Basic Information About Donna Reed
| Category | Celebrities › Actors |
|---|---|
| Professions | Actor |
| Net worth | $10,000,000 |
| Date of birth | 1921-01-27 |
| Place of birth | Denison |
| Date of death | 1986-01-14 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Curiosities and Trademarks | Toni hairdo |
| Spouse | Grover Asmus - (30 August 1974 - 14 January 1986) (her death) Tony Owen - (15 June 1945 - 1971) (divorced) (4 children) William Tuttle - (30 January 1943 - 8 January 1945) (divorced) |
| Gender | Female |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.7 m) |
| Social Media | ↗︎ Wikipedia ↗︎ IMDb |
Famous Network of Actors with Similar Net Worth
What Movie Awards did Donna Reed win?
 Oscar |
 Golden Globe |
 Golder Raspberry |
 BAFTA |
 Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Donna Reed awards
| Award Name | State | Movie / Series Name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV Land Award - Irreplaceable Replacement | Nominee | Dallas | 2004 |
Donna Reed roles
| Movie / Series | Role |
|---|---|
| Dallas | Miss Ellie Ewing 24 episodes, 1984-1985 |
| The Love Boat | Polly Sullivan 2 episodes, 1984 |
Donna Reed's Quotes
- Forty pictures I was in, and all I remember is 'What kind of bra will you be wearing today, honey?' That was always the area of big decision - from the neck to the navel.
- I've been involved with blood donation since the 1980s because there is a critical need.
- If nuclear power plants are safe, let the commercial insurance industry insure them. Until these most expert judges of risk are willing to gamble with their money, I'm not willing to gamble with the health and safety of my family.
- What we look for in the school is unrealized potential.
- I hope more people decide to become organ donors.
Donna Reed's photos
Classic Film Star Donna Reed
Donna Reed is an iconic American actress, popularly regarded for her notable performances in films and television shows. She was an actress, producer, and humanitarian. Reed left behind an impressive legacy when her eminent life came to a close in 1986. Let’s take a deep look into Donna Reed’s life, net worth, career, and achievements.
Net Worth Details
Donna Reed had a long and prosperous career in the entertainment industry that spanned over four decades. Her multiple streams of income included acting, producing, and being a humanitarian. The late actress had achieved great success in both films and television shows. At the time of her death in 1986, she had an estimated net worth of $10 million which she built through her long career that included over 40 films, several TV shows, and multiple awards and recognitions.
Biography
What is Donna Reed known for?
Donna Reed is widely known for her remarkable performance in the Christmas classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” She played Mary Hatch alongside James Stewart, which was a defining role in her acting career. Besides “It’s Wonderful Life,” she also starred in other well-known films such as “From Here to Eternity,” “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “The Caddy,” and so on.
Early life and education
Donna Belle Mullenger was born on January 27, 1921, in Denison, Iowa. Her parents William Richard Mullenger and Hazel Jane recruited a reform school tutor who took charge of their daughter’s education when she was little. After high school graduation, Reed briefly attended Los Angeles City College to major in drama but later shifted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Career
Reed launched her career in acting after winning the title of a participant in “The Campus Chest,” a popular college radio program. Soon, she was discovered by producer Norman Taurog and cast in a minor role in the film “The Getaway” (1941). Shortly after that, she gained popularity with her role as Mary Hatch from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946).
In the early 195s, Reed also pursued an interest in the television and film industry and established her production company, “Donna Reed Productions.” Meanwhile, she continued to star in significant films such as “The Last Time I Saw Paris, ” “Chicago Deadline,” and “Raiders of the Seven Seas.”
She returned to television shows with a new series called “The Donna Reed Show,” which aired for eight years and made her even more popular. Some examples of her other movies include “The Human Factor,” “Taraankhor,” and “The Far Horizons.” The show they aired from 1958 to 1966, won her several awards including Golden Globe Award.
Her contributions to the entertainment industry have always been remarkable, but Reed never let success get to her head. Even as she received praise and accolades, she maintained a calm approach to life, was open to learning, and taking up humanitarian work.
Death
Donna Reed passed away on January 14, 1986. She was dug into Melrose Abbey Memorial Park Cemetery in Anaheim, California. The reason behind her death was pancreatic cancer.
Achievements
Donna Reed received several nominations and awards during her career as a producer and an actress. In 1954, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Lorene in “From here to eternity.” The same year, she took home the BAFTA film award in category for promoting international understanding for the same movie.
In addition to her achievements in the film industry, Reed also received several awards for her humanitarian work. In 1954, she worked with USO (The United Service Organizations) to create entertainment shows for military forces serving overseas. This effort earned her the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award which is awarded to individuals whose work reflects exceptional service and commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian work.
The following year, Donna received a Woman of Achievement Award from Women in Cable. In 1963 she won a well-deserved Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star, cementing her position as one of the most respected actresses in the industry at that moment.
Donna Reed’s achievements didn’t stop there. She won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 196 in recognition of her contribution to the world of films and television.
The Legacy of Donna Reed
Apart from her consistent talent and work ethic, Donna Reed was known to be a kind-hearted and generous individual who always put others’ needs before her own. Her humanitarian work earned her deep respect and admiration from all corners of society. Donna Reed ranks among the top actresses in Hollywood history and has inspired many aspiring stars.
Even after her death over thirty years ago, Donna Reed’s evergreen charm, talent, and hard work continue to inspire many in the industry and beyond. Her substantial financial contribution towards the Martin Luther King Jr foundation in support of equal rights regardless of race is a testament to her enduring commitment to these values.
Conclusion
Donna Reed possessed an outstanding capability to create unique storylines in each of her films and draw her audience in with her convincing acting talents, her impressive range of diverse roles, and Hollywood history-making awards. The tangible progress made in such a legendary career makes Donna Reed an inspiration to many. Donna Reed’s purposeful and fantastic journey only cements her influence within Hollywood’s golden past and America’s cultural history.
Interesting Facts about Donna Reed
- Despite her association with the squeaky-clean and conservative 1950s, Reed became an anti-nuclear activist and anti-Vietnam protester. She also founded the group Another Mother for Peace.
- Her last husband Grover Asmus started a program called the Donna Reed Foundation that led to the Donna Reed festival held yearly in Denison, IA. It's a celebration of Donna, and includes classes, performances. Many stars attend such as Shelley Fabares, Debbie Reynolds, and Loren Janes.
- In the scene from It's a Wonderful Life (1946) where she and James Stewart throw rocks at the old Granville house, director Frank Capra had originally planned to use a double in Donna's place to throw the rock. Miss Reed, however, was an accomplished baseball player in high school and threw very well, as evidenced by her toss in the movie.
- Four children with husband/producer Tony Owen : Penny Owen, Tony Owen Jr., Timothy Owen and Mary Owen. Two were adopted. Mary, their last child, was born to them in 1957, a year before the start of Donna's classic TV show, which Tony executive produced.
- Learned of her firing from Dallas (1978) from a reporter while on a vacation to Paris. She was in the process of suing the show's producers before her death in January, 1986.
- The woman on the cover of Rush's Permanent Waves album is modeled after her.
- In Italy, a great deal of her films were dubbed by Renata Marini and Dhia Cristiani (most notably From Here to Eternity (1953)). Occasionally she was also dubbed by Miranda Bonansea (in Green Dolphin Street (1947)), Rosetta Calavetta and Micaela Giustiniani. The great Lydia Simoneschi also lent her voice to Reed in Frank Capra's much celebrated It's a Wonderful Life (1946).
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 725-727. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
- Although her image was generally associated that of the the squeaky-clean, conservative 1950s housewife and mother, she won her Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953) for playing a prostitute.
- Had a close relationship with her TV daughter, Shelley Fabares. Was considered by Fabares as her second mother until Reed's death in 1986.
- Ex-sister-in-law of Thomas Tuttle.
- She was a lifelong Republican.
- Was the 39th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953) at The 26th Annual Academy Awards (1954) on March 25, 1954.
- She was of English, as well as some German and Irish, ancestry. Some of her forebears were Canadian-born.
- Maternal granddaughter of Charles (1860-1936) and Mary Etta Petty (1866-1947). Both were born and raised in Illinois.
- Daughter of William Richard Mullenger (1893-1981) and Hazel Jane Shives (1899-1975). Both were born and raised in Iowa.
- Paternal granddaughter of William G. Mullenger (1857-1934), born in Wisconsin, and Mary Ann Johnston (1864-1955), born in Illinois.
- Paternal great granddaughter of Richard Bartley Johnston (1833-1913), born in Illinois, and Elizabeth Herner (1841-1917), born in Canada.
- Is one of 13 actresses who won their Best Supporting Actress Oscars in a movie that also won the Best Picture Oscar (she won for From Here to Eternity (1953)). The others are Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the Wind (1939), Teresa Wright for Mrs. Miniver (1942), Celeste Holm for Gentleman's Agreement (1947), Mercedes McCambridge for All the King's Men (1949), Eva Marie Saint for On the Waterfront (1954), Rita Moreno for West Side Story (1961), Meryl Streep for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Juliette Binoche for The English Patient (1996), Judi Dench for Shakespeare in Love (1998), Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind (2001), Catherine Zeta-Jones for Chicago (2002) and Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave (2013).
- Attended the LACC Theater Academy. Other alumni include Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Mark Hamill, Cindy Williams, and Rene Aranda.
