Adventures of Maisie" (1949-1951).

After 1950 the roles dried up and Ann turned to television and another hit series, playing the meddlesome Susie in the 1953 series Private Secretary (1953).

In her role as Susie McNamara on Private Secretary (1953) (which ran 1953-1958), Sothern played the first working woman on an American sitcom.

The series was canceled in 1957 and Ann came back in The Ann Sothern Show (1958), which ran from 1958 to 1961.

In 1965, she would be the voice of the 1928 Porter in the camp classic My Mother the Car (1965).

Became a grandmother for the first time at age 57 when her daughter Tisha Sterling gave birth to a daughter, Heidi K. Baum, on March 3, 1966.

Replaced Kim Stanley at the last minute in A Death of Innocence (1971), featuring her daughter Tisha Sterling, when Stanley was unable to perform.

Appeared with her daughter in The Whales of August (1987), in the prelude scene, portraying a younger-day Ann.

Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]

On August 12, 2019, she was honored with a day of her film work during the Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars.