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Anne Gwynne (born Marguerite Gwynne Trice; December 10, 1918 – March 31, 2003) was an American actress who was known as one of the first scream queens because of her numerous appearances in horror films. Gwynne was also one of the most popular pin-ups of World War II. She is the maternal grandmother of actor
Chris Pine Chris Pine (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' reboot film series (2009–present), Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films '' Wonder Woman'' (2017) and ' ...
.


Early life

Gwynne was born in
Waco, Texas Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and Interstate 35, I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin, Texas, Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the List ...
, the daughter of Pearl (née Guinn) and Jefferson Benjamin Trice, an apparel manufacturer. She had a brother Jefferson Jr. (b. 1914). After her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, she attended
Stephens College Stephens College is a private women's college in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second-oldest women's educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. It was founded on August 24, 1833, as the Columbia Female Acad ...
, where she studied drama.


Career

While accompanying her father to a convention in Los Angeles, Gwynne obtained a job modeling for
Catalina Swimwear Catalina is a brand of women’s swimwear. It was once one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in California. Their history began in 1907, as Bentz Knitting Mills, a small manufacturer of underwear and sweaters. The name was changed to Pacific K ...
. She soon began acting in small theaters and appeared in a newsreel and a charity short. In June 1939, she signed a contract with Universal and was immediately put to work in '' Unexpected Father''. Universal cast her in a variety of genres including
film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
and musical comedy. She co-starred with Buster Crabbe and Carol Hughes in ''Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe'', a 12 episode Universal serial (1940). Gwynne made a number of Westerns at the studio, including two she numbered among her favorite projects; '' Men of Texas'' with
Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the highly successful ABC tele ...
and
Broderick Crawford William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Willie Stark in '' All ...
and '' Ride 'Em Cowboy'' with
Abbott and Costello Abbott may refer to: People * Abbott (surname) * Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American painter and naturalist *Abbott and Costello, famous American vaudeville act Places Argentina * Abbott, Buenos Aires United States * Abbott, Arkansa ...
(both 1942). She is remembered by fans of
horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...
for her work in several pictures made in the 1940s. Her first horror film was '' Black Friday'' (1940) in which she played
Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established ...
's daughter. '' House of Frankenstein'' (1944) was the last horror picture she did at Universal. Gwynne was a television pioneer, appearing in TV's first filmed series, ''
Public Prosecutor A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the common law adversarial system or the civil law inquisitorial system. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case in a criminal trial ...
'' (1947–48); she was a member of the regular cast, playing Pat Kelly, the district attorney's secretary.


Personal life

Gwynne married Max M. Gilford in 1945. The couple had two children: Gregory, a recording artist on Dunhill Records; and Gwynne, an actress. Gwynne Gilford and her husband, actor
Robert Pine Robert Pine (born Granville Whitelaw Pine, July 10, 1941) is an American actor who is best known as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the television series '' CHiPs'' (1977–1983). Including ''CHiPs'', Pine has appeared in over 400 episodes of television ...
, have two children, actress Katherine Pine and actor
Chris Pine Chris Pine (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' reboot film series (2009–present), Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films '' Wonder Woman'' (2017) and ' ...
. Gwynne was a Democrat and endorsed
Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I (1835–1914), U.S. Vice President (1893–1897) and Congressman (1879–1881) * Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965), Governor of Illinois (1949–1953), U.S. presidential candida ...
for president in the 1952 presidential election.


Death

Anne Gwynne died March 31, 2003, of a stroke following surgery at the
Motion Picture Country Hospital The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as temp ...
in Woodland Hills, California. She was
cremated Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre i ...
, and her ashes were scattered at sea.


Partial filmography

*'' Unexpected Father'' (1939) – Kitty – showgirl *''
Oklahoma Frontier ''Oklahoma Frontier'' is a 1939 American Western film written and directed by Ford Beebe. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Anne Gwynne, James Blaine and Bob Kortman. The film was released on October 10, 1939, by ...
'' (1939) – Janet Rankin *'' Little Accident'' (1939) – Blonde Girl (uncredited) *'' Man from Montreal'' (1939) – Doris Blair *'' The Big Guy'' (1939) – Joan's Friend (uncredited) *'' Charlie McCarthy, Detective'' (1939) – Miss Larkin, Charlie's Nurse (uncredited) *''
The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of me ...
'' (1940, Serial) – Josephine Weaver h. 3(uncredited) *'' Honeymoon Deferred'' (1940) – Cecile Blades *'' Framed'' (1940) – Girl (uncredited) *'' Black Friday'' (1940) – Jean Sovac *''
It's a Date ''It's a Date'' is a 1940 American musical film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, and Walter Pidgeon. Based on a story by Jane Hall, Frederick Kohner, and Ralph Block, the film is about an aspiring actress wh ...
'' (1940) – Society Girl (uncredited) *''
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe ''Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe'' is a 1940 American black-and-white science fiction 12-chapter movie serial from Universal Pictures, produced by Henry MacRae and co-directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. The serial stars Buster Crabbe, ...
'' (1940, Serial) – Sonja hs. 2, 6-12*'' Sandy Is a Lady'' (1940) – Millie *''
Bad Man from Red Butte ''Bad Man from Red Butte'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Sam Robins. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Anne Gwynne, Bill Cody Jr. and Norman Willis. It was released on June 1, ...
'' (1940) – Tibby Mason *'' Spring Parade'' (1940) – Jenny *'' Give Us Wings'' (1940) – Julie Mason *'' Nice Girl?'' (1941) – Sylvia Dana *'' Washington Melodrama'' (1941) – Mary Morgan *'' The Black Cat'' (1941) – Elaine Winslow *'' Tight Shoes'' (1941) – Ruth *'' Mob Town'' (1941) – Marion Barker *'' Melody Lane'' (1941) – Patricia Reynolds *'' Road Agent'' (1941) – Patricia Leavitt *'' Keeping Fit'' (1942) – Nurse *'' Don't Get Personal'' (1942) – Susan Blair *''
Jail House Blues ''Jailhouse Blues'' (1929) is a short musical film released by Columbia Pictures. It features Mamie Smith, who was a top star in Black Vaudeville and a recording artist with Okeh Records. By the time ''Jailhouse Blues'' was made her contract with ...
'' (1942) – Doris Daniels *'' Ride 'Em Cowboy'' (1942) – Anne Shaw *'' Broadway'' (1942) – Pearl *'' The Strange Case of Doctor Rx'' (1942) – Kit Logan Church *'' You're Telling Me'' (1942) – Kit Bellamy *'' Men of Texas'' (1942) – Jane Baxter Scott *'' Sin Town'' (1942) – Laura Kirby *'' We've Never Been Licked'' (1943) – Nina Lambert *'' Frontier Badmen'' (1943) – Chris Prentice *'' Top Man'' (1943) – Pat Warren *''
Ladies Courageous ''Ladies Courageous'' (also called ''Fury in the Sky'' in a 1950 Realart re-release) is a 1944 war film based on the novel ''Looking For Trouble'' (1941) by Virginia Spencer Cowles. Directed by John Rawlins, the film stars Loretta Young and ...
'' (1944) – Gerry Vail *'' Weird Woman'' (1944) – Paula Reed *''
Moon Over Las Vegas ''Moon Over Las Vegas'' is a 1944 American musical comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Anne Gwynne, David Bruce and Barbara Jo Allen.Taylor & Jackson p.271 Plot Beautiful wife Marion Corbett (Anne Gwynne) heads for Las Vegas h ...
'' (1944) – Marion Corbett *'' South of Dixie'' (1944) – Dixie Holister *''
Babes on Swing Street ''Babes on Swing Street'' is a 1944 musical comedy film directed by Edward C. Lilley and starring Ann Blyth, Peggy Ryan, and Andy Devine. It was produced by Universal Pictures. Plot Barber's daughter Trudy Costello gives close shaves at her ...
'' (1944) – Frances Carlyle *'' Murder in the Blue Room'' (1944) – Nan *'' House of Frankenstein'' (1944) – Rita Hussman *'' I Ring Doorbells'' (1946) – Brooke Peters *''
Fear Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear ...
'' (1946) – Eileen Stevens / Cathy Stevens *''
The Glass Alibi ''The Glass Alibi'' is a 1946 crime drama film noir directed by W. Lee Wilder starring Paul Kelly, Douglas Fowley, Anne Gwynne and Maris Wrixon.. Plot A reporter marries a dying girl for her money, but she recovers from her illness so he plot ...
'' (1946) – Belle Martin *'' The Ghost Goes Wild'' (1947) – Phyllis Beecher *'' Killer Dill'' (1947) – Judy Parker *'' Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome'' (1947) – Tess Trueheart *''
Panhandle A salient (also known as a panhandle or bootheel) is an elongated protrusion of a geopolitical entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state. While similar to a peninsula in shape, a salient is most often not surrounded by water on ...
'' (1948) – June O'Carroll *'' The Enchanted Valley'' (1948) – Midge Gray *'' Arson, Inc.'' (1949) – Jane Jennings *'' The Blazing Sun'' (1950) – Kitty *'' Call of the Klondike'' (1950) – Nancy Craig *'' King of the Bullwhip'' (1950) – Jane Kerrigan *'' Breakdown'' (1952) – Candy Allen *''
Teenage Monster ''Teenage Monster'' is a 1958 independently made science fiction-horror Western film. It was produced and directed by Jacques R. Marquette, and stars Anne Gwynne and Stuart Wade. The film had a first screening on December 25, 1957, in Los An ...
'' (1958) – Ruth Cannon *'' Adam at 6 A.M.'' (1970) – Mrs. Gaines (final film role)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gwynne, Anne 1918 births 2003 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Waco, Texas Female models from Texas American film actresses American television actresses California Democrats Texas Democrats Universal Pictures contract players 21st-century American women Pine family