Ann Blyth, 1928 - 2026

Sweet-faced actress Ann Blyth, 97, died on June 24. A radio and stage actress, she was signed by Universal in 1944, and had her star-making role at Warner’s the next year, playing Joan Crawford’s venomous daughter in Mildred Pierce (for which she was Oscar-nominated). Blyth continued to brighten up such films as Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, The Great Caruso, All the Brothers Were Valiant, Rose Marie, The Student Prince, Kismet and The Helen Morgan Story; in the 1950s-80s she moved into TV. After her career slowed, Blyth was active in touring theater, and became the TV spokeswoman for Hostess (inspiring Jean Smart’s hilarious Designing Women musings about Blyth’s dubious appeal “to the cupcake-buyin' public”). Of her Mildred Pierce costar Joan Crawford, Blyth told Tavo Amador in 2006, “She was very kind. Very beautiful. Always exquisitely dressed. Her professionalism was stunning.” Years later, Blyth added, “I seriously injured my back. One of the few things I was allowed to do was swim. Joan let me use her pool throughout my recovery.”

“Ah don’t think the cupcake-buyin’ public was all that impressed” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L72YeEPldE