{"id":520239,"date":"2026-06-26T22:13:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T22:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/520239\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T22:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T22:13:24","slug":"oscar-nominee-ann-blyth-teen-star-of-mildred-pierce-dead-at-98","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/520239\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Nominee Ann Blyth, Teen Star Of ‘Mildred Pierce,’ Dead At 98"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Ann Blyth, a versatile Hollywood star who received an Oscar nomination<\/a> at 17 as Joan Crawford\u2019s wayward daughter in \u201cMildred Pierce,\u201d sang opposite Mario Lanza and Howard Keel in such MGM musicals as \u201dThe Great Caruso\u201d and ended her film career before age 30, has died at age 98.<\/p>\n

Blyth died Wednesday of \u201cnatural causes\u201d at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, according to her daughter, Eileen McNulty. Blyth\u2019s family was at her side.<\/p>\n

One of the last surviving actors from the Hollywood studio system, Blyth appeared in youth movies as well as dramas such as \u201cAnother Part of the Forest,\u201d and her co-stars included Bing Crosby, Power, Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. Blyth had stopped appearing in films by the end of the 1950s when she chose to spend more time with her children. But she would work in TV musicals and dramas and tour in concerts and musicals from \u201cShow Boat\u201d to \u201cThe Sound of Music.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was acting and singing from an early age and her first big break came at 13 when she was cast as Paul Lukas\u2019s daughter in Lillian Hellman\u2019s anti-Nazi play, \u201cWatch on the Rhine,\u201d which also starred Bette Davis. She stayed with the play for almost a year on Broadway and a year on the road.<\/p>\n

When \u201cWatch on the Rhine\u201d appeared in Los Angeles, Universal Studio signed her to a term contract starting at $175 a week. A dark-haired actor with a melodic singing voice, she appeared with a young Donald O\u2019Connor in low-budget musicals such as \u201cChip Off the Old Block\u201d and \u201cBowery to Broadway.\u201d The loan-out to Warner Bros. for \u201cMildred Pierce\u201d elevated Blyth\u2019s career and led to grown-up roles.<\/p>\n

Good at being bad<\/p>\n

Like \u201cDouble Indemnity,\u201d adapted for the screen by Billy Wilder in 1944, \u201cMildred Pierce\u201d was a James M. Cain thriller about vengeance and calculation. Crawford won the 1945 Oscar as a waitress who rises to own a string of Los Angeles restaurants. Blyth was nominated in the supporting role as Mildred\u2019s spoiled daughter, Veda, who seduces her mother\u2019s second husband (Zachary Scott), then riddles him with bullets in a jealous rage.<\/p>\n

Directed by Michael Curtiz of \u201cCasablanca\u201d fame, \u201cMildred Pierce\u201d was a memorable piece of film noir that took place mostly at night. For Blyth it was a major change from the cheery musicals she had been known for. It was also a stretch for an actor who was the subject of magazine articles entitled \u201cIncorruptible!\u201d, \u201cAngelic Annie\u201d and \u201cAnn Blyth: Success Without an Enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 1946, Blyth broke her back in a toboggan accident, and it appeared her career might be over. She spent seven months in a body cast and another seven months in a wheelchair, relying on her Roman Catholic faith for courage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe busy, exciting world I had known faded away, and my life slowed down to little things,\u201d she later told The Associated Press. \u201cBut even here I found myself blessed, for a new sense of prayer began to unfold to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once recovered, she appeared as the love interest for Sonny Tufts in \u201cSwell Guy,\u201d Howard Duff in \u201cBrute Force\u201d and Mickey Rooney in a prizefight movie, \u201cKiller McCoy.\u201d She displayed her dramatic skill as the young woman in love with a suspected wife-killer, Charles Boyer, in \u201cA Woman\u2019s Vengeance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her strongest role after \u201cMildred Pierce\u201d came with \u201cAnother Part of the Forest,\u201d Hellman\u2019s prequel to her stage and film drama \u201cThe Little Foxes.\u201d Blythe appeared as the young Regina Hubbard, created as an adult on Broadway by Tallulah Bankhead and in the film by Bette Davis.<\/p>\n

Add a little music<\/p>\n

Blyth\u2019s career made a turn in 1951 when she starred with Mario Lanza in \u201cThe Great Caruso.\u201d Her lilting soprano made an ideal match for his tenor, and they were cast in \u201cThe Student Prince.\u201d But the temperamental Lanza dropped out after recording his songs, and British actor Edmund Purdom acted his role and mouthed the songs. Blyth co-starred with Howard Keel in \u201cRose Marie\u201d and \u201cKismet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her other films included \u201cTop o\u2019 the Morning\u201d with Crosby, \u201cThe World in His Arms\u201d (Peck) and a reunion with O\u2019Connor, \u201cThe Buster Keaton Story.\u201d Her last film was in 1957, \u201cThe Helen Morgan Story,\u201d which co-starred Paul Newman.<\/p>\n

Born in 1928 in Mount Kisco, New York, to an Irish mother and English valet father, she grew up in New York City. After the father left the family, Nan Blyth supported herself and two daughters by washing clothes and working in beauty parlors.<\/p>\n

She had high hopes for daughter Ann\u2019s future as an actress, and at 5 the girl began appearing on a New York radio show. She continued as a radio performer and spent three years studying and performing with the San Carlo Opera Company.<\/p>\n

After becoming a movie star, Blyth admitted of her early career: \u201cI\u2019d become blue and despondent when I failed to get a job, and my mother\u2019s encouraging words made me want to try again.\u201d Before the actress\u2019s breakout performance in \u201cMildred Pierce,\u201d her mother died of cancer.<\/p>\n

In 1953, Blyth married Dr. James McNulty, brother of tenor-comedian Dennis Day. They had five children and remained married until McNulty\u2019s death, in 2007. A few weeks before son Timothy was born in 1954, she made television history of a sort performing the song \u201cSecret Love\u201d at the Oscars \u2014 visibly pregnant as she sang, \u201cOnce I had a secret love … and my secret love\u2019s no secret anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas, a former Associated Press Hollywood correspondent who died in 2014, was the primary writer of this obituary.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Neil Sedaka<\/p>\n

Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits such as \u201cBreaking Up Is Hard to Do\u201d and \u201cLaugher in the Rain,\u201d died on February 27, 2026. He was 86. Sedaka teamed with lyricist Howard Greenfield on songs that reflected the teen innocence of the post-Elvis\/pre-Beatles era of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including \u201cHappy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,\u201d \u201cCalendar Girl\u201d and \u201cOh! Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bobby Bank via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Robert Carradine<\/p>\n

Robert Carradine, the “Revenge of the Nerds” star who hailed from one of Hollywood’s prominent acting families, died on February 23, 2026. He was 71. Carradine earned a generation of new fans by playing the father in \u201cLizzie McGuire\u201d and also had a prominent role in the Oscar-decorated \u201cComing Home\u201d (1978) and appeared in Quentin Tarantino\u2019s \u201cDjango Unchained\u201d (2012).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo by Jordan Strauss\/Invision via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Eric Dane<\/p>\n

Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles on \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d and \u201cEuphoria\u201d and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died on February 19, 2026. He was 53. Dane developed a devoted fanbase when he was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy,\u201d a role he would play from 2006 until 2012 and reprise in 2021. In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Neilson Barnard via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jesse Jackson<\/p>\n

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose two presidential runs in the 1980s set the stage for today\u2019s progressive movement, died on February 17, 2026. He was 84.<\/p>\n

He participated in marches from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama and established a branch of the Martin Luther King Jr.-led Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Chicago. He was later appointed to lead SCLC\u2019s economic arm, Operation Breadbasket.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo by Casey Curry\/Invision via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Robert Duvall<\/p>\n

Robert Duvall, an acclaimed and prolific actor celebrated for his complex, rugged roles in films like \u201cThe Godfather,\u201d died on February 15, 2026. He was 95. Duvall\u2019s career spanned six decades, during which he accumulated many directing, producing and acting credits. He continued to work until late in his life, acting alongside Martin Sheen in 2021\u2019s \u201c12 Mighty Orphans,\u201d a film about a football team at an orphanage in 1930s Texas, and appearing in 2002\u2019s \u201cHustle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

via Associated Press<\/p>\n

James Van Der Beek<\/p>\n

James Van Der Beek, star of the iconic teen drama series “Dawson\u2019s Creek” in the late \u201990s and early 2000s, died on February 11, 2026. He was 48. Van Der Beek had announced in November 2024 that he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n

He participated in theater in middle school, and at 16, he made his professional debut off-Broadway in Edward Albee\u2019s \u201cFinding The Sun.\u201d The next year, he made his feature film debut in the coming-of-age comedy \u201cAngus.\u201d He also starred in \u201cMercy,\u201d \u201cCSI: Cyber\u201d and most recently \u201cOvercompensating.\u201d His film credits include \u201cVarsity Blues,\u201d \u201cBad Hair\u201d and \u201cThe Rules of Attraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christian Petersen via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Terrance Gore<\/p>\n

Terrance Gore, who was part of World Series championship teams as a speedy bench weapon, died on February 6, 2026. He was 34. He played in 11 postseason games as a pinch runner, stealing five bases in six attempts and scoring three runs. He was a part of a championship team with the Royals (2015), who drafted him with a 20th-round selection in 2011, the Los Angeles Dodgers (2020) and the Atlanta Braves (2021).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Sonny Jurgensen<\/p>\n

Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen died on February 6, 2026. He was 91. He topped 3,000 yards in a season five times, including twice with Philadelphia, in an era before rules changes opened up NFL offenses. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and remains the only Washington player to wear the No. 9 jersey in a game.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chris Pizzello via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Catherine O’Hara<\/p>\n

Beloved comic actor Catherine O’Hara, best known for her roles in \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek,\u201d \u201cHome Alone,\u201d \u201cBest in Show\u201d and countless other comedies, died on January 30, 2026. O\u2019Hara, a two-time Emmy Award winner, was 71. O\u2019Hara got her start in 1974 performing with The Second City, an improv comedy troupe with an outpost in Toronto, then joined the group\u2019s spinoff production SCTV. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

via Associated Press<\/p>\n

Bob Weir<\/p>\n

Veteran rock musician Bob Weir, the Grateful Dead\u2019s rhythm guitarist who helped guide the legendary jam band, died on January 10, 2026. He was 78. It was Weir who sang the verses on the band\u2019s trademark boogie anthem, \u201cTruckin\u2019,\u201d and who wrote such key songs as \u201cSugar Magnolia,\u201d \u201cPlaying in the Band\u201d and \u201cJack Straw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tom Williams via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Doug LaMalfa<\/p>\n

Republican Doug LaMalfa, a seven-term U.S. representative from California and a reliable vote on Trump\u2019s agenda, died on January 6, 2026. He was 65. LaMalfa was first elected to Congress in 2012 and represented Northern California\u2019s 1st District, along the Oregon border, including Redding and reaching just north of Sacramento. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Ann Blyth, a versatile Hollywood star who received an Oscar nomination at 17 as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":520240,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[97425,321,93,65025,221814,61,60,69320,221813,50909,221812],"class_list":["post-520239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-bing-crosby","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-gregory-peck","tag-howard-keel","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-joan-crawford","tag-mario-lanza","tag-oscar","tag-the-great-caruso"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/520240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}