Stunning Throwback Pics Of Old Hollywood Star Ann Blyth

Ann Blyth, a 1950s Hollywood star, died on June 24, 2026, at the age of 98 of natural causes. Blyth was born in Mount Kisco, New York, on August 16, 1927, and raised in Manhattan on the Lower East Side. As young as six, Blyth sang and performed poetry on radio shows. At 12, she was cast in the Broadway production "Watch on the Rhine," a gig that led to a nationwide tour of the play. 

As a classically trained soprano, Blyth became a feature face of musicals. In 1943, Universal signed her and in 1944 alone, she performed in four musical films. She became famous for playing Veda, Joan Crawford's daughter in the 1945 movie "Mildred Pierce." The film was a huge success; in 1946, Crawford won an Oscar for Best Actress and Blyth received an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Only five days after filming wrapped on "Mildred Pierce," Blyth broke her back in a snow tobogganing accident. She recovered after months in a body cast and further time in a wheelchair. In 1953, Blyth married obstetrician James McNulty and they welcomed five children. With her growing family, Blyth decided to step away from films, though she did occasionally work, making some TV appearances. Throwback pictures of Ann Blyth when she was a young star capture her brief but stunning time in the spotlight. 

Ann Blyth could completely steal a scene, thanks to her charisma and undeniable beauty, but in real life, she was petite. At 5 feet, 2 inches, Blyth was notably smaller than most of her co-stars, but her size worked for her, particularly early on in her career. Since Blyth was only 16 when she landed her first big role in "Mildred Pierce," she was cast as the young daughter, so her stature only enhanced this youthful casting. In the picture above, Blyth was around 21 years old, and undeniably stunning. 

As a star of the 1950s, Ann Blyth nailed that old Hollywood glam. She frequently wore her hair in Hollywood waves, styled in smooth, S-shaped arcs that framed her face. With her striking dark hair and full brows, Blyth looked a lot like her contemporary, Elizabeth Taylor. Both women could sport a glamorous look. Similar to Blyth's style, there are ways to bring Taylor's old Hollywood glamour to contemporary outfits. Both women loved statement jewelry, dramatic hair, bold makeup, and luxe textures. 

When Ann Blyth broke her back in a sledding accident in 1945, the gruelling healing process took over 14 months. A Catholic, Blyth told The Associated Press at the time that she turned to spirituality to cope with the tragedy. "The busy, exciting world I had known faded away, and my life slowed down to little things," she said, (via News 6). "But even here I found myself blessed, for a new sense of prayer began to unfold to me." Incredibly, Blyth recovered from the accident and was able to return to acting. The photo above, circa 1950, shows Blyth looking every inch the Hollywood starlet, with her accident fully behind her. 

At the age of 16, Ann Blyth was cast as Veda in the 1945 film "Mildred Pierce," playing Joan Crawford's daughter. "I knew that other people wanted the part as well, but I was the lucky one because Joan Crawford did the test with me, and it made a world of difference," Blyth told The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. "People just didn't do that, not people of her stature." On screen, the mother and daughter had a volatile relationship, but in real life, they remained very close friends for years after the film wrapped.

Since she was such a charming entertainer and talented singer, Ann Blyth put her star quality to use by frequently entertaining the troops. She was dubbed a "sweetheart of the regiment" in 1944 by the Marine Corps after volunteering in war efforts at the Hollywood Canteen. In one instance in 1952 (as seen above), actor Rock Hudson carried Blyth off a plane in New York, where she would have a quick stop on her way to Alaskato visit troops — and despite having been on a flight, Blyth still looked fab!

Ann Blyth looked like the happiest bride when she wed her husband, James McNulty, on June 27, 1953 in California. The pair met through McNulty's brother, singer and comedian Dennis Day. The couple went on to welcome five children; while heavily pregnant with her first child, Blyth performed the song "Secret Love" at the 1954 Academy Awards in a televised moment that became an iconic moment in Hollywood history. Blyth and McNulty remained married until his death in 2007. 

Ann Blyth became famous for her role as the ungrateful, violent Veda in "Mildred Pierce," and she was so good at the part that Blyth became typecast as a bad girl. She played another dark character, Lillian Hellman, in a film adaptation of "Another Part of the Forest." But Blyth got tired of being cast as the evil woman, and ended up refusing a similar role in the 1949 film "Abandoned." While she stood her ground, Universal put her on unpaid suspension. It paid off in the long run, though, as Blyth was later cast in more cheerful, singing parts. The photo above, from 1955, shows her cheerful demeanor. 

Ann Blyth had an off-screen glamour that couldn't help but show her star power. At a birthday party in 1955, Blyth arrived in a wide-brimmed hat and an off-the-shoulder ensemble that was seductive and elegant. As a contemporary of Audrey Hepburn, Blyth shared some of Hepburn's defining qualities; both women loved a bold brow and a statement look. Clearly, Blyth was one of many celebrities who took fashion cues from Hepburn. It's hard to resist Hepburn's short bangs, cropped pixie cut, and red lips, and these traits suited Blyth beautifully. 

With everything going for her, Ann Blyth stepped away from Hollywood around 1957. She chose instead to devote her attention to her family, and so Blyth receded from the spotlight in favor of more domestic pastures. Had she chosen to continue her career, there's no doubt that Blyth would have been counted among the many glamorous old ladies of Hollywood who were red carpet mainstays into their 70s and beyond. As such, Blyth was remembered for her lively younger years and the star power she brought to films in her youth.