Anne Baxter
A sly and versatile actress who stole the spotlight from Bette Davis and defined mid-century Hollywood ambition.
1923–1985 (age 62)·American actress·Birthday: May 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born in Michigan City, Indiana, Anne Baxter arrived in Hollywood with a determination that belied her youth, having studied acting with the formidable Maria Ouspenskaya. Her breakthrough came not with a whisper but a declaration of talent, winning an Academy Award for her supporting role in 'The Razor's Edge'. Baxter possessed a chameleonic quality, shifting from the fragile victim in 'All About Eve'—where her cunning performance as Eve Harrington famously upstaged the established star—to the resilient pioneer woman in 'The Ten Commandments'. Her career spanned the golden age of cinema, prestigious Broadway stages, and the emerging medium of television, showcasing a relentless work ethic. Baxter's legacy is that of a consummate professional who mastered both vulnerability and steel, leaving an indelible mark on every character she inhabited.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anne was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Anne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Died at 62
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sophie MacDonald in 'The Razor's Edge' (1946).
- Delivered a career-defining performance as the scheming Eve Harrington in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 'All About Eve' (1950).
- Portrayed the Egyptian princess Nefretiri opposite Charlton Heston in Cecil B. DeMille's epic 'The Ten Commandments' (1956).
- Earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in the television series 'Hotel' (1983).
Did You Know?
She was the great-granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, the pioneering architect.
She turned down the role of Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' on Broadway, which launched Vivien Leigh's stage career in America.
She replaced an ailing Bette Davis during the initial run of the Broadway comedy 'Welcome to the Monkey House' in 1970.
“I wasn't a child star. I was a child actress. There's a difference.”
