Inside Donna Reed's Final Years & Death

Donna Reed was one of the most beloved actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She appeared in several hit films during her career, including It’s a Wonderful Life and From Here to Eternity. The actress then went on to solidify her status as a household name with her turn in the 1958 comedic sitcom The Donna Reed Show. The actress had a long and illustrious career in entertainment, but it sadly all came to an end with her death in 1986.

Like this content? Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?su...

Or, watch more videos here:    • All Videos Facts Verse  

Do you think you know a lot about TV? Try our quiz and enter to win $500!
Click below to check the trivia question


Donna’s career started when she was offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her film debut came in 1941, and she appeared in a string of films throughout the ensuing decade that saw her star rise ferociously. Her biggest role yet came when MGM lent her out to RKO Pictures for a part in the Frank Capra Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Less than a decade later, Donna won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her dramatic turn in the World War II film From Here to Eternity.

Despite the massive commercial and critical success that she was generally receiving, Donna was never quite satisfied with her artistic work until The Donna Reed Show. The show gave Donna an outlet to exercise her comedic talents, something that she enjoyed doing but had rarely ever gotten the opportunity to do when working in film. The show became Donna’s biggest success yet.

Soon after The Donna Reed Show came to an end, the actress took some time away from acting to raise her four children with then-husband Tony Owen. They divorced in 1971, and Donna returned to acting later that decade. Her biggest role after returning to acting was taking over the lead role several years into the soap opera Dallas.

Donna was let go from that program a year into her three-year contract, resulting in a lawsuit that saw her win a settlement of $1 million. Sadly, she died less than a year later. Join Facts Verse as we take a look inside Donna Reed’s final years and death.

Inside Donna Reed's Final Years & Death