From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920s in bit parts in films. In 1930, she made her Broadway stage debut and soon worked her way up to starring roles. In 1939, MGM cast her as Maisie Ravier, a brash yet lovable Brooklyn showgirl. The character, based on the Maisie short stories by Nell Martin, proved to be popular and spawned a successful film series (Congo Maisie, Gold Rush Maisie, Up Goes Maisie, etc.) and a network radio series (The Adventures of Maisie). In 1953, Sothern moved into television as the star of her own sitcom Private Secretary. The series aired for five seasons on CBS and earned Sothern three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 1958, she starred in another sitcom for CBS, The Ann Sothern Show, which aired for three seasons. From 1965 to 1966, Sothern provided the voice of Gladys Crabtree, the title character in the sitcom My Mother the Car. She continued her career throughout the late 1960s with stage and film appearances and guest-starring roles on television. Due to health issues, she worked sporadically during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, Sothern appeared in her final film The Whales of August, starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. Sothern earned her first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. After filming concluded, she retired to Ketchum, Idaho, where she spent her remaining years before her death from heart failure in March 2001. Lucille Ball called Sothern "the best comedian in the business, bar none."
86 movies · 26 shows
That's Entertainment! III
1994·7.0
The Whales of August
1987·7.0
A Letter to Three Wives
1985·3.8
The Little Dragons
1980·5.4
The Manitou
1978·5.4
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976·7.0
Crazy Mama
1975·5.6
Golden Needles
1974·5.3
The Killing Kind
1974·5.9
The Weekend Nun
1972·7.0
The Great Man's Whiskers
1972·8.0
Fol-de-Rol
1972·0.0
A Death of Innocence
1971·7.0
Congratulations, It's a Boy!
1971·6.5
The Greatest Mother of 'em All
1969·0.0
Chubasco
1968·4.5
The Outsider
1967·8.0
Sylvia
1965·6.3
Lady in a Cage
1964·6.1
The Best Man
1964·7.3
Lady in the Dark
1954·7.7
The Blue Gardenia
1953·6.5
Shadow on the Wall
1950·6.7
Nancy Goes to Rio
1950·6.0
A Letter to Three Wives
1949·7.2
Words and Music
1948·5.8
April Showers
1948·6.5
The Judge Steps Out
1947·6.8
Undercover Maisie
1947·8.0
Up Goes Maisie
1946·6.8
Maisie Goes to Reno
1944·6.6
Twenty Years After
1944·8.0
Cry 'Havoc'
1943·6.5
Swing Shift Maisie
1943·6.8
Thousands Cheer
1943·6.4
Three Hearts for Julia
1943·6.5
You, John Jones!
1943·6.3
Panama Hattie
1942·5.7
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942·6.7
Lady Be Good
1941·5.5
Ringside Maisie
1941·5.6
Maisie Was a Lady
1941·7.0
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940·6.8
Dulcy
1940·6.4
Gold Rush Maisie
1940·6.8
Brother Orchid
1940·6.6
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940·5.8
Congo Maisie
1940·4.4
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
1939·5.0
Fast and Furious
1939·5.2
Hotel for Women
1939·7.5
Maisie
1939·4.8
Trade Winds
1938·6.4
She's Got Everything
1937·5.8
There Goes the Groom
1937·6.3
Ali Baba Goes to Town
1937·6.0
Danger – Love at Work
1937·7.0
Super-Sleuth
1937·5.6
Fifty Roads to Town
1937·10.0
There Goes My Girl
1937·7.5
Dangerous Number
1937·4.9
Smartest Girl in Town
1936·5.8
Walking on Air
1936·6.3
My American Wife
1936·7.5
Don't Gamble with Love
1936·10.0
Hell-Ship Morgan
1936·6.0
You May Be Next!
1936·4.8
Grand Exit
1935·6.6
The Girl Friend
1935·7.0
Hooray for Love
1935·5.8
Eight Bells
1935·6.5
Folies Bergère de Paris
1935·6.0
Kid Millions
1934·6.7
The Party's Over
1934·5.0
Blind Date
1934·8.0
The Hell Cat
1934·8.0
Melody in Spring
1934·8.0
Let's Fall in Love
1933·8.0
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
1933·6.3
Whoopee!
1930·6.5
Madam Satan
1930·5.9
The March of Time
1930·7.0
Good News
1930·6.3
Song of the West
1930·9.0
The Show of Shows
1929·6.6
Broadway Nights
1927·8.0