Audrey Totter
A razor-sharp presence in Hollywood's film noir underworld, she mastered the art of playing dangerous dames with a withering glance.
1917–2013 (age 96)·American actress·Birthday: December 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Audrey Totter brought a distinctive, cutting intelligence to the roles she played, often stealing scenes as the quintessential femme fatale or hard-bitten dame. Discovered on radio, she was snapped up by MGM, but found her true niche not in glossy musicals, but in the shadowy, morally complex world of film noir. With her precise diction and cool, appraising eyes, she delivered memorable performances in classics like 'Lady in the Lake' and 'The Postman Always Rings Twice,' where her characters often knew more than they let on. Though typecast, she wielded that type with expert precision. Later, she successfully transitioned to television, proving her versatility in dramas and becoming a familiar face on shows like 'Medical Center' for a new generation.
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.
Audrey was born in 1917, 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 Audrey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Audrey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2013Died at 96
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Delivered a defining film noir performance as the scheming nurse in Robert Montgomery's 'Lady in the Lake' (1947).
- Appeared in the landmark noir 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' (1946) opposite Lana Turner and John Garfield.
- Played a key role in the Oscar-winning drama 'The Set-Up' (1949), a gritty look at the boxing world.
- Had a long-running role as Nurse Wilcox on the popular TV series 'Medical Center' in the 1970s.
Did You Know?
She was a skilled radio actress before coming to Hollywood, performing in over 1,000 radio programs.
Totter turned down a role in the film 'The High and the Mighty' (1954) that later earned an Oscar for the actress who took it.
She was offered a contract by MGM after a studio executive heard her on a radio broadcast.
In her later years, she became an accomplished painter.
“I preferred the shadows of film noir to the bright lights of musicals.”
