Anne Jeffreys Carmichael was born in 1923 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to a mother who firmly managed her early life and training in voice. She began her career as a junior model with the John Robert Powers agency in New York, before preparing for an operatic career and making her debut in a production of "La Boheme" in 1940.
Anne's first film role was in the Rodgers & Hart adaptation of "I Married an Angel" in 1942, starring alongside Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. She was subsequently put under contract by Republic and RKO studios, appearing in a series of "B" westerns and crime films opposite notable actors such as Robert Mitchum and Randolph Scott.
In addition to her film work, Anne also appeared on stage, including roles in "Tosca" at the Brooklyn Opera House, Kurt Weill's "Street Scene", and the Broadway musical "My Romance". After her first marriage was annulled in 1949, she met actor Robert Sterling during an extended run of "Kiss Me Kate" on Broadway, and the two married in 1951 and had three sons.
The singing couple toured nightclubs and hotels in the early 1950s with a successful club act, which led to them being cast in the classic sitcom "Topper" in 1953. Anne played the role of "Marion Kirby", alongside Sterling's character George Kirby, and the two were a hit as the party-hearty ghosts who reclaim their home.
Anne and Robert co-starred in the short-lived series "Love That Jill" in 1958, but were unable to recreate their magic from "Topper". In the 1960s, Anne semi-retired to raise her family, but continued to take on musical leads on Broadway and in regional productions. She later returned to television, becoming known for her roles as chic and gregarious matrons on soap operas, including "Bright Promise" and "General Hospital".
Anne was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her supporting work in the adventure series "The Delphi Bureau" in 1972, and appeared occasionally as the mother of David Hasselhoff on "Baywatch" in 1989. Unlike her husband, who retired decades ago, Anne remained a tireless performer past age 80, and was recognized for her civic and humanitarian efforts. She remained a vibrant presence in "Golden Age" Hollywood society until her death at age 94 on September 27, 2017, in Los Angeles.
