6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Ann Miller attends a movie premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.
Gallery of Ann Miller
1955
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Ann Miller and guest attend movie premiere and party for "Moby Dick" in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of Ann Miller
1956
Actress Ann Miller pours coffee for her co-star Tom Ewell on the set of the MGM film "The Great American Pastime."
Gallery of Ann Miller
2001
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Artist Al Hirschfeld signs his book for actress-dancer Ann Miller at a reception for his exhibit "Hirschfeld's Hollywood" October 24, 2001, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California.
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Ann Miller and Merv Griffin
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
641 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Ann Miller during Dinner Dance Honoring "New York, New York" Hosted by Halston at Olympic Towers in New York City, New York, United States.
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Actress Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller in a scene from the movie "Kiss Me, Kate"
Gallery of Ann Miller
Actress Ann Miller and Dub Taylor in a scene from the movie "You Can't Take It with You"
Gallery of Ann Miller
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Ann Miller and guest attend an event in Los Angeles
Gallery of Ann Miller
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Ann Miller and guest dance at an event in Los Angeles
Gallery of Ann Miller
Photo of Ann Miller
Gallery of Ann Miller
Actress Ann Miller and Betty Janes Rhodes in a scene from the movie "Priorities on Parade"
Artist Al Hirschfeld signs his book for actress-dancer Ann Miller at a reception for his exhibit "Hirschfeld's Hollywood" October 24, 2001, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California.
(The Good Fairy is a 1935 romantic comedy film written by ...)
The Good Fairy is a 1935 romantic comedy film written by Preston Sturges, based on the 1930 play A jó tündér by Ferenc Molnár as translated and adapted by Jane Hinton, which was produced on Broadway in 1931. The film was directed by William Wyler and stars Margaret Sullavan, Herbert Marshall, Frank Morgan, and Reginald Owen.
(The Devil on Horseback is a 1936 American musical comedy ...)
The Devil on Horseback is a 1936 American musical comedy film directed by Crane Wilbur and starring Lili Damita, Fred Keating, and Renee Torres. A separate Spanish-language version was also produced. It was based on a play written by Crane Wilber himself about a Latin American freedom fighter.
(Lionel Barrymore is the eccentric patriarch of a clan of ...)
Lionel Barrymore is the eccentric patriarch of a clan of frustrated artists who decided 30 years earlier to retire from the rat race and use his fortune to encourage friends and family to pursue vocations that really interest them. At the center of his family is his granddaughter, Jean Arthur, who is carrying on a romance with her boss' son, James Stewart.
(Gordon Miller, a penniless theatrical producer, tries to ...)
Gordon Miller, a penniless theatrical producer, tries to live in his brother-in-law's hotel without paying anything as he is waiting for his next play's release and is hoping to earn profits from it.
(In the 1930s, a First World War flying ace named Roger Sc...)
In the 1930s, a First World War flying ace named Roger Schumann is reduced to making appearances on the crash-and-burn circuit of stunt aerobatics. His family is forced to live like dogs while Shumann pursues his only true love, the airplane. When Burke Devlin, a reporter, shows up on the scene to do a "whatever happened to" story on Shumann, he is repulsed by the war hero's diminished circumstances and, conversely, drawn to his stunning wife, LaVerne.
(A young lady goes to College and, without her knowledge, ...)
A young lady goes to College and, without her knowledge, her father sends four football players as her bodyguards, who eventually join the college team and turn it into one of the best, while one of the players falls in love with her.
(A small radio station is saved from getting bankrupt by a...)
A small radio station is saved from getting bankrupt by a backer, who invests money for TV equipment, if the owner allows, that his dancing daughter Annabelle can dance and sing on the screen, but due to her voice, her singing had to be dubbed by the owner's girlfriend Pat Abbott. But problems start when the owner starts dating Annabelle.
(Radio star Gene Autry stars as himself in this comic West...)
Radio star Gene Autry stars as himself in this comic Western. When the famous singing cowboy returns to his hometown of Torpedo, Arizona, to accept an honor at a community celebration, he finds the town corrupted by the three Wildhack brothers. Still holding childhood grudges, the Wildhacks conspire to ruin Gene's career. But with the help of his announcer (Jimmy Durante) and co-star (Ann Miller), Gene becomes the town sheriff and fights his way to justice.
(Bandleader Kay is adamant about finding a fine replacemen...)
Bandleader Kay is adamant about finding a fine replacement for his vocalist. The idea of Julie taking the spot doesn't appeal to him. He must now choose between working with her and losing fame.
(Vicki Dean and Steve Farraugh, a theatre manager, file fo...)
Vicki Dean and Steve Farraugh, a theatre manager, file for divorce. However, while working in Brazil for a musical, Steve realizes his mistake and tries to save his marriage.
(In this lavish musical, Broadway star Don Hewes' (Fred As...)
In this lavish musical, Broadway star Don Hewes' (Fred Astaire) dancing partner (Ann Miller) goes solo, and Don declares that he can make a hit performer out of the next dancer he sees. This turns out to be the inexperienced Hannah (Judy Garland), who bristles as Don tries to make her into his old partner. But as he realizes that he is falling in love with Hannah, Don knows that he must let her grow into her own kind of dancer if he wants her to reach her full potential.
(Ricardo, son of a Mexican bandit, forcefully becomes a ba...)
Ricardo, son of a Mexican bandit, forcefully becomes a bandit. He falls in love with Theresa, the daughter of the governor, who is expecting tax collectors from Spain.
Fun-loving sailors Gabey (Gene Kelly), Chip (Frank Sinatra), and Ozzie (Jules Munshin) have 24 hours of shore leave in New York City, and they want to make every second count. While Chip hooks up with loudmouth cab driver Brunhilde (Betty Garrett) and Ozzie swoons for prim anthropologist Claire (Ann Miller), Gabey falls in love with an actress he sees in an advertisement, Ivy Smith (Vera-Ellen). Leonard Bernstein, with lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green, provides the music.
("Rusty" Cammeron tries to get out of debt by doing some f...)
"Rusty" Cammeron tries to get out of debt by doing some free-lance newsreel photography, but his efforts fall woefully short and end in some kind of mishap. Lucia Corlaine rescues him from drowning and he falls madly in love with her. Lucia, a wealthy young lady, is trying to build a real estate project but a group of crooks and swindlers are out to stop her.
(Debbie Telford (Esther Williams) and Cornie Quinell (Red ...)
Debbie Telford (Esther Williams) and Cornie Quinell (Red Skelton) work at a carnival, where they meet wealthy Texan Dan (Keenan Wynn). Dan enters a drinking marathon with Cornie and asks him to deliver his car to his hotel, due to his own inebriation. When Debbie and Cornie deliver the car, people assume that they are Dan and his sister Marilla. The pair enjoy the trappings of a more luxurious lifestyle until Cornie realizes he has racked up a hefty debt, and Debbie falls for Dan's foreman.
(Inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, it tells the tale of...)
Inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, it tells the tale of musical theater actors Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, who were once married, and are now performing opposite each other in the roles of Petruchio and Katherine in a Broadway-bound musical version of William Shakespeare's play.
(Deep in My Heart is a 1954 MGM biographical musical film ...)
Deep in My Heart is a 1954 MGM biographical musical film about the life of operetta composer Sigmund Romberg, who wrote the music for The Student Prince, The Desert Song, and The New Moon, among others. Leonard Spigelgass adapted the film from Elliott Arnold's 1949 biography of the same name. Roger Edens produced, Stanley Donen directed and Eugene Loring choreographed. José Ferrer played Romberg, with support from soprano Helen Traubel as a fictional character and Merle Oberon as actress, playwright, librettist, producer, and director Dorothy Donnelly.
(Danny Xavier Smith, Rico Ferrari, and William F. Clark ar...)
Danny Xavier Smith, Rico Ferrari, and William F. Clark are sailors working on the same ship. All of them are in the midst of a personal problem. They decide to help each other out.
(An all-star musical adaptation of Clare Boothe Luce's pla...)
An all-star musical adaptation of Clare Boothe Luce's play 'The Women,' with June Allyson and Ann Sheridan among the women each fighting to keep her man.
(The daily trials and tribulations of Tim Taylor, a TV sho...)
The daily trials and tribulations of Tim Taylor, a TV show host raising three mischievous boys with help from his loyal co-host, domineering wife, and genius neighbor.
Ann Miller was an American dancer, actress, and singer. She starred in more than 40 Hollywood films during her career including "Easter Parade" in 1948, with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland and "On The Town" in 1949 with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. She also appeared on a number of TV series including "Love Boat" and she made a cult TV commercial for Great American Soup.
Background
Ann Miller was born with the name Johnnie Lucille Ann Collier on April 12, 1923, in Chireno, Texas into a comfortably-off middle-class family. She was the first and only child of criminal lawyer John Alfred Collier and Clara Birdwell.
Ann's father was a well-known criminal lawyer who had defended famous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde and Baby Face Nelson. John gave her the birth name Johnnie as he had wanted a boy but she was called Annie as she was growing up.
Her parents split up when Ann was nine and she and her mother moved to California. Even at that young age, Ann had to support her mother, who was hearing-impaired and unable to hold a job.
Education
Mrs. Collier enrolled her three-year-old little Ann in dancing lessons to help strengthen her legs, which had become weakened from a case of rickets. At age seven Ann made her first public appearance as a dancing Pink Rosebud in a Police and Fireman's Ball.
Later, Miller enrolled in Fanchon and Marco's dancing school.
Ann began her Hollywood career at age eleven, and with her vibrant personality, great legs, and her tap dancing, won a seven-year contract with R.K.O. at the age of thirteen (claiming to be eighteen). She was so remarkable that by age fourteen, she played Ginger Roger's dancing partner in "Stage Door," which started a Motion Picture Career that spanned 20 years. During that period, Ann appeared in more than 40 films.
At fifteen, Ann was "borrowed" by Columbia to appear with James Stewart and Jean Arthur in "You Can't Take It With You" which won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1938. That same year, back at R.K.O., she appeared with the Marx Brothers in "Room Service." She left R.K.O. and starred on Broadway in the George White Scandals of 1939 and 1940. Following her initial contract with R.K.O., Ann came back to appear in the Rogers and Hart musical, "Too Many Girls." She went on to make twelve movies in six years at Columbia Studios. She was borrowed by Republic Studio to star in Gene Autry's first musical "Melody Ranch" in 1940 and "Hit Parade" of 1941.
Ann Miller was then signed by MGM where, from the late forties to the mid-fifties, she starred in some of MGM's most spectacular musical productions, as well as, in films where she played straight acting roles. These memorable musicals included "Easter Parade" which featured her dancing with Fred Astaire and "On The Town" with Gene Kelly. Ann appeared in top-notch form in the role of Bianca, in what is considered her finest film for MGM, "Kiss Me Kate." Several of Ann Miller's legendary dance and song routines were featured in "That's Dancing" and the popular retrospective films "That's Entertainment I," and "That's Entertainment II." In 1994 she was the hostess for the Fred Astaire segment of "That's Entertainment III" which also featured some of her dance numbers.
For years, MGM was proud to have the outgoing, charming, and articulate Ann Miller represent them around the world on speaking engagements and personal appearances as a most effective Good Will Ambassador. At the end of her MGM contract, she flew overseas to Morocco to entertain on the Timex TV Hour for Bob Hope. She sang and danced "Too Darn Hot" in 120 degrees heat entertaining rive thousand soldiers.
She was an incredible success as she took over the role of "Mamell" on Broadway from 1969 to 1970 and has been acclaimed for her fantastic performance with Mickey Rooney in "Sugar Babies" for nine years, which played for three years (1979-1982) on Broadway, and then toured the country for four and one-half years. She and Mickey both appeared for six months on the London stage in 1989.
Ann appears frequently on television interview shows including Sally Jessy Raphael, Phil Donahue, David Letterman, Joan Rivers, and the Vickie Lawrence show. In 1994 she appeared on the Conan O'Brien and Tom Snyder shows. Her sparkling wit and humor made her a delightful guest. She has appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows including a special with Ann Margaret in "Dames at Sea" and a two-hour version of the "Love Boat" with Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, and Van Johnson. Ann did a straight acting stint as a guest star on the situation comedy called "Out of This World" in 1991 and appeared as a guest star on the hit series "Home Improvement" in 1993 with Tim Allen.
Ann has written two books: an autobiography "Miller's Highlife" and "Tapping Into the Force" which is about her psychic abilities.
(The daily trials and tribulations of Tim Taylor, a TV sho...)
1993
Politics
Ann Miller was a staunch Republican who gave much of her time and money towards various conservative political causes. She attended several Republican National Conventions and galas, was an honorary member of the Republican National Committee and she was active in the campaigns of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush.
Views
Quotations:
"At MGM, I always played the second feminine lead. I was never the star in films. I was the brassy, good-hearted showgirl. I never really had my big moment on the screen. Broadway gave me the stardom that my soul kind of yearned for."
Personality
Ann claimed her difficulty maintaining relationships with men was due to her being an Egyptian queen in a past life and executing any men who displeased her. She was devoutly spiritual and dabbled in psychic phenomena and astrology.
On her tax returns, she listed her occupation as "Star Lady."
Physical Characteristics:
Ann disliked her nose because it healed improperly after an injury, and had a prosthetic extension made to conceal the contour imperfections. Louis B. Mayer once hid it away from her in his private safe following an exchange of verbal hostilities.
Quotes from others about the person
"She is a real straight shooter, just the kindest, most professional, anything-goes great gal you ever want to meet." - David Lynch
"She brought an aura of happiness with her to the stage. She was funny, bright, glamorous, and she loved every minute of it." - John Bowab
Interests
Politicians
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, George W. Bush
Connections
Ann was married three times, each marriage ending in divorce. Her first marriage was in 1945 to steel heir, Reese Milner. The marriage ended in 1947 after he threw Ann down some stairs when she was 8 months pregnant, breaking her back and injuring the baby. Not long after, Ann, still in a steel harness, gave birth to her only child, Mary, who died within a few hours.
Her second marriage was in 1958 to oil millionaire William Moss and when that failed after a few months she dated another millionaire, Arthur Cameron whom she married the following year. This marriage also ended in divorce within a year. In the mid-1940's she was reputed to have had an affair with the already married head of MGM, Louis B. Mayer which ended when she refused to marry him.