Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford was an American film actress who achieved mainstream success during the Golden Age of Hollywood. After getting her start as a showgirl, then on Broadway, she signed a contract with MGM, and soon rose to success as an actress known for playing serious and ambitious women. After her career ascended throughout the 30s, she got inched out of the film industry by the end of the decade, with many labeling her "box office poison."
Mildred Pierce was Crawford's renaissance, a movie that put her once again on the map, and earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her other films include The Women, Sudden Fear, Grand Hotel, Humoresque, Our Dancing Daughters, Flamingo Road, Autumn Leaves, Possessed, The Best of Everything, Torch Song, The Woman is Dangerous, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? She had a career-long rivalry with Bette Davis, which was much publicized and mythologized in the fable of Hollywood.
Ann Blyth
The role of Mildred’s bratty, ungrateful teenage daughter eventually went to Ann Blyth, but only after Crawford had spent considerable time prior to production offering her instruction. Blyth was nominated for an Oscar for her role as the callous Veda.
Blyth is one of the last living stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and throughout her long career, she was known primarily for her roles in musicals. Other films include Swell Guy, Brute Force, Red Canyon, Top o' the Morning, I'll Never Forget You, Rose Marie, Kismet, and Slander.
Zachary Scott
Zachary Scott often played villains in his film career. After getting his start on Broadway in a revival of Ah, Wilderness! Scott signed a contact with Warner Brothers. He received much acclaim for his role as Monte Beragon in Mildred Pierce, and his other films include The Southerner, Her Kind of Man, The unfaithful, Ruthless, Flamingo Road, Shadow on the Wall, Colt .45, Pretty Baby, Stronghold, Shotgun, The Young One, and The Rogues.
Eve Arden
Eve Arden was an American film and stage actress known for her impeccable comedic timing and deadpan delivery. For her role as Ida in Mildred Pierce, she was nominated for an Oscar. Throughout her long career, she appeared in the films Song of Love, Stage Door, Having Wonderful Time, At the Circus, Anatomy of a Murder, and Grease, as Principal McGee.
Jack Carson
Jack Carson was known for his comedic timing and strong performances. His films include Bringing Up Baby, Enemy Agent, Mildred Pierce, Roughly Speaking, A Star is Born, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Ain't Misbehavin', and The Bramble Bush. He also appeared frequently on television.
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett got his start as an Olympic athlete, earning a silver medal for shot put. He was tapped to play Tarzan for MGM, but after breaking his shoulder had to drop out. His films include Sahara, Mildred Pierce, Dark Passage, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Sudden Fear, and Angels in the Outfield.
