Canadian actresses who were born in 1917
Here are 5 famous actresses from Canada were born in 1917:
Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford (November 2, 1917 Vancouver-June 11, 2012 Beverly Hills) a.k.a. Therese Ann Rutherford was a Canadian actor. She had one child, Gloria May.
Ann Rutherford is best known for her role as Scarlett O'Hara's younger sister, Carreen, in the classic film Gone with the Wind (1939). She was a prolific actor in the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in movies such as Of Human Hearts (1938), Pride and Prejudice (1940), and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947).
Rutherford also appeared in several popular film series, including Andy Hardy, in which she played Polly Benedict, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in which she played Aunt Polly. She continued to work in television and film throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and made her final on-screen appearance in the 1990 film, The Last Best Year.
In addition to her acting career, Rutherford was also an accomplished artist and wrote a memoir, entitled "My Life, So Far." She was married twice, first to David May II and then to William Dozier, and was a longtime resident of Beverly Hills, California.
Barbara Read
Barbara Read (December 29, 1917 Port Arthur-December 12, 1963 Laguna Beach) a.k.a. Barbara Reed was a Canadian actor. She had two children, William Whitney Talman III and Barbie Talman.
Barbara Read began her acting career in the 1930s, appearing in films such as "The Saint in New York" (1938) and "Sky Giant" (1938). She also acted on Broadway before joining RKO Studios in 1940. During her career, she worked with notable co-stars such as John Wayne, Ginger Rogers, and Cary Grant.
In the 1940s, Read took a hiatus from her acting career to enlist in the U.S. Navy Waves during World War II. Upon her return to Hollywood, she appeared in films such as "Pardon My Past" (1945) and "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (1944), directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
Read's last film role was in the film noir "No Man's Woman" (1955). She retired from acting in order to focus on her family life. Barbara Read passed away in 1963 at the age of 45 from cancer.
Carla Lehmann
Carla Lehmann (February 26, 1917 Winnipeg-December 1, 1990 Berkshire) also known as Carla Hillerns Lehmann or Carla Lehman was a Canadian actor.
She began her acting career on the radio in the 1930s and later transitioned into film and television. Lehmann appeared in several movies throughout the 1940s and 1950s, including "The Iron Curtain" and "The Yellow Balloon". She also appeared on television shows such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Saint".
In addition to acting, Lehmann was also a skilled musician and singer. She often performed in musicals on stage, including a production of "The Sound of Music" in London's West End.
Lehmann was married to actor Peter Murray-Hill for over 30 years and they had one son together. She passed away at the age of 73 in Berkshire, England.
Betty Phillips
Betty Phillips (June 12, 1917 Calgary-February 10, 2012 Los Angeles) also known as Elizabeth Campbell Lambert was a Canadian actor. Her children are called Karen Phillips, Greg Phillips and Brad Phillips.
Betty Phillips started her career in entertainment by performing in radio dramas in the 1930s in Vancouver, Canada. She later moved to Los Angeles and began appearing in television shows and movies in the 1950s. Some of her notable film credits include "The Brain Eaters" (1958) and "Beyond the Time Barrier" (1960). She also appeared in popular TV series such as "Perry Mason" and "Gunsmoke."
In addition to acting, Phillips was also a talented writer, and published several short stories and articles in magazines such as "Redbook" and "Good Housekeeping." Despite her success in the entertainment industry, she never forgot her Canadian roots and continued to support Canadian actors and productions throughout her career.
Betty Phillips passed away in 2012 at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and versatile performer.
Dona Massin
Dona Massin (February 18, 1917 Winnipeg-May 26, 2001 Culver City) a.k.a. Lucianna Thomassin was a Canadian actor.
Dona Massin began her acting career in the 1940s, appearing in a variety of films and television shows. Some of her well-known roles include that of Mrs. Esterbrook in the film "The Great White Hope" and Mrs. Barnstable in the TV series "The Donna Reed Show". She also had a successful career as a writer and producer, creating content for various TV shows and films. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Massin was also a devoted philanthropist and involved in various charitable organizations. She passed away in 2001 at the age of 84.