Here’s a biography of Donna Reed, the classic American actress and beloved television star:
Donna Reed – Biography
Full Name: Donna Belle Mullenger
Stage Name: Donna Reed
Born: January 27, 1921 – Denison, Iowa, U.S.
Died: January 14, 1986 – Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation: Actress
Years Active: 1941–1985
Notable Works: It’s a Wonderful Life, The Donna Reed Show, From Here to Eternity
Early Life
Donna Reed was born Donna Belle Mullenger in Denison, Iowa. She was the eldest of five children in a Midwestern farming family. After graduating from high school, she moved to California to attend Los Angeles City College. Her striking looks soon caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts, and she began pursuing acting seriously.
Career Highlights
Film Career
Donna began her film career in the 1940s with a contract at MGM. She starred in several films during the 1940s and early 1950s. Her most iconic film role is perhaps Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), opposite James Stewart. The film later became a timeless Christmas classic.
Reed won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her dramatic role as Alma Burke in From Here to Eternity (1953), showcasing her range beyond the wholesome girl-next-door image.
Television Career
In 1958, Reed broke new ground by starring in and co-producing The Donna Reed Show, a sitcom that ran until 1966. She played the loving wife and mother, Donna Stone, and the show became a staple of American television. Reed was awarded a Golden Globe in 1963 for her performance on the show.
Later in her career, she briefly replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie on the popular prime-time soap opera Dallas in 1984, but her stint was short-lived.
Personal Life
Donna was married three times and had four children. She was also politically active, particularly later in life, speaking out against the Vietnam War and co-founding Another Mother for Peace, an anti-war organization.
Death and Legacy
Donna Reed passed away from pancreatic cancer just two weeks shy of her 65th birthday in 1986. She left behind a legacy of strong, wholesome, and enduring female characters.
