Anne Whitfield obit

Anne Whitfield, Young Actress in ‘White Christmas,’ Dies at 85

She worked on the radio in ‘Our Miss Brooks’ and ‘One Man’s Family’ and on lots of TV shows, including ‘Gunsmoke,’ ‘Peter Gunn,’ ‘Cheyenne’ and ‘That Girl.’ 

She was not on the list.

Anne Whitfield, who appeared in the beloved holiday classic White Christmas and on dozens of TV shows, from Father Knows Best, 77 Sunset Strip and Perry Mason to That Girl, Ironside and Emergency!, has died. She was 85.

Whitfield died Feb. 7 at a hospital in Yakima, Washington, after suffering an “unexpected accident” while on a walk in her neighborhood, family members announced.

“She was a powerhouse in life, and we hope her immense positive energy flows out to those who had the pleasure of knowing her,” they wrote.

Whitfield was 15 and had done lots of acting on the radio when she was cast as Susan Waverly, the granddaughter of Dean Jagger’s Major Gen. Thomas F. Waverly — “The Old Man” — in the Michael Curtiz-directed Paramount musical White Christmas (1954). The film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

She got to watch White Christmas with her family on the 70th anniversary of the making of the film in December.

An only child, Anne Langham Whitfield was born on Aug. 27, 1938, in Oxford, Mississippi. Her father, Richard, was the orchestra and marching band director at the University of Mississippi, and her mother, Frances, taught speech and drama at a junior college. (Later, she would tutor the kids on The Brady Bunch.)

Whitfield and her mom moved to Los Angeles, and when the actress was 7, she found regular work as a Holocaust survivor on the soap opera One Man’s Family. She would also perform on such other radio programs as The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, Our Miss Brooks and Mr. and Mrs. Blandings.

After working in The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952) and Peter Pan (1953), she landed on White Christmas while still attending Hollywood High School.

“I think I originally had a bigger part, but they almost wrote me out entirely,” she recalled in a 2020 interview. “And then during shooting, I think Curtiz kind of liked me and felt I would add a certain element of innocence as a sort of Greek chorus watcher. He started dragging me into every scene that took place in the lodge.”

Her résumé also included the movies Juvenile Jungle (1958) and Tick, Tick, Tick (1970) and TV’s The Donna Reed Show, One Step Beyond, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Peter Gunn, Rawhide, Ben Casey, Hawaiian Eye and The Six Million Dollar Man.

In 1949, Whitfield appeared in theatrical productions of Annie Get Your Gun and Show Boat, both in Los Angeles, California.

As a youngster, Whitfield "played child roles on practically every comedy and dramatic series originating in Hollywood". Her radio debut came in September 1945, when she "stepped up on a box before an already lowered microphone in an NBC studio and said, 'I want another slice of bread'" for a commercial. She became a member of the cast of One Man's Family when she was 7 years old.

Whitfield's roles on radio programs include:

Program            Role

The Baby Snooks Show            Pamela Richardson

Dr. Paul            Christopher Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Blandings            Susan Blandings

One Man's Family  Penny Lacey

Our Miss Brooks Harriet Conklin

The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show   Phyllis

She was also heard on Lux Radio Theatre, The Screen Guild Theater, Family Theater, Cavalcade of America, The Cisco Kid, His Honor, the Barber, Phone Again, Dr. Paul, The Harold Peary Show, NBC University Theatre, and The Woman in My House.

Whitfield moved to Washington in the 1970s and went back to college to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications. She also worked at the Department of Ecology for the State of Washington, ran a bed and breakfast, and served as an activist and community organizer.

An avid hiker, she loved the outdoors, and to celebrate her 85th birthday, she and a friend hiked in the Dolomite Mountains of the Italian Alps.

Survivors include her children, Julie, Evan and Allison, and grandchildren Emery, Luke, Alex, Quinn, Logan, Frances and Aviva. A celebration of life is set for March 22.

 

Actress

Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler, Glenn Close, Chris O'Donnell, Charles S. Dutton, and Patricia Neal in Cookie's Fortune (1999)

Cookie's Fortune

6.8

Herodias

Mrs. Henderson (as Ann Whitfield)

1999

 

The Last Innocent Man (1987)

The Last Innocent Man

6.3

TV Movie

Crime Lab Witness

1987

 

Helen Hunt in Quarterback Princess (1983)

Quarterback Princess

6.3

TV Movie

Mrs. Wortham

1983

 

The Prodigal (1983)

The Prodigal

5.6

Mrs. Wharton

1983

 

Emergency! (1972)

Emergency!

7.9

TV Series

Betty Johnson

Chirley Gentry

Mrs. Lawson ...

1972–1975

5 episodes

 

The Specialists (1975)

The Specialists

4.7

TV Movie

Mrs. Vanier

1975

 

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

8.4

TV Series

Call Girl

1974

1 episode

 

Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)

Adam-12

7.7

TV Series

Ellen Craig

Mary King

Vera Whitley

1968–1973

3 episodes

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

6.9

TV Movie

Young Woman

1973

 

Pete 'n' Tillie (1972)

Pete 'n' Tillie

6.2

Minor Role (uncredited)

1972

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Carol Barker

Helen Vincent

Julie Willis ...

1968–1972

4 episodes

 

The D.A. (1971)

The D.A.

6.6

TV Series

Alice Conroe

1971

1 episode

 

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

6.9

TV Series

Milly

1970

1 episode

 

Jim Brown in Tick, Tick, Tick (1970)

Tick, Tick, Tick

6.6

Mrs. Dawes

1970

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Margaret Durden

1969

2 episodes

 

Secrets of the Pirates' Inn (1969)

Secrets of the Pirates' Inn

7.1

TV Movie

Margaret Durden

1969

 

This Is the Life (1952)

This Is the Life

6.8

TV Series

1968

1 episode

 

Harry Morgan and Jack Webb in Dragnet 1967 (1967)

Dragnet 1967

7.7

TV Series

Irene Hillier

1968

1 episode

 

Darren McGavin in The Outsider (1968)

The Outsider

7.8

TV Series

Betty Dustin

1968

1 episode

 

James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Dennis Weaver in Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Lori Coombs

Trudy

1960–1966

2 episodes

 

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)

Perry Mason

8.3

TV Series

Alice Trilling

Joanna Monford

Patricia Tanner

1964–1966

3 episodes

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.2

TV Series

Barbara Harris

1965–1966

3 episodes

 

Marlo Thomas in That Girl (1966)

That Girl

7.3

TV Series

Linda (as Ann Whitfield)

1965

1 episode

 

12 O'Clock High (1964)

12 O'Clock High

8.1

TV Series

Pamela Hurley

1965

1 episode

 

Wendy and Me (1964)

Wendy and Me

7.9

TV Series

Helen Simpson

1965

1 episode

 

The New Interns (1964)

The New Interns

6.2

Angela Merk (uncredited)

1964

 

The New Phil Silvers Show (1963)

The New Phil Silvers Show

7.1

TV Series

Lois

1964

1 episode

 

Jack Elam, Chad Everett, Michael Greene, and Larry Ward in The Dakotas (1962)

The Dakotas

7.9

TV Series

Virginia Kendrick

1963

1 episode

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

7.7

TV Series

Lillis Todd

1963

1 episode

 

Should I Marry Outside My Faith? (1962)

Should I Marry Outside My Faith?

3.6

Short

1962

 

Robert Fuller and John Smith in Laramie (1959)

Laramie

7.7

TV Series

Millie

1962

1 episode

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

7.7

TV Series

Allison Kendall

Cathy Barton

Jennie Taggart

1961–1962

3 episodes

 

Abel Fernandez, Nicholas Georgiade, Paul Picerni, and Robert Stack in The Untouchables (1959)

The Untouchables

8.0

TV Series

Sue

1962

1 episode

 

87th Precinct (1961)

87th Precinct

8.2

TV Series

Joy

1961

1 episode

 

Ben Casey (1961)

Ben Casey

7.1

TV Series

Sue Paulson

1961

1 episode

 

Cheyenne (1955)

Cheyenne

8.0

TV Series

Johnny Dembro

Nita

1956–1961

2 episodes

 

Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, and Sheb Wooley in Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide

7.9

TV Series

Carol North

Joanna Quince

1961

2 episodes

 

Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)

General Electric Theater

6.9

TV Series

Leila Dunn

1961

1 episode

 

Craig Stevens in Peter Gunn (1958)

Peter Gunn

8.1

TV Series

Carol Landell

1961

1 episode

 

Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)

Tales of Wells Fargo

7.9

TV Series

Ruby Coe

1961

1 episode

 

Victor Jory in Manhunt (1959)

Manhunt

7.9

TV Series

Louise

1960

1 episode

 

One Step Beyond (1959)

One Step Beyond

7.8

TV Series

Sally Ellis

1960

1 episode

 

Tate (1960)

Tate

7.2

TV Series

Lucy

1960

1 episode

 

Bob Denver and Dwayne Hickman in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

7.7

TV Series

Dibble

Malt Shop Girl

1960

2 episodes

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

Rosemary Lawson (as Ann Whitfield)

1959

1 episode

 

Men of Annapolis (1957)

Men of Annapolis

7.0

TV Series

Nancy

1957–1958

2 episodes

 

Senior Prom (1958)

Senior Prom

5.7

Senior Student (uncredited)

1958

 

Shelley Fabares, Donna Reed, Carl Betz, and Paul Petersen in The Donna Reed Show (1958)

The Donna Reed Show

7.4

TV Series

Helen Cooper

1958

1 episode

 

Phyllis Kirk, Peter Lawford, and Asta in The Thin Man (1957)

The Thin Man

7.1

TV Series

Jean

1958

1 episode

 

Juvenile Jungle (1958)

Juvenile Jungle

6.0

Carolyn Elliot

1958

 

Father Knows Best (1954)

Father Knows Best

7.4

TV Series

Shirley

1957

1 episode

 

The O. Henry Playhouse (1957)

The O. Henry Playhouse

6.0

TV Series

Ruth

1957

1 episode

 

The Johnny Carson Show (1953)

The Johnny Carson Show

8.3

TV Series

Fan

1955

2 episodes

 

Front Row Center (1955)

Front Row Center

7.1

TV Series

Muriel McComber

1955

1 episode

 

Baby Boogie (1955)

Baby Boogie

6.1

Short

Susan (voice)

1955

 

Eva Marie Saint and Tony Randall in One Man's Family (1949)

One Man's Family

6.8

TV Series

Claudia Barbour

1955

2 episodes

 

Preston Foster in Cavalcade of America (1952)

Cavalcade of America

8.1

TV Series

Jacqueline Marshall

1955

1 episode

 

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas

7.5

Susan Waverly

1954

 

The Hollywood Matador (1942)

Real Gone Woody

6.7

Short

Winnie Woodpecker (uncredited)

1954

 

Jim Backus and Joan Davis in I Married Joan (1952)

I Married Joan

7.7

TV Series

Janet Whitmore

1953

1 episode

 

Mel Blanc, June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Jeffrey Silver, Stuffy Singer, and Anne Whitfield in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.3

(voice, uncredited)

1953

 

Hollywood Opening Night

5.6

TV Series

Josie (as Ann Whitfield)

1952

1 episode

 

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima

6.7

Theresa (uncredited)

1952

 

Racket Squad (1950)

Racket Squad

7.5

TV Series

Mary Langley

1951

1 episode

 

The Bigelow Theatre (1950)

The Bigelow Theatre

6.9

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

Gregory Peck and Helen Westcott in The Gunfighter (1950)

The Gunfighter

7.7

Carrie Lou (uncredited)

1950