One is certainly hard-pressed to think of another true "bad girl" representative so closely identifiable with film noir than hard-looking blonde actress Audrey Totter. While she remained a "B"-tier actress for most her career, she was an "A" quality actress and one of filmdom's most intriguing ladies. She always managed to set herself apart even in the most standard of programming. Born to an Austrian father and Swedish mother on December 20, 1917, in Joliet, Illinois, she treaded lightly on stage . The 70-year-old Totter retired after a 1987 guest role on "Murder, She Wrote." Her husband died in 1996. On December 12, 2013, Audrey Totter died at age 95 in West Hills, California.
In the late 1940s, made a television commercial for Lustre Cremes shampoo campaign.
Her father emigrated from Vienna, Austria. Her mother was of Swedish heritage.
Was supposed to play the female lead in the film noir classic The Killers with Burt Lancaster but filming Lady in the Lake became too long and involved so she couldnt do the part. Instead MGM took a chance on Ava Gardner in the role and, of course, she became a star.
Dated Clark Gable , John Payne and Ross Hunter during her heyday. She ended up marrying a non-professional, Leo Fred, Assistant Dean of Medicine at UCLA.
From June 2004 until August 2013, she lived at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital, Woodland Hills, Califonia.
Was an expert fudge maker.
In August 2013, she moved out of the Motion Picture and Television Hospital to live with her daughter and family in West Hills, California.
Was good friends with actresses Marie McDonald and Gloria Grahame.
During her bachelorette days she was courted by such actors as Brian Donlevy , Ted North , Lew Ayres , Robert Walker , David Niven , and Cary Grant.
Upon her death, her body was cremated by the Neptune Society and her ashes scattered at sea.
Director George Stevens originally sought Totter for the role of Alice Tripp for his film A Place in the Sun but MGM refused to loan her out. The part was later secured by Shelley Winters.
Her granddaughter, Eden Totter, is a voice actress.
She was a staunch Republican and conservative.
Turned down the role of Old Rose in Titanic wanting to remain in retirement.
Following her high school graduation, she worked as a radio actress in New York City, New York, and Chicago, Illinois, prior to her moving to Hollywood, California during the middle of World War II to establish herself in motion pictures.
She was given advice at MGM by Lionel Barrymore, "Youre one of the best actresses Ive ever seen, but youre never going to be a star. Youre too versatile. If you want to be a star, start projecting your own personality.".
After graduating high school Totter joined Ian Keiths repertory company. She referred to him as a beautiful, talented man..
