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Ava Gardner

Actor

Ava Gardner

Born December 24, 1922 in Grabtown, North Carolina, USADied January 25, 199065 films

Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Considered one of the most iconic stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, she was ranked as the 25th greatest female screen legend by the American Film Institute. Initially cast in minor roles, her breakthrough came with the classic film noir The Killers (1946), which established her as a leading lady. Her career flourished in the 1950s with notable performances in films like Mogambo (1953), for which she received an Academy Award nomination, The Barefoot Contessa (1954), and The Night of the Iguana (1964), which earned her a BAFTA nomination.

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Off-screen, Gardner's personal life and progressive politics attracted significant attention. Her marriages to Mickey Rooney and Artie Shaw were gossiped about, but her tumultuous relationship with Frank Sinatra particularly headlined. Gardner was a strong supporter of racial equality and desegregation, and became a member of the NAACP in 1968. Gardner was a heavy smoker, which deteriorated her health as she grew older. She continued acting in minor roles in the 1980s before she suffered a stroke in 1986 and retired. Gardner moved to Spain and England, where she spent her final years before passing away from bronchopneumonia on January 25, 1990.

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The best way into Ava Gardner's work
The Killers posterFirst watchThe Killers19467.4as Kitty CollinsTwo hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede". When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Bible: In the Beginning... poster7.3The Bible: In the Beginning...1966Seven Days in May poster7.4Seven Days in May1964The Band Wagon poster7.2The Band Wagon1953The Barefoot Contessa poster6.8The Barefoot Contessa1954On the Beach poster6.7On the Beach1959The Night of the Iguana poster7.2The Night of the Iguana1964Earthquake poster6.2Earthquake197455 Days at Peking poster6.955 Days at Peking1963

Filmography

65 films as actor
  1. 1986MaggieDiane Webb
  2. 1986HaremKadin
  3. 1982Regina RomaMama
  4. 1981Priest of LoveMabel Dodge Luhan
  5. 1980The Kidnapping of the PresidentBeth Richards
  6. 1979City on FireMaggie Grayson
  7. 1977The SentinelHelen Logan
  8. 1976The Cassandra CrossingNicole Dressler
  9. 1976The Blue BirdLuxury
  10. 1975Permission to KillKatina Petersen
  11. 1974EarthquakeRemy Royce-Graff
  12. 1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanLily Langtry
  13. 1970The Ballad of Tam LinMichaela Cazaret
  14. 1968MayerlingEmpress Elisabeth of Austria
  15. 1966The Bible: In the Beginning...Sarah
  16. 1964The Night of the IguanaMaxine Faulk
  17. 1964Seven Days in MayEleanor Holbrook
  18. 196355 Days at PekingBaroness Natalie Ivanoff
  19. 1960The Angel Wore RedSoledad
  20. 1959On the BeachMoira Davidson
  21. 1958The Naked MajaMaria Teresa, duchess of Alba, nicknamed Cayetana
  22. 1957The Sun Also RisesLady Brett Ashley
  23. 1957The Little HutLady Susan Ashlow
  24. 1956Bhowani JunctionVictoria Jones
  25. 1954The Barefoot ContessaMaria Vargas
  26. 1953Knights of the Round TableGuinevere
  27. 1953MogamboEloise Y. Kelly
  28. 1953The Band WagonAva Gardner (uncredited)
  29. 1953Ride, Vaquero!Cordelia Cameron
  30. 1952Lone StarMartha Ronda
  31. 1952The Snows of KilimanjaroCynthia Green
  32. 1951Show BoatJulie LaVerne
  33. 1951My Forbidden PastBarbara Beaurevel
  34. 1951Pandora and the Flying DutchmanPandora Reynolds
  35. 1949East Side, West SideIsabel Lorrison
  36. 1949The Great SinnerPauline Ostrovsky
  37. 1949The BribeElizabeth Hintten
  38. 1948One Touch of VenusVenus
  39. 1947SingaporeLinda Grahame / Ann Van Leyden
  40. 1947The HuckstersJean Ogilvie
  41. 1946The KillersKitty Collins
  42. 1946Whistle StopMary
  43. 1945She Went to the RacesHilda Spotts
  44. 1945I'm a Civilian Here MyselfDream Girl (uncredited)
  45. 1944Blonde FeverMinor Role (uncredited)
  46. 1944Maisie Goes to RenoGloria Fullerton
  47. 1944Two Girls and a SailorDream Girl (uncredited)
  48. 19443 Men in WhiteJean Brown
  49. 1943Lost AngelHat Check Girl (uncredited)
  50. 1943Swing FeverReceptionist (uncredited)
  51. 1943Du Barry Was a LadyPerfume Girl (uncredited)
  52. 1943Young IdeasCo-ed (uncredited)
  53. 1943Ghosts on the LooseBetty
  54. 1943Hitler's MadmanFranciska Pritric (uncredited)
  55. 1942Reunion in FranceMarie, Parisian shopgirl (uncredited)
  56. 1942Mighty Lak a GoatGirl at Theatre Boxoffice
  57. 1942Calling Dr. GillespieStudent (uncredited)
  58. 1942Sunday PunchRingsider (uncredited)
  59. 1942Kid Glove KillerCar Hop (uncredited)
  60. 1942This Time for KeepsGirl in Car Lighting Cigarette (uncredited)
  61. 1942Joe Smith, AmericanUndetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
  62. 1942We Do It BecauseLucretia Borgia (uncredited)
  63. 1941H.M. Pulham, Esq.Young Socialite (uncredited)
  64. 1941Shadow of the Thin ManPasserby at Racetrack (uncredited)
  65. 1941Strange TestamentWaitress (uncredited)