Published: 11:58 AM, 28 June 2026
Oscar-nominated actress Ann Blyth, star of 'Mildred Pierce,' dies at 98
Ann Blyth, the Hollywood actress who earned an Oscar nomination at just 17 for playing Joan Crawford's troubled daughter in the classic film Mildred Pierce, has died at the age of 98.
Blyth died of natural causes on Wednesday at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, according to her daughter, Eileen McNulty. She was surrounded by family.
One of the last surviving stars from Hollywood's golden studio era, Blyth built a successful career in films, television and musical theatre. She appeared alongside some of the biggest names of her time, including Bing Crosby, Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Tyrone Power.
Although she stopped making movies by the late 1950s to focus on raising her five children, she remained active in television, concerts and stage productions, including ‘Show Boat’ and ‘The Sound of Music’.
Blyth began performing as a child. At 13, she landed her first major role in the Broadway production of ‘Watch on the Rhine’, starring alongside Bette Davis. Her performance led Universal Studios to sign her to a contract, where she first appeared in a series of low-budget musicals.
Her career changed dramatically in 1945 when Warner Bros. cast her in Mildred Pierce. Blyth played Veda, the selfish and manipulative daughter of Joan Crawford's title character. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while Crawford won the Oscar for Best Actress.
The film became a landmark of the film noir genre and established Blyth as a talented dramatic actress after she had mainly been known for light-hearted musicals.
