The Death of Donna Reed
This next story is about one of the most loveable and memorable TV moms of all time, Donna Reed.
In 1921 Donna Belle Mullenger was born in Iowa in a town of 3000, and right after high school she left for the bright lights of Hollywood – to pursue her dream of becoming a clerical worker. While in LA City College, she appeared in a few plays and won the award of Campus Queen in 1940. After seeing her photograph in the paper, THREE studios pursued her. According to her studio bio – Donna put Hollywood on hold until she completed her degree, then MGM signed her.
Her first film was The Get Away, and she went on to perform in such classics as The Picture of Dorian Gray and of course, It’s a Wonderful Life.
She won an academy award for her performance in From Here to Eternity, and moved on to a very successful 8 year run on television with the Donna Reed Show.
After her show ran its course, she semi retired to raise her children. In the late 60’s, she shocked America by becoming an activist, speaking out against the Vietnam war, and in the 70’s, protesting nuclear power.
She enjoyed popularity with a new generation when she was cast as Barbara Bel Geddes replacement in the Night Soap DALLAS – when Bel Geddes took ill. Fortunately for Bel Geddes, she recovered and unfortunately for Reed, returned to work in less than a year. Reed filed a lawsuit to be reinstated in the cast, but lost out. As a consolation – she was awarded one million dollars.
Divorced twice, Donna was married to retired Army Col. Grover Asmus, and the two lived in a very modest bungalow just around the corner from the famous Witches House in Beverly Hills.
In late 1985 – she was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center for bleeding ulcers, and upon further exploratory surgery, cancer was found.
On January 14 1986, she succumbed to pancreatic cancer in her home, with her husband at her side. She was only 64 years old.
She is buried in Westwood Memorial Park, where her neighbors include Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood and Dean Martin.
