Legendary Actress Ann Blyth Mildred Pierce Oscar Nominee Dies, Leaves Behind a Timeless Legacy
- Ann Blyth, the Oscar-nominated star of Mildred Pierce, has passed away at 98
- She is regarded as one of Hollywood’s last Golden Age icons for her remarkable legacy
- Some of her unforgettable performances have continued to inspire generations of film lovers
Ann Blyth, one of the last surviving stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age, has died at the age of 98. KABC’s George Pennacchio reported her passing on Thursday, June 25, noting that she died the previous day from natural causes.
Born Anne Blythe in Mount Kisco, New York, in 1928, she dropped the “e” from her name as her career blossomed.
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After her father left the family, Blyth’s mother moved her and her sister to New York City, where Blyth began acting on radio at just five years old. By nine, she had joined the New York Children’s Opera Company.
“Life was one big struggle then, but mother managed somehow to keep me in parochial school and later in professional school,” Blyth recalled in a 1952 interview with The New York Times. “She provided me with singing and dramatic lessons besides.”
Her Broadway debut came in 1941’s Watch on the Rhine, which toured nationally and even performed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
That tour brought her to Los Angeles, where she signed with Universal and made her film debut in 1944’s Chip Off the Old Block, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
The following year, Blyth was loaned to Warner Bros. for Mildred Pierce, starring opposite Joan Crawford. At just 16, she played Veda, the manipulative daughter whose role earned her an Academy Award nomination.
“She just blew everybody away,” film noir historian Alan Rode told the Los Angeles Times in 2013. “It’s certainly Joan Crawford’s movie, but she is really the spine of the movie. She is the epitome of the film noir daughter from hell. It’s just an amazing performance that stands the test of time.” Blyth herself once explained her approach: “I always had a terrific imagination and the ability to be somebody else.”
Though a back injury briefly slowed her career, Blyth went on to star in more than two dozen films over the next decade, including The Great Caruso (1951), Rose Marie (1954), and Kismet (1955). She also charmed audiences in Mr Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), playing the mute mermaid.
In 1953, Blyth married Dr James McNulty, with whom she shared a devout Catholic faith and raised five children. Their marriage lasted until his death in 2007.
Ann Blyth leaves behind a timeless legacy as a versatile actress whose career spanned musicals, dramas, and unforgettable film noir. Her performance in Mildred Pierce remains a landmark in cinema history, ensuring her place among Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
Source: Instagram
Talay Riley dies
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Mark Yinka Orabiyi, popularly known as Talay Riley, also passed away.
The music talent reportedly died after a brutal stabbing in East London. He was 35.
Local outlet Newham Recorder reported that the incident occurred around 9 am on Friday, June 5, on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown.
The emergency services that rushed to the scene were unable to save him on the spot.
Police confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched, with homiicide detectives from the specialist crime command leading inquiries.
In a statement, Riley’s family expressed their grief:
“It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm that Mark ‘Yinka’ Orabiyi, professionally known as Talay Riley, passed away yesterday morning.
"Talay will fondly be remembered by those who knew him publicly for his incredible talent as a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling songwriter & artist. For those who knew and loved him personally, it is his humour, generous spirit and unmistakable presence that will be missed the most.”
The family also thanked the public for the outpouring of love since the tragedy.
Talay Riley’s songwriting credits span some of the biggest names in the industry, including Dua Lipa, Usher, Craig David, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Nick Jonas, Khalid, Kehlani, and H.E.R.
Hollywood icon James Handy dies at 81
Legt.ng earlier reported that renowned actor James Handy was announced dead after a frightening incident in his home.
Handy was known for his iconic appearances on Top Gun: Maverick, Logan, Jumanji, The Rocketeer and Arachnophobia.
Details surrounding the death of the veteran star left both fans and celebrities in shock as they mourned him.
Source: Legit.ng
