Ann Gillis Explained

Birth Date:12 February 1927
Birth Place:Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Birth Name:Alma Mabel Conner
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Horam, East Sussex, England
Occupation:Actress, voice artist
Years Active:1934–1968
Spouse:

[2] [3]
Children:3

Alma Mabel Conner (February 12, 1927 [4]  – January 31, 2018), known professionally as Ann Gillis, was an American actress, best known for her film roles as a child actress. She performed the voice of Faline (as young adult) in the 1942 Disney animated film Bambi.

Biography

Gillis was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.[5] She started her career in the early 1930s, when she was age 7. After small roles, she got her first major part in King of Hockey (1936). In the following years, she played supporting roles, and Warner Brothers Pictures wanted her to be another Shirley Temple, but she mostly played "spoiled brats".

Among her bigger roles were Becky Thatcher in David O. Selznick's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) and Annie in Little Orphan Annie (1938). She also provided the voice of Faline in Bambi (1942).[6]

She ended her Hollywood film career in 1947 and married her second husband, British actor Richard Fraser in 1952. Following her Hollywood career, she turned to occasional television work in the UK. Gillis appeared in two episodes of The Saint in 1964-1965, followed by a small part in 2001: A Space Odyssey, playing Dr. Poole's mother. She is seen onscreen congratulating her son on his birthday. She later lived in Belgium.[7]

On January 31, 2018, Gillis died in a nursing home in Horam, East Sussex, England, at the age of 90.[8]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNote
1934Men in White Flower Girl uncredited
1936The Great Ziegfeld Mary Lou as a Child Uncredited
The Singing Cowboy Lou Ann Stevens
Postal Inspector Little Alice uncredited
The Garden of Allah Convent Girl #2uncredited
The Man I Marry Little Girl uncredited
Under Your Spell Gwendolyn uncredited
King of Hockey Peggy 'Princess' O'Rourke
1937Off to the Races Winnie Mae
You Can't Buy Luck Peggy uncredited
The Californian Rosalia as a Child
1938The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Becky Thatcher
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus Fleurette de Cava
Little Orphan Annie Annie
1939Beau GesteIsobel Rivers as a Child
The Under-Pup Letty Lou
1940Edison, the Man Nancy Grey
All This, and Heaven Too Emily Schuyler
My Love Came BackValerie Malette
Little Men Nan
1941Nice Girl? Nancy Dana
Mr. Dynamite Joey, a.k.a. Abigail
Glamour Boy Brenda Lee
1942Meet the Stewarts Jane Goodwin
Tough As They ComeFrankie Taylor
BambiFaline (as a young adult)voice, uncredited
'Neath Brooklyn BridgeSylvia
1943Stage Door Canteen Herself
The Man from Music Mountain Penny Winters
1944Since You Went AwayBecky Anderson – Class President uncredited
Janie Paula Rainey
In Society Gloria
A Wave, a WAC and a Marine Judy
1945The Cheaters Angela Pidgeon
1946Gay Blades Helen Dowell
Janie Gets Married Paula Rainey
The Time of Their Lives Nora O'Leary
Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Sue
1947Big Town After Dark Susan Peabody LaRue
19682001: A Space Odyssey Poole's Mother

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ann Gillis, Young Leading Lady in 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,' Dies at 90. The Hollywood Reporter. February 2, 2018 . February 2, 2018.
  2. Web site: Ann Gillis Interview. Donna. Magers. Westernclippings.com. February 2, 2018.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . November 26, 2016 . October 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211004060955/http://howoldwas.info/ann-gillis-in-meet-the-stewarts-107445-97822 . dead .
  4. Web site: Encyclopedia of Arkansas .
  5. Book: Phillips, Robert W.. Roy Rogers: A Biography, Radio History, Television Career Chronicle, Discography, Filmography, Comicography, Merchandising and Advertising History, Collectibles Description, Bibliography, and Index. July 17, 2012. 1995. McFarland. 9780899509372. 95–.
  6. Book: Cochran. Robert. Lights! Camera! Arkansas!: From Broncho Billy to Billy Bob Thornton. McCray. Suzanne. 2015. University of Arkansas Press. 9781610755580. en. 14–15. December 4, 2018.
  7. Web site: An Interview with...Ann Gillis. WesternClippings.com. February 2, 2018.
  8. News: Barnes . Mike . Ann Gillis, Young Leading Lady in 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,' Dies at 90 . December 4, 2018 . The Hollywood Reporter . February 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181204035107/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ann-gillis-dead-young-leading-lady-adventures-tom-sawyer-dies-at-90-1081203 . December 4, 2018.