- Donna Reed
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Donna Reed 
Studio publicity photoBorn Donna Belle Mullenger
January 27, 1921
Denison, Iowa, U.S.Died January 14, 1986 (aged 64)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1941–85 Spouse William J. Tuttle (1943–45) (divorced)
Tony Owen (1945–71) (divorced) 4 children
Grover Asmus (1974–86) (her death)Children Penny Owen (adopted)
Tony Owen Jr. (adopted)
Timothy Owen
Mary OwenDonna Reed (January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American film and television actress.
With appearances in over 40 films, Reed received the 1953 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as the tramp[1] Lorene in the war drama From Here to Eternity. She is also noted for her role in the perennial Christmas favorite It's a Wonderful Life (1946). She also worked extensively in television, notably as Donna Stone, an American middle class mother in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966), in which she played a more prominent role than many other television mothers of the era and for which she received the 1963 Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star - Female. Later in Reed's career she replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie in 1984 season of the television melodrama, Dallas, and sued the production company for breach of contract when she was abruptly fired upon Bel Geddes's decision to return to the show.
Contents
Early life
Reed was born Donna Belle Mullenger on a farm near Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Hazel Jane Shives (1899–1975) and William Richard Mullenger (1893–1981).[2] The eldest of five children, she was raised as a Methodist.[3] After graduating from Denison High School, Reed planned to become a teacher, but was unable to pay for college. She decided to move to California to attend Los Angeles City College on the advice of her aunt. While attending college, she performed in various stage productions but had no plans to become an actress. After receiving several offers to screen test for studios, Reed eventually signed with MGM, but insisted on finishing her education first.[4]
Career
Reed in Shadow of the Thin Man, (1941)
After signing with MGM in 1941, Reed made her film debut that same year in The Get-Away, opposite Robert Sterling. Billed in her first feature as Donna Adams, MGM decided against the name and changed it to Donna Reed.[5] She starred in The Courtship of Andy Hardy and had a supporting role with Edward Arnold in Eyes in the Night (1942). In 1943, she appeared in The Human Comedy with Mickey Rooney, followed by roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray and They Were Expendable, both in 1945.
Her "girl-next-door" good looks and warm on-stage personality made her a popular pin-up for many GIs during World War II. She personally answered letters from many GIs serving overseas.[6]
In 1946, she was lent to RKO Pictures for the role of Mary Bailey in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. The film has since been named as one of the 100 best American films ever made by the American Film Institute and is regularly aired on television during the Christmas season.[7]
Following the release of It's a Wonderful Life, Reed appeared in Green Dolphin Street (1947) with Lana Turner and Van Heflin, and Scandal Sheet (1952). In 1953, she played the role of Alma "Lorene" Burke, a prostitute and mistress of Montgomery Clift's character in the World War II drama From Here to Eternity. The role earned Reed an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 1953.[8]
Beginning in 1958, she starred in The Donna Reed Show, a television situation-comedy series that featured her as Donna Stone, the idealized housewife of pediatrician Dr. Alex Stone (Carl Betz) and mother of Jeff (Paul Petersen) and Mary Stone (Shelley Fabares). It ran for eight seasons on ABC.[9] Reed won a Golden Globe Award and earned four Emmy Award nominations for her work on the series.
After The Donna Reed Show ended its run in 1966, Reed took time off from acting and helped form the advocacy group, Another Mother For Peace in 1967.[10] Reed also became an opponent of the Vietnam War and the use of nuclear weapons. She returned to acting in the 1970s, appearing in various guest spots in television series and television movies.[11]
In 1984, she replaced Barbara Bel Geddes, who had decided to step down from her role as "Miss Ellie" in the television series Dallas in the 1984-85 season. When Bel Geddes agreed to return to the role for the 1985-86 season, Reed was abruptly fired. She sued the show's production company for breach of contract[12] and later settled out of court for over $1 million.[13]
Personal life
From 1943 to 1945, Reed was married to make up artist William Tuttle. In 1945, she married producer Tony Owen (1907–1984) with whom she raised four children: Penny Jane, Anthony, Timothy, and Mary Anne (the two oldest children were adopted). Reed and Owen divorced in 1971, and three years later, she married retired U. S. Army Colonel Grover W. Asmus (1926–2003).[2][14]
During the Vietnam War, Reed was a peace activist, co-chairing a group opposed to the war called Another Mother for Peace.[15]
On January 8, 1945, Reed went to Juarez, Mexico, to obtain a divorce from Bill Tuttle. Returning home on the night of January 9, 1945, Reed boarded a plane in El Paso, Texas, for a flight back to Los Angeles. Just as the plane was about to take off, Reed was bumped from the flight to make room for a military officer. The airliner crashed on approach to Lockheed Air Terminal (now called Bob Hope Airport) in Burbank, California, killing everyone on board.[16]
Death
Reed died of pancreatic cancer in Beverly Hills, California, on January 14, 1986, thirteen days short of her 65th birthday. She had been diagnosed with the terminal illness three months prior. She is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.[13]
Legacy and tributes
Reed with the regular cast of The Donna Reed Show, (1958)In 1987, Grover Asmus (Reed's widower), actresses Shelley Fabares and Norma Connolly, and numerous friends, associates, and family members created the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts. Based in Reed's hometown of Denison, the non-profit organization grants scholarships for performing arts students, runs an annual festival of performing arts workshops, and operates "The Donna Reed Center for the Performing Arts".[17]
Reed's hometown of Denison, Iowa, hosts the annual Donna Reed Festival.[18] Reed's childhood home was located on Donna Reed Drive in Denison but was destroyed by a fire in 1983.[19]
Reed's Academy Award is on display at W.A. McHenry museum house in Denison, Iowa.[20]
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Donna Reed has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1610 Vine Street.
In May 2010 Turner Classic Movies honored Donna as their star of the month[21] which saw Mary Owen pay a special tribute to her mother.[22]
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1941 The Get-Away Maria Theresa 'Terry' O'Reilly Alternative title: The Getaway Shadow of the Thin Man Molly Babes on Broadway Jonesy's Secretary Uncredited 1942 Personalities Uncredited The Bugle Sounds Sally Hanson The Courtship of Andy Hardy Melodie Eunice Nesbit Mokey Anthea Delano Calling Dr. Gillespie Marcia Bradburn Apache Trail Rosalia Martinez Eyes in the Night Barbara Lawry 1943 The Human Comedy Bess Macauley Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case Marcia Bradburn Alternative title: Crazy to Kill The Man from Down Under Mary Wilson Thousands Cheer Customer in Red Skelton Skit 1944 See Here, Private Hargrove Carol Holliday Gentle Annie Mary Lingen 1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray Gladys Hallward They Were Expendable Lt. Sandy Davyss 1946 Faithful in My Fashion Jean Kendrick It's a Wonderful Life Mary Hatch Bailey Alternative title: Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life 1947 Green Dolphin Street Marguerite Patourel 1948 Beyond Glory Ann Daniels 1949 Chicago Deadline Rosita Jean D'Ur 1951 Saturday's Hero Melissa Alternative title: Idols in the Dust 1952 Scandal Sheet Julie Allison Alternative title: The Dark Page Hangman's Knot Molly Hull 1953 Trouble Along the Way Alice Singleton Alternative title: Alma Mater Raiders of the Seven Seas Alida From Here to Eternity Alma "Lorene" Burke Winner: Best Supporting Actress Academy Award The Caddy Kathy Taylor Gun Fury Jennifer Ballard 1954 They Rode West Laurie MacKaye Three Hours to Kill Laurie Mastin The Last Time I Saw Paris Marion Ellswirth/Matine 1955 The Far Horizons Sacajawea Alternative title: The Untamed West The Benny Goodman Story Alice Hammond 1956 Ransom! Edith Stannard Alternative title: Fearful Decision Backlash Karyl Orton Beyond Mombasa Ann Wilson 1958 The Whole Truth Carol Poulton 1974 Yellow-Headed Summer Television Year Title Role Notes 1954 The Ford Television Theatre Lydia Campbell 1 episode 1955 Tales of Hans Anderson 1 episode 1957 General Electric Theater Rayna 1 episode Suspicion Letty Jason 1 episode 1958–1966 The Donna Reed Show Donna Stone 275 episodes 1979 The Best Place to Be Sheila Callahan Television movie 1983 Deadly Lessons Miss Wade Television movie 1984 The Love Boat 2 episodes 1984–1985 Dallas Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Southworth Ewing Farlow 24 episodes, replacement 'mom' Awards and nominations
Year Award Result Category Film or series 1953 Academy Award Won Best Actress in a Supporting Role From Here to Eternity 1963 Golden Globe Award Best TV Star - Female The Donna Reed Show 1964 Golden Apple Awards Most Cooperative Actress - 1959 Emmy Award Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series The Donna Reed Show 1960 Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support) The Donna Reed Show 1961 Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) The Donna Reed Show 1962 Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) The Donna Reed Show 2004 TV Land Awards The Most Irreplaceable Replacement Dallas 2006 The Most Irreplaceable Replacement Dallas References
- ^ "she played Alma, the tramp who befriends Montgomery Clift" The Farmer's Daughter Who Went to Town
- ^ a b Donna Reed Biography (1921-1986). filmreference.com
- ^ Field, Eunice. "My Story is Not for Children--or Prudes". donnareedshow.com. http://www.donnareedshow.com/articles/prudes.html.
- ^ Scott Royce, Brenda (1990). Donna Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 2. ISBN 0-313-26806-1.
- ^ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the Silent Era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 628. ISBN 1-557-83551-9.
- ^ Rohter, Larry. "Dear Donna: A Pinup So Swell She Kept G.I. Mail," New York Times. May 25, 2009.
- ^ Scott Royce, Brenda (1990). Donna Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 5. ISBN 0-313-26806-1.
- ^ Phillips, Gene D. (1999). Major Film Directors of the American and British Cinema. Lehigh University Press. pp. 118. ISBN 0-934-22359-9.
- ^ Olson, James Stuart (2000). Historical Dictionary of the 1950s. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 82, 83. ISBN 0-313-30619-2.
- ^ Hevly, Bruce William; Findlay, John M. (1998). The Atomic West. University of Washington Press. pp. 208. ISBN 0-295-97716-7.
- ^ "Donna Reed Biography (1921-1986)". biography.com. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542105. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Donna Reed Loses Bid for 'Dallas' Role". The New York Times. 1985-06-19. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E6DC1039F93AA25755C0A963948260. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ a b "The Television Generation Mourns Its Favorite Surrogate Mother, Tough but Tender Donna Reed". People. 1986-01-27. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20092827,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Scott Royce, Brenda (1990). Donna Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 7. ISBN 0-313-26806-1.
- ^ "Donna Reed Is Dedicated To Peace Effort"
- ^ Fultz, Jay (1998). In Search Of Donna Reed. IA: University of Iowa Press. pp. 63. ISBN 0877456259.
- ^ "Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts". donnareed.org. http://www.donnareed.org/html/templates/dr_section.php?dr_section=fndn. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Whye, Mike (2004). The Great Iowa Touring Book: 27 Spectacular Auto Trips. Big Earth Publishing. pp. 37. ISBN 1-931-59935-1.
- ^ Fultz, Jay (1998). In Search Of Donna Reed. IA: University of Iowa Press. ISBN 0877456259.
- ^ "Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts". donnareed.org. http://www.donnareed.org/html/templates/dr_detail.php?dr_detail=oscar. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
- ^ "Now Playing: Donna Reed -- (TCM Original) May 2010". tcm.com. http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=312551. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ "Now Playing: Donna Reed: Star of the Month -- (TCM Original) Mary Anne Owen". tcm.com. http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=316325. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
Further reading
- Fultz, Jay (1998). In Search of Donna Reed. Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press. ISBN 0877456259.
- Tucker, David C. (2007). The Women Who Made Television Funny: Ten Stars of 1950s Sitcoms. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc.. ISBN 0786429003.
External links
- Donna Reed at the Internet Movie Database
- Donna Reed at the TCM Movie Database
- Donna Reed at AllRovi
- Donna Reed TCM Star of the Month May 2010
- The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts
- The Donna Reed Show
- Donna Reed at Find a Grave
- Photographs and literature
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1941–1960) Mary Astor (1941) · Teresa Wright (1942) · Katina Paxinou (1943) · Ethel Barrymore (1944) · Anne Revere (1945) · Anne Baxter (1946) · Celeste Holm (1947) · Claire Trevor (1948) · Mercedes McCambridge (1949) · Josephine Hull (1950) · Kim Hunter (1951) · Gloria Grahame (1952) · Donna Reed (1953) · Eva Marie Saint (1954) · Jo Van Fleet (1955) · Dorothy Malone (1956) · Miyoshi Umeki (1957) · Wendy Hiller (1958) · Shelley Winters (1959) · Shirley Jones (1960)
Complete list · (1936–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–2020) Categories:- 1921 births
- 1986 deaths
- Actors from Iowa
- American film actors
- American Methodists
- American television actors
- Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners
- Cancer deaths in California
- Deaths from pancreatic cancer
- Los Angeles City College alumni
- People from Crawford County, Iowa
- American people of English descent
- American activists
- 20th-century actors
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