Rita Ann Johnson (August 13, 1913Parish gives year of birth as 1912, but her grave marker says 1913. – October 31, 1965) was an American actress.

Early years

Johnson was born in

Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...

, the daughter of a single mother, Lillian Johnson. She worked as a waitress in her mother's lunchroom and sold hot dogs on the Boston-Worcester turnpike. She later attended the

New England Conservatory of Music The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a Private college, private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. The conservatory is located on Huntington Avenue along Avenue of the Arts (Boston), the Avenue of the Arts near Boston Symphony Ha ...

Career

Early in her career, Johnson was busy in radio. "By 1936 she... was appearing in ten radio shows a week." She played the leading role in '' Joyce Jordan, M.D.''. Johnson began acting on Broadway in 1935 and started her film career two years later. She played a murderer in ''

Here Comes Mr. Jordan ''Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' is a 1941 American Fantasy film, fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, in which a boxer, mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time, is given a second chance back on Earth. It stars Robert Montgomery ...

'' (1941) and a doomed wife in the RKO

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

'' They Won't Believe Me'' (1947). In an incident that was never fully explained, Johnson suffered a head trauma on September 6, 1948 that required brain surgery. Unsubstantiated rumors promulgated by gossip columnists such as

Walter Winchell Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972) was a syndicated American newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator. Originally a vaudeville performer, Winchell began his newspaper career as a Broadway reporter, critic and c ...

suggested she might have been abused by a boyfriend, but the only explanation she offered was that a large, industrial-grade hair dryer at her apartment had fallen on her. She was in a coma for two weeks and it was reported, "It took her a year to recover. Her left side was paralyzed temporarily, and for a while she couldn't walk." It put a virtual halt to her film career. Her screen time in movies after that was limited due to her reduced mobility and powers of concentration.

Personal life

Johnson was married to businessman L. Stanley Kahn. They were granted a divorce on June 29, 1943. She was married to Edwin Hutzler from 1943 to 1946, when they were divorced. A Democrat, she supported

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I Adlai Ewing Stevenson (October 23, 1835 – June 14, 1914) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 23rd vice president of the United States from 1893 to 1897 under President Gr ...

during the 1952 presidential election. She was a practicing

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

.Morning News, January 10, 1948, ''Who Was Who in America'' (Vol. 2) Johnson suffered from

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

. She died of a

brain hemorrhage The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...

on October 31, 1965, at age 52.

Partial filmography

*'' London by Night'' (1937) – Patricia Herrick *'' My Dear Miss Aldrich'' (1937) – Ellen Warfield *'' Man-Proof'' (1938) – Florence *'' Letter of Introduction'' (1938) – Honey *'' Smashing the Rackets'' (1938) – Letty Lane *'' Rich Man, Poor Girl'' (1938) – Sally Harrison *'' The Girl Downstairs'' (1938) – Rosalind Brown *''

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

'' (1939) – Cecelia Grayson *'' Within the Law'' (1939) – Agnes *'' Broadway Serenade'' (1939) – Judith Tyrrell *'' 6,000 Enemies'' (1939) – Anne Barry *'' Stronger Than Desire'' (1939) – Barbara Winter *'' They All Come Out'' (1939) – Kitty Carson *'' Nick Carter, Master Detective'' (1939) – Lou Farnsby *'' Congo Maisie'' (1940) – Kay McWade *'' The Golden Fleecing'' (1940) – Marian Edwards *''

Edison, the Man ''Edison, the Man'' is a 1940 biographical film depicting the life of inventor Thomas Edison, who was portrayed by Spencer Tracy. Hugo Butler and Dore Schary were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story, Academy Award for Best Writing, Ori ...

'' (1940) – Mary Stilwell *'' Forty Little Mothers'' (1940) – Mary Blake *'' Maisie Was a Lady'' (1941) – Minor Role (scenes deleted) *''

'' (1941) – Julia Farnsworth *'' Appointment for Love'' (1941) – Nancy Benson *'' The Major and the Minor'' (1942) – Pamela Hill *''

My Friend Flicka ''My Friend Flicka'' is a 1941 novel by Mary O'Hara, about Ken McLaughlin, the son of a Wyoming rancher, and his mustang horse Flicka. It was the first in a trilogy, followed by ''Thunderhead'' (1943) and ''Green Grass of Wyoming'' (1946). The ...

'' (1943) – Nell McLaughlin *'' The Affairs of Susan'' (1945) – Mona Kent *'' Thunderhead, Son of Flicka'' (1945) – Nelle McLaughlin *'' The Naughty Nineties'' (1945) – Bonita Farrow *'' Pardon My Past'' (1945) – Mary Pemberton *'' The Perfect Marriage'' (1947) – Mabel Manning *'' The Michigan Kid'' (1947) – Sue Dawson *'' They Won't Believe Me'' (1947) – Greta Ballentine *''

Sleep, My Love ''Sleep, My Love'' is a 1948 American Film noir, noir film directed by Douglas Sirk. It features Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings and Don Ameche. It has been called "a gaslighting thriller." Plot Alison Courtland, a wealthy New Yorker, hasn't ...

'' (1948) – Barby *'' The Big Clock'' (1948) – Pauline York *'' An Innocent Affair'' (1948) – Eve Lawrence *'' Family Honeymoon'' (1948) – Minna Fenster *''

The Second Face ''The Second Face'' is a 1950 romantic drama film directed by Jack Bernhard and starring Ella Raines as a plain woman whose life is drastically changed by plastic surgery. Plot Claire Elwood runs to her car and speeds away. Phyllis Holmes chases ...

'' (1950) – Claire Elwood *'' Susan Slept Here'' (1954) – Dr. Rawley, Harvey's Shrink *'' Emergency Hospital'' (1956) – Head Nurse Norma Mullin *'' All Mine to Give'' (1957) – Katie Tyler (final film role)

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Rita 1913 births 1965 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Worcester, Massachusetts American film actresses American stage actresses American radio actresses Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City New England Conservatory alumni California Democrats Massachusetts Democrats American Roman Catholics Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players