Anne Whitfield, who rose to fame at the age of 15 in the 1954 classic movie White Christmas, has passed away at the age of 85. The actress had a successful career in episodic TV spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Whitfield died on February 15 at a hospital in Yakima, Washington, following an unexpected accident during a walk in her neighborhood.
Born on August 27, 1938, in Oxford, Mississippi, Whitfield moved to Hollywood with her mother at a young age to pursue a career in acting.
By the age of 7, she was already appearing on popular radio shows like The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show and One Man’s Family. At 15, she landed a role in the musical White Christmas alongside Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
After leaving Hollywood in the 1970s, Whitfield returned to college to earn a degree in communications. She later worked as a steward for clean water at the Department of Ecology for the State of Washington.
Whitfield was also known for her activism work, advocating for causes such as climate change, transparency in political campaign financing, and voter registration.
Whitfield is survived by her daughters Julie Stevens and Allison Phillips, son Evan Schiller, in-laws, and seven grandchildren. A celebration of her life is scheduled for March 22.
Her family expressed gratitude for the kindness shown by neighbors who provided medical support before her passing. The legacy of Anne Whitfield in Hollywood and her contributions to various causes will be remembered by many for years to come.
