Ann Miller

Ann Miller

Known for Acting · 83 credits

Born
1923-04-12
Died
2004-01-22
Place of birth
Houston, Texas, USA
Also known as
Johnnie Lucille Collier · Lucille Collier · Lucy Ann Collier

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johnnie Lucille Collier (April 12, 1923 – January 22, 2004), known professionally as Ann Miller, was an American dancer, singer and actress. She is best remembered for her work in the Classical Hollywood musical films of the 1940s and 1950s.

At age 13 in 1936, Miller became a showgirl at the Bal Tabarin. She was hired as a dancer in the "Black Cat Club" in San Francisco (she reportedly told them she was 18). It was there that she was discovered by Lucille Ball and talent scout/comic Benny Rubin (although some sources say this occurred at Bal Tabarin). This led Miller to be given a contract with RKO in 1936 at the age of 13 (she had also told them she was 18, and apparently provided a fake birth certificate, procured by her father - with the name "Lucy Ann Collier") and she remained there until 1940.

In 1941, she signed with Columbia Pictures, where, starting with Time Out for Rhythm, she starred in 11 B movie musicals from 1941 to 1945. In July 1945, with World War II still raging in the Pacific, she posed in a bathing suit as a Yank magazine pin-up girl. She ended her contract in 1946 with one "A" film, The Thrill of Brazil. The ad in Life magazine featured Miller's leg in a large, red, bow-tied stocking as the "T" in "Thrill". She finally hit her mark in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals such as Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949) and Kiss Me Kate (1953).

Miller was famed for her speed in tap dance. Studio publicists concocted press releases claiming she could tap 500 times per minute, but in truth, the sound of ultra-fast "500" taps was looped in later. Because the stage floors were waxed and too slick for regular tap shoes, she had to dance in shoes with rubber treads on the sole. Later she would loop the sound of the taps while watching the film and actually dancing on a "tap board" to match her steps in the film.

Known For

TV Shows (15)

Movies (68)

Mulholland Drive
Movie

Mulholland Drive

2001

as Coco

You Can't Take It with You
Movie

You Can't Take It with You

1938

as Essie Carmichael

On the Town
Movie

On the Town

1949

as Claire Huddesen

Night of 100 Stars
Movie

Night of 100 Stars

1982

as Self

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Movie

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

2003

as Self

Easter Parade
Movie

Easter Parade

1948

as Nadine Hale

Stage Door
Movie

Stage Door

1937

as Annie

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Movie

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

2021

as Self

Kiss Me Kate
Movie

Kiss Me Kate

1953

as Lois Lane, "Bianca"

The Opposite Sex
Movie

The Opposite Sex

1956

as Gloria Dahl

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987

as Self

That's Entertainment!
Movie

That's Entertainment!

1974

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

1976

as Presidents' Girl 2

That's Entertainment, Part II
Movie

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

as (archive footage)

That's Dancing!
Movie

That's Dancing!

1985

Room Service
Movie

Room Service

1938

as Hilda Manny

The Good Fairy
Movie

The Good Fairy

1935

as Girl in Orphanage (uncredited)

That's Entertainment! III
Movie

That's Entertainment! III

1994

as Self - Co-Host / Narrator

Too Many Girls
Movie

Too Many Girls

1940

as Pepe

Deep in My Heart
Movie

Deep in My Heart

1954

as Performer in Artists and Models

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Movie

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

2002

as Self (archive footage)

The Kissing Bandit
Movie

The Kissing Bandit

1948

as Fiesta Specialty Dancer

Texas Carnival
Movie

Texas Carnival

1951

as Sunshine Jackson

Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's
Movie

Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's

2009

as Self

Broadway's Lost Treasures
Movie

Broadway's Lost Treasures

2003

as Ann (segment "Sugar Babies")

Mondo Hollywood
Movie

Mondo Hollywood

1967

Hit the Deck
Movie

Hit the Deck

1955

as Ginger

Melody Ranch
Movie

Melody Ranch

1940

as Julie Shelton

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
Movie

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2

1941

Small Town Girl
Movie

Small Town Girl

1953

as Lisa Bellmount

Reveille with Beverly
Movie

Reveille with Beverly

1943

as Beverly Ross

Hit Parade of 1941
Movie

Hit Parade of 1941

1940

as Anabelle Potter

Judy Garland: By Myself
Movie

Judy Garland: By Myself

2004

as Self - Actor (voice)

Two Tickets to Broadway
Movie

Two Tickets to Broadway

1951

as Joyce Campbell

Rita
Movie

Rita

2003

as Self

New Faces of 1937
Movie

New Faces of 1937

1937

as Ann Miller

Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Movie

Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1

1941

as Self

Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Movie

Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie

1993

as Self

Having Wonderful Time
Movie

Having Wonderful Time

1938

as Vivian (uncredited)

Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song
Movie

Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song

2002

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Life of the Party
Movie

The Life of the Party

1937

as Betty

Inside the Marx Brothers
Movie

Inside the Marx Brothers

2003

as Self

Lovely to Look At
Movie

Lovely to Look At

1952

as Bubbles Cassidy

Carolina Blues
Movie

Carolina Blues

1944

as Julie Carver

Eve Knew Her Apples
Movie

Eve Knew Her Apples

1945

as Eve Porter

Sailor's Holiday
Movie

Sailor's Holiday

1944

Inside the Dream Factory
Movie

Inside the Dream Factory

1995

as Self

Frank Sinatra Memorial
Movie

Frank Sinatra Memorial

2000

as Self

Tarnished Angel
Movie

Tarnished Angel

1938

as Violet McMaster

The Thrill of Brazil
Movie

The Thrill of Brazil

1946

as Linda Lorens

Hey, Rookie
Movie

Hey, Rookie

1944

as Winnie Clark

Dames at Sea
Movie

Dames at Sea

1971

as Mona

Eadie Was a Lady
Movie

Eadie Was a Lady

1945

as Eadie Allen / Edithea Alden

Priorities on Parade
Movie

Priorities on Parade

1942

as Donna D'Arcy

Jam Session
Movie

Jam Session

1944

as Terry Baxter

Radio City Revels
Movie

Radio City Revels

1938

as Billie

Go West, Young Lady
Movie

Go West, Young Lady

1941

as Lola

What's Buzzin', Cousin?
Movie

What's Buzzin', Cousin?

1943

as Ann Crawford

The Great American Pastime
Movie

The Great American Pastime

1956

as Doris Patterson

Easter Parade: On the Avenue
Movie

Easter Parade: On the Avenue

2005

as Self

Time Out for Rhythm
Movie

Time Out for Rhythm

1941

as Kitty Brown

The Devil on Horseback
Movie

The Devil on Horseback

1936

as Dancer (uncredited)

Watch the Birdie
Movie

Watch the Birdie

1950

as Miss Lucky Vista

True to the Army
Movie

True to the Army

1942

as Vicki Marlow

Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Movie

Hollywood Musicals of the 40's

2000

as Self (archive footage)

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Too Darn Hot
Movie

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Too Darn Hot

2003

as Self

Mighty Manhattan, New York's Wonder City
Movie

Mighty Manhattan, New York's Wonder City

1949

as Self

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine
Movie

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine

2003

About Ann Miller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Johnnie Lucille Collier (April 12, 1923 – January 22, 2004), known professionally as Ann Miller, was an American dancer, singer and actress. She is best remembered for her work in the Classical Hollywood musical films of the 1940s and 1950s. At age 13 in 1936, Miller became a showgirl at the Bal Tabarin. She was hired as a dancer in the "Black Cat Club" in San Francisco (she reportedly told them she was 18). It was there that she was discovered by Lucille Ball and talent scout/comic Benny Rubin (although s… With 83 credits spanning from 1935 to 2021, Ann Miller has appeared in 68 films and 15 TV shows.

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