Anne Whitfield, White Christmas and Prolific TV Star, Dead at 85

Anne Whitfield, who starred in the perennial 1954 holiday classic white christmas, passed away, her family announced. She was 85 years old.

Whitfield died Feb. 14, surrounded by her family, at Valley Memorial Hospital in Yakima, Wash., after an “unexpected accident” while walking in her neighborhood, according to her obituary.

“Through the kindness of neighbors who provided professional medical assistance, the family had the gift of saying goodbye and expressing love and gratitude, a gift we will always cherish,” her family wrote.

Anne Whitfield at the Tate in 1960.

NBCU Photo Bank

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Whitfield was born on August 27, 1938 in Oxford, Mississippi, and began her career in show business as a child actor when she moved to Hollywood at the age of 4. By the time she was 7, Whitfield had already landed roles on popular radio shows including The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show and One man’s family.

She played her most famous role at the age of 15, playing Susan Waverly white christmas. Whitfield’s character was the granddaughter of Major General Thomas Waverly (Dean Jagger), a hotel owner who is cheered up by the songs of Irving Berlin and the characters played by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

“Just last December during the holidays, Annie was able to watch white christmas with his family on the film’s 70th anniversary,” Whitfield’s obituary said.

Whitfield spent most of her career in television. She acted in episodes Peter Gunn, Pursuit, The untouchables, Rawhide, The Donna Reed Show, Lots of love Dobie Gillis, The Six Million Dollar Man and urgently!

Anne Whitfield in 1956.

CBS via Getty

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In the 1970s, Whitfield left Hollywood and moved to Olympia, Washington. She returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Evergreen State College, and worked as a clean water manager for the Washington State Department of Ecology.

According to her family, Whitfield also traveled the world and became a tireless activist and community organizer, “working until the day she died.” In 2005, she moved to Burien, Washington to destroy a bed and breakfast. She spent her 85th birthday hiking with a close friend in the Italian Alps.

“Annie’s greatest wish is for her family and future generations to thrive in a world characterized by love, acceptance, natural beauty, and an end to political and social injustice,” her obituary read. “She was a force in life and we hope her tremendous positive energy flows to those who had the pleasure of knowing her.”

Whitfield is survived by three children and seven grandchildren. A celebration of life is scheduled for March 22 at The Cove Community Club in Normandy Park, Washington.

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