Ava Gardner
The barefoot star of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her performance in Robert Siodmak's film noir *The Killers*. Born in Grabtown, North Carolina, she was the youngest of seven children and was raised in her mother's Baptist faith. Her family lost their property during the Depression, forcing them to move several times; after her father died of bronchitis in 1938, her mother ran boarding houses. Gardner graduated high school in 1939 and attended secretarial classes for about a year. Her career began when a portrait taken by her brother-in-law was displayed in his New York studio. A legal clerk who posed as an MGM talent scout saw it and suggested sending her information to the studio. After an interview, MGM head Louis B. Mayer offered her a standard contract, despite her strong Southern accent and lack of acting experience. She moved to Hollywood in 1941 and spent five years in bit parts, many uncredited. Her breakthrough came as the femme fatale Kitty Collins in *The Killers*. During the 1950s, she became a leading lady and top star with films like *Show Boat* and *Pandora and the Flying Dutchman* (both 1951), followed by *The Snows of Kilimanjaro* (1952), *Mogambo* (1953), and *The Barefoot Contessa* (1954). *Mogambo* earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She later starred opposite Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire in *On the Beach* (1959). Her career continued for three more decades with films such as *55 Days at Peking* (1963), *Seven Days in May* (1964), *The Bible: In the Beginning...* (1966), and *Mayerling* (1968). She also received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for *The Night of the Iguana*. Gardner remained lifelong friends with Peck, was active in progressive politics, and acted regularly until 1986. She died in 1990 after a stroke. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her No. 25 on its greatest female screen legends list.
- born
- December 24, 1922, Grabtown, North Carolina
- died
- January 25, 1990, age 67
- field
- Actress
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Leading roles in Golden Age Hollywood films, including *The Killers*, *Mogambo*, and *The Night of the Iguana*
Lore & Background
Gardner was born in Grabtown, North Carolina, the youngest of seven children. She was of English and Scots Irish ancestry and raised in her mother's Baptist faith. During the Depression, her family lost their property and moved several times. Her father died from bronchitis in 1938 when she was 15. She graduated high school in 1939 and attended secretarial classes at Atlantic Christian College for about a year. She was visiting her sister in New York City in 1940 when her brother-in-law's portrait of her led to an MGM contract. She left school for Hollywood in 1941.
Reader's Guide
Gardner's career spanned from 1942 to 1986. Her first feature film appearance was a walk-on in We Were Dancing (1942). She gained prominence in The Killers (1946). In the 1950s she starred in Show Boat (1951), Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951), The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952), Mogambo (1953), The Barefoot Contessa (1954), and On the Beach (1959). Later films include 55 Days at Peking (1963), Seven Days in May (1964), The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966), and Mayerling (1968). She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Mogambo, and Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for The Night of the Iguana (1964). She died in 1990 at age 67 after a stroke in 1986.
Did You Know?
- Gardner was ranked No. 25 on the American Film Institute's greatest female screen legends list in 1999.
- She had a lifelong habit of going barefoot, which influenced her decision to accept the role in The Barefoot Contessa.
- She remained lifelong friends with Gregory Peck and was active in progressive politics.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress." — Ava Gardner "[On John Ford] The meanest man on earth. Thoroughly evil. Adored him!" — Ava Gardner "[On her relationship with Frank Sinatra] We were great in bed. It was usually on the way to the bidet when the trouble began." — Ava Gardner "Gardner worked with John Ford on Mogambo (1953)." — Ava Gardner
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