Person Biography:
Ann Savage was a renowned American actress, born Bernice Maxine Lyon on February 19, 1921, in Columbia, South Carolina. Her father was a US Army officer, and the family moved frequently, settling in Jacksonville, Florida, after his death when Ann was just four years old. Her mother, a jewelry buyer, took Ann and her brother to Los Angeles, where she began training at Max Reinhardt's acting school. Savage's early career included appearances in local theater productions and a workshop production of "Golden Boy," which led to her signing with Columbia Pictures.
Savage's breakout role came in the 1940s, starring in films such as "Two Señoritas from Chicago," "Footlight Glamour," and "Saddles and Sagebrush." Her most iconic role, however, was as the femme fatale Vera in "Detour" (1945),a film that cemented her status as a "bad girl" and remains her most enduring claim to fame.
Throughout her career, Savage appeared in over 50 films, including "The Unwritten Code," "Apology for Murder," and "The Last Crooked Mile." She also made appearances on TV shows such as "Gang Busters" and "The Ford Television Theatre." Savage's career slowed down in the 1950s, and she semi-retired, moving to Manhattan with her husband, Bert D'Armand, who was also her agent. She continued to appear in occasional roles, including an episode of "Saved by the Bell" and the film "Fire with Fire" (1986).
In her later years, Savage turned down many offers to appear in exploitative material, instead focusing on her hobbies, including speed-rated flying. She made a surprise comeback in 2007, starring in Canadian director Guy Maddin's "My Winnipeg," earning rave reviews for her performance. Savage was named an "icon and legend" by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2005 and died on Christmas Day in 2008 at the age of 87 due to complications from multiple strokes.
