Ann Gillis

Alma Mabel Conner (February 12, 1927 – January 31, 2018) professionally Ann Gillis and sometimes credited as Anne Gillis or Ann Gilles, was an American actress, best known for her film roles as a child actress.

Spouses

Paul Ziebold (1947–1951) (divorced) (two children)
Richard Fraser (1952–1970) (divorced) (1 child)
René Van Hulst (1991–1999) (his death)

Early life and career

Gillis was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. She started her career in the early 1930s, when she was seven years old. After some smaller roles, she got her first major part in King of Hockey(1936). In the following years she played supporting roles, and her film studio, Warner Brothers Pictures, wanted her to be another Shirley Temple, but she mostly played spoiled brats.

Starring roles

Among her biggest roles were Becky Thatcher in David O. Selznick's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) and Annie in Little Orphan Annie (1938). She also provided the voice of Faline in Bambi (1942).

Personal life and later career

She ended her Hollywood film career in 1947 and married her second husband, British actor Richard Fraser, in 1952. Following her Hollywood career, she turned to occasional television work in the UK. Gillis appeared in two episodes of The Saint in 1964/1965, followed by a small part in 2001: A Space Odyssey, playing Dr Poole's mother. She is seen onscreen congratulating her son on his birthday. She later lived in Belgium.