Ann Miller was born Johnnie Lucille Ann Collier on April 12, 1923, in Chireno, Texas, where she resided until the age of nine. At that tender age, her mother, who was hearing-impaired and unable to hold a job, left her philandering father and relocated with Ann to Los Angeles, California.
To support her mother, Ann began taking tap-dancing lessons and soon secured jobs dancing in various Hollywood nightclubs while being home-schooled. Her talent and dedication eventually caught the attention of RKO, which offered her a contract player position in 1937. However, the studio required her to be at least 18 years old, so Ann managed to obtain a fake birth certificate and signed on, playing dancers and ingénues in films such as Stage Door (1937),You Can't Take It with You (1938),Room Service (1938),and Too Many Girls (1940).
Ann's success on the big screen led to her Broadway debut in "George White's Scandals" in 1939, where she was a smash hit, staying on for two years. After being released from her RKO contract, she was picked up by Columbia Pictures, appearing in World War II morale boosters such as True to the Army (1942) and Reveille with Beverly (1943).
When Ann decided to get married, Columbia released her from her contract. Her marriage was unfortunately unhappy and ended in divorce after two years. Ann then joined MGM, showcasing her talents in films like Easter Parade (1948),On the Town (1949),and Kiss Me Kate (1953).
In the mid-1950s, Ann requested to leave MGM to marry again, and her request was granted. However, this marriage did not last long, and neither did a third. Ann then focused on her work, appearing on television, in nightclubs, and on stage. She had a remarkable comeback in the 1960s and 1970s, starring in the Broadway productions of "Mame" in 1969 and 1970, and "Sugar Babies" in 1979, which she played for nine years, both on Broadway and on tour.
Ann continued to work in the entertainment industry, albeit at a slower pace, and made a notable appearance in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" in 1998, singing the iconic song "I'm Still Here," a fitting summary of her remarkable life and career.
Tragically, Ann Miller passed away on January 22, 2004, at the age of 80, due to complications from lung cancer. She was laid to rest at the Holy Cross Cemetary in Culver City, California.
