Ann Gillis was an American actress known for her roles in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Orphan Annie, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Born Alma Mabel Conner on February 12, 1927, in Little Rock, Arkansas, she began acting at a young age and became a familiar face in several films during the 1930s and 1940s.
Personal and Family Life
Gillis married Paul George Ziebold in 1947, and they had two sons before divorcing. She later married Scottish actor Richard Fraser, with whom she had another son, born in 1958. In 1991, she married Belgian René Van Hulst, who passed away in 1999. Gillis spent many years living in Belgium before moving to the UK in 2014.
Career Highlights
She started her film career at age seven, appearing in her first movie, Men in White, in 1934. Over the years, she gained recognition for playing bratty characters but also showcased her talent in sympathetic roles. Notably, her performance as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer included a memorable scene of emotional intensity, further solidifying her reputation as an actress. Gillis retired from Hollywood in 1947 and transitioned to television in New York City before relocating to London, where she later landed her final role in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Death and Legacy
Ann Gillis passed away on January 31, 2018, in East Sussex, England, at the age of 90. Following her death, Cora Sue Collins, who was her co-star in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, became the last surviving member of the film’s cast. Gillis’s contributions to film and television, especially her childhood performances, continue to resonate with audiences.