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Biography
Donna Reed was born in the mid-western town of Denison, Iowa on
January 27, 1921 with the birth name of Donna Belle Mullenger. The
town was small, less than 3, 000 people located by the Boyer River.
It, also, is the county seat of Crawford County. Donna grew up as a
farm girl used to the everyday chores of any farm girl growing up
in western Iowa. The thing that set her aside from others was the
fact that Donna was very beautiful. That wasn't to say that others
weren't as pretty, it's just that Donna's beauty stood out more
than others, so much so that she won a beauty contest in Denison.
Upon graduation from high school, Donna left for college in Los
Angeles, California in the hopes of eventually entering movies.
While at Los Angeles City College, Donna pursued her dream by
participating in several college stage productions. In addition to
the plays, she also won the title of Campus Queen. As a result of
one of those stage plays, Donna was spotted by MGM and was signed
to a contract. Donna's first film was a minor role with MGM in the
1941 production of THE GET-AWAY. That one was followed, that same
year, in BABES ON BROADWAY with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
Donna's small role was as a secretary. Afterwards, MGM began giving
Donna better parts. Some of the movies in which her roles were more
substantial were THE BUGLE SOUNDS (1941), THE COURTSHIP OF ANDY
HARDY (1942), and THE MAN FROM DOWN UNDER (1943). In 1944, Donna
received second billing as Carol Halliday in SEE HERE, PRIVATE
HARGROVE. It's basically a comedy about a reporter who is drafted
into the army and eventually meets up with Donna's character as a
worker in the canteen. The following year, Donna starred in THE
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. It was her best role to date. It was a love
story set in London in 1890. The critics had mixed reviews on the
film, but did well at the box-office. Donna was now one of the
leading ladies of Hollywood. In 1946, Donna starred as Mary Hatch
in the delightful Christmas story, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with Jimmy
Stewart. This timeless story is a holiday staple to this day. The
film also starred Lionel Barrymore and Thomas Mitchell. The next
year Donna starred as Ann Daniels in BEYOND GLORY with Alan Ladd.
The film did well at the box-office making money for Paramount who
released the movie. Donna's next role was the strongest she had had
yet in 1949's CHICAGO DEADLINE again with Alan Ladd. The film was
one of the best mystery dramas for a long time. Another hit. As the
Forties turned in to Fifties, Donna's roles were substantial and
wholesome, the girl next door type. In 1953, Donna played a
prostitute in the widely acclaimed FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. She was
so outstanding in the role of Alma, that she was nominated and won
the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress beating out seasoned
veterans such as Thelma Ritter and Marjorie Rambeau. The film
itself won for Best Picture. The motion picture remains a classic
to this day, plus gave Donna more attention. Later that year Donna
starred in THE CADDY a comedy with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin as
the top billed stars. In 1955, Donna landed the role of Sacajawea
in THE FAR HORIZONS. It was the story of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition with Charlton Heston and Fred MacMurray rounding out the
fine cast. After filming THE WHOLE TRUTH in 1958, Donna entered
television as the lead in "The Donna Reed Show". The long running
series proved to be a hit. Donna was so effective in the show that
she was nominated for TV's prestigious Emmy Award as Best Actress
every year from 1959-1962. The series ran until the end of the 1966
season. She was far more popular in TV than on the silver screen.
After the run of the program, Donna took some time away from show
business before coming back in a couple of made for TV movies. (In
1974, she had made YELLOW-HEADED SUMMER for the big screen, but the
film was never released). Donna did get the role of Ellie Ewing
Farlow in the hit TV program "Dallas" during the 1984-85 season. It
was to be her final public performance. On January 14, 1986, less
than two weeks before her 65th birthday, Donna died of pancreatic
cancer in Beverly Hills, California. Grover Asmus, her husband,
created the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts in her
hometown of Denison, Iowa. The Foundation helps others who desire a
career in the arts. Donna never forgot her roots. She was still a
farm girl at heart.
Biography courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com).
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Donna Reed
