Ann Sothern was a versatile and talented actress who worked in stage, radio, film, and television for nearly six decades. She was best known for her comedic roles as Maisie Ravier, a Brooklyn showgirl, in a series of ten films from 1939 to 1947, and as Susie McNamara, a secretary, in the sitcom Private Secretary from 1953 to 1957. She also earned critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her supporting role as Tisha Doughty, a neighbor of Lillian Gish and Bette Davis, in the 1987 film The Whales of August. But how did Ann Sothern die? What was the cause of her death? And what was her life like before she passed away? Here are some facts and details about the life and death of Ann Sothern.
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Early Life and Career
Ann Sothern was born Harriette Arlene Lake on January 22, 1909, in Valley City, North Dakota. She was the oldest of three daughters of Walter J. Lake, an importer and exporter, and Annette Yde, a concert singer. Her maternal grandfather was Hans Nielsen, a Danish violinist. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she began taking piano lessons at the age of five. She later studied at McPhail School of Music, where her mother taught piano. She also sang solos in her church choir and took voice lessons.
She began her career in the late 1920s as an extra in films. She moved to New York City in 1930 and made her Broadway debut in the musical Smiles. She soon landed starring roles in musical comedies such as Everybody’s Welcome and America’s Sweetheart. She also sang with Artie Shaw’s orchestra and recorded two albums.
She returned to Hollywood in 1933 and signed a contract with Columbia Pictures. She appeared in several films for Columbia, such as Let’s Fall in Love (1933), Kid Millions (1934), and The Girl Friend (1935). She dyed her hair blonde for comedy roles and changed her name to Ann Sothern. She left Columbia in 1936 and joined RKO Pictures, where she starred in a series of films with Gene Raymond, such as Walking on Air (1936), Smartest Girl in Town (1936), and There Goes My Girl (1937).
Stardom at MGM
In 1938, Sothern left RKO and signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the most prestigious studio at the time. She played Jean Livingstone, a detective’s love interest, in Trade Winds (1938), which was a hit. In 1939, she was cast as Maisie Ravier, a brash yet lovable Brooklyn showgirl who gets into various adventures and romances, in Maisie (1939). The film was originally intended for Jean Harlow, who died in 1937. The film was a huge success and spawned nine sequels: Congo Maisie (1940), Gold Rush Maisie (1940), Maisie Was a Lady (1941), Ringside Maisie (1941), Maisie Gets Her Man (1942), Swing Shift Maisie (1943), Maisie Goes to Reno (1944), Up Goes Maisie (1946), and Undercover Maisie (1947). The character also inspired a radio series called The Adventures of Maisie from 1945 to 1953.
Sothern also appeared in other films for MGM, such as Brother Orchid (1940), with Edward G. Robinson; Lady Be Good (1941), with Robert Young; Panama Hattie (1942), with Red Skelton; Cry ‘Havoc’ (1943), with Margaret Sullavan; A Letter to Three Wives (1949), with Jeanne Crain; Nancy Goes to Rio (1950), with Jane Powell; and Shadow on the Wall (1950), with Zachary Scott. She also lent her voice to the dragonfly Margalo in the animated film The Secret Garden (1949).
Television Success
In 1950, Sothern left MGM after her contract expired. She turned to television and starred in her own sitcom Private Secretary from 1953 to 1957. She played Susie McNamara, a secretary who works for Peter Sands (Don Porter), a talent agent. The show was popular and earned Sothern three Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 1958, she starred in another sitcom called The Ann Sothern Show from 1958 to 1961. She played Katy O’Connor, the assistant manager of the Bartley House hotel. The show also featured her daughter Tisha Sterling, who played her niece. The show was also well received and earned Sothern another Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 1965, she provided the voice of Gladys Crabtree, the title character in the sitcom My Mother the Car. The show was about a man (Jerry Van Dyke) who discovers that his mother has been reincarnated as a 1928 Porter car. The show was widely panned and lasted only one season.
Later Years and Death
Sothern continued to work in stage, film, and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She appeared in Broadway plays such as The Seven Year Itch (1955), The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956), and The Best Man (1960). She also guest-starred in TV shows such as The Lucy Show (1965-1967), The Virginian (1967), Bewitched (1968), and The Love Boat (1979).
She suffered from health problems in the 1980s, such as hepatitis, spinal meningitis, and a near-fatal blood clot. She also had a mastectomy and a stroke. She made her last film appearance in The Whales of August (1987), with Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. She played Tisha Doughty, a neighbor of two elderly sisters who live on an island in Maine. She received rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
She retired from acting after the film and moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where she lived with her daughter. She died from heart failure on March 15, 2001, at the age of 92. She was buried at Ketchum Cemetery.
Legacy and Influence
Ann Sothern was one of the most popular and versatile actresses of her time. She excelled in comedy, drama, musicals, and animation. She was also a pioneer in television, being one of the first female stars to produce her own shows. She influenced many comedians and actresses, such as Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, and Goldie Hawn. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Ann Sothern cause of death was heart failure, but she left behind a legacy of laughter and joy. She was a golden age actress who brightened the screen with her charm, wit, and talent. She will always be remembered as Maisie, Susie, Katy, Tisha, Margalo, and many other memorable characters she brought to life.
