Ann E. Todd was born Ann Todd Phillips on August 26, 1931, in Denver, Colorado, to parents with extensive careers in music. Her father, Burrill Phillips, was an accomplished composer and pianist, and her mother was also musically inclined. Ann had one brother, Stephen, born in 1937, who unfortunately passed away in 1986.
Ann was adopted and raised by her maternal grandparents, who took her to the movies frequently, hoping she would become a child star like Shirley Temple. Ann's grandparents eventually encouraged her to pursue a career in film, despite her initial disinterest in acting. She excelled in her roles, becoming one of the most popular child stars of the 1930s and '40s.
In the early 1940s, Ann added an 'E' to her professional name to avoid confusion with British actress Ann Todd. Throughout her acting career, which spanned over a decade, Ann appeared in 27 films. However, she quit acting in the 1950s to pursue other interests.
In 1951, Ann married Robert Basart and had two children, a daughter and a son, with him. After her acting career, Ann followed in her parents' footsteps and pursued a career in music. She earned a master's degree in music history from the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to teach music history in San Francisco for three years.
Ann later served as the music librarian at the University of California, Berkeley, for 21 years. During this time, she founded a publishing company, Fallen Leaf Press, and continued to nurture her passion for music. Her husband, Robert, passed away in 1993, and as of 2008, Ann is retired and living in northern California.
