Miss Donna Reed

Donna Reed was an American actress.  Her career spanned more than 40 years with performances in more than 40 films.  She is well known and perhaps best known for her portrayal of Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's classic film, It's a Wonderful Life.  Reed won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the war drama film, From Here to Eternity (1953).  Frank Sinatra won for Best Supporting Actor.

Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra hold their gold-plated Oscars 

at the 26th Academy Awards ceremony held March 25, 1954.

Reed is also known for her work in television notably at Donna Stone, a middle-class American mother and housewife in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966) whose character was more assertive and complex than most other television mothers of the era.  She received numerous Emmy Award nominations for this role and the Golden Globe Award for Best Female TV Star in 1963.  Later in her career, Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing in the 1984-1985 season of the television melodrama, Dallas.  Reed successfully sued the production company for breach of contract when she was abruptly fired upon Bel Geddes' decision to return to the show. 

Reed was born Donna Belle Mullenger on January 27, 1921 on a farm near Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Hazel Jane and William Richard Mullenger.  The eldest of five children she was raised as a Methodist.  In 1936, while a sophomore at Denison HIgh School her chemistry teacher gave her the book How to Win Friends and Influence People.  The book is said to have greatly influenced her life.  After graduating Reed decided to move to California to attend Los Angeles City College on the advice of her aunt. While attending college she performed in various stage productions although she had no plans to become an actress.  After receiving several offers to screen test for studios, Reed eventually signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

From 1943 to 1945, Reed was married to make-up artist, William Tuttle.  After they divorced she married producer, Tony Owen.  They raised four children together:  Penny Jane, Anthony, Timothy and Mary Anne.  After 26 years of marriage, Reed and Owen divorced in 1971.  Three years later, Reed married Grover W. Asmus, a retired United States Army colonel.  They remained married until her death at age 64 on January 14, 1986 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Donna Reed and Tony Owen with their four children in 1959.

Standing is Penny Jane, seated from left

Tony, Jr.; Mary Anne and Timothy

In 1987, Reed's widower and actress, Shelley Fabares plus numerous friends, associates and family members created the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts.  Based in Reed's hometown of Denison, Iowa the non-profit organization grants scholarships for performing art students and offers an annual festival in Reed's name.  

In May 2010, Turner Classic Movies honored Reed as their star of the month which saw Mary Owen pay a special tribute to her mother.  In a 2011 article, actress Shelley Fabares who played Reed's daughter, Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show wrote the following sentiments about her television mother ..

Donna Reed definitely became my second mother.  She was a role model and remains so to this day.  I still periodically hear her voice in my head when I am making a decision about doing something, I hear her urging me on to make the stronger decision of the two.  I just adored her.

The Donna Reed Show was one of television's top 25 shows. Reed was repeatedly nominated for Emmy Awards between 1959-1962. She eventually grew tired of the work-a-day grind involved in the show therefore it was canceled in 1966 after 275 episodes.  The cast of The Donna Reed Show got along very well.  They were close friends both on and off the set.  They supported each other throughout the show's eight-season run from 1958-1966.

Fabares also described Reed as a real Iowa girl.  There is a bedrock decency to people in the Midwest.  They are thoughtful and ready to help you if some things needs to be done.  She never lost that Midwest girl.

The State of Iowa announced January 27, 2021 as Donna Reed Day marking the 100th anniversary of her birth.