Anne Revere was a talented character actress whose career was tragically cut short by the Red Scare hysteria of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Manhattan, she was a direct descendant of Paul Revere, the famous Revolutionary War figure.
Anne graduated from Wellesley College and trained for the stage at the American Laboratory Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in 1931 with "The Great Barrington" and her film debut in 1934 with "Double Door," a version of another Broadway play.
After receiving no other film offers, Anne returned to Broadway, where she made her mark as a warm, wise, and stoic mother to many "golden age" stars. Her understated power and intensity captured the hearts of critics and war-torn audiences alike.
Anne was nominated three times for an Oscar for her strong, matriarchal figures, winning the award for her role in "National Velvet" (1944). She was also known for her versatility, playing a range of characters from brittle and neurotic to crazy ladies.
However, her career was abruptly cut short in 1951 when she was blacklisted for being named as one of 300 on the infamous "Hollywood blacklist." She had just completed a major role in "A Place in the Sun" (1951) and was forced to stand on her Fifth Amendment rights before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
As a result, her part in the film was reduced to a glorified cameo, and she did not appear in another film for nearly 20 years. During this time, she and her husband, Samuel Rosen, ran an acting school in Los Angeles before relocating to New York, where she found work in stock productions and on Broadway.
Anne received the Tony Award during the 1960-1961 season for her portrayal of a spinster sister in "Toys in the Attic." She also began to appear in TV jobs again in the mid-1960s, working sporadically on shows such as "Search for Tomorrow" (1951) and "Ryan's Hope" (1975).
Anne passed away at the age of 87 after contracting pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy of strong, memorable performances on film. Despite being a victim of the Red Scare, she always persevered, showing the same kind of grit and courage that embodied her characters on screen.
