Reed, Donna

Donna Reid, nee Donna Belle Mullenger, was born on January 27, 1921 on a farm near the town of Denison in Iowa in the family of Hazle Jane and William Richard Mullinger ^{[4] [5]} . She was the eldest of five children ^[6] in the family and was brought up in Methodist traditions ^[7] . She graduated from Denison High School, and then, in 1938, moved to Los Angeles , where she began to live with her aunt Mildred. There she enrolled in a leading radio program at Los Angeles City College ^[6] .

Donna Reed's film career started in 1941 with small roles. She became best known for her role as Mary Bailey in the film Frank Capra " This Beautiful Life " (1946). In 1954, for her role in the film “ From Now and Forever Ages ”, Donna Reed was awarded the Academy Award as “ Best Supporting Actress ”. In 1955, she played the role of an Indian conductor Sakagawei , unusual for her career, in the historical and adventure western Rudolf Mate's “Far Horizons”.

She continued her successful career and in 1958-1966 played the main role in the sitcom Donna Reed Show , for which she was nominated four times for the Emmy Award for Best Actress in a comedy television series , and also received the Golden Globe in 1963. In subsequent years, the actress starred little in film and television.

In 1984-1985, Donna Reed played Miss Ellie Ewing in the seventh season of the Dallas television series, after previous starring Barbara Bel Geddes left the series. In 1985, Bel Geddes decided to return and Donna Reed had to stop filming and leave the project.

The first husband of the actress was producer Tony Owen (1907-1984) ^[8] , who became the father of her five children. In 1972 they divorced and four years later Donna Reed married the retired Colonel of the American Army Grover W. Asmus (1926-2003) ^[9] . Donna Reid died on January 14, 1986 in Beverly Hills from pancreatic cancer at the age of 64, and was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles .

Currently, in the homeland of the actress in the town of Denison in Iowa , the annual Donna Reed Festival is held.

1. 1941 - The Shadow of the Subtle Man - Molly
2. 1942 - Eyes in the Night - Barbara Laurie
3. 1943 - The Human Comedy - Bass Macaulay
4. 1943 - Thousands of Greetings - Visitor
5. 1945 - Portrait of Dorian Gray - Gladys Hallward
6. 1945 - They were indispensable - Lieutenant Sandy Daviss
7. 1946 - This Beautiful Life - Mary Hatch Bailey
8. 1947 - Green Dolphin Street - Marguerite Paturel
9. 1949 - Chicago Limit - Rosita Jean d'Ur
10. 1952 - Scandalous Chronicle - Julie Allison
11. 1953 - Now and forever and ever - Alma "Lorin" Burke
12. 1953 - Caddy - Katie Taylor
13. 1954 - When was the last time I saw Paris - Marion Ellsworth / Mateen
14. 1955 - Distant Horizons - Sakagavea
15. 1956 - Beyond Mombasa - Anne Wilson
16. 1956 - Redemption - Edith Stannard
17. 1956 - The Story of Benny Goodman - Alice Hammond
18. 1958 - 1966 - Donna Reed Show - Donna Stone
19. 1984 - 1985 - Dallas - Miss Ellie Ewing

• 1954 - Oscar Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (From Now and Forever and Ever)