Donna Reed
ActingAbout Donna Reed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American film and television actress and producer. Her career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in more than 40 films. She is well known for her role as Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. In 1953 she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Lorene Burke in the war drama From Here to Eternity. Reed is known for her work in television, notably as Donna Stone in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–66). She received numerous Emmy Award nominations for this role and the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star in 1963.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Donna Reed reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Donna Reed's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 28% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Donna Reed remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Rat Pack, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Donna Reed Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Donna Reed's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Donna Reed.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Say Hey, Willie Mays! | Self (archive video) | Average | Similar → |
| 2022 | Rat Pack | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Television: The First Fifty Years | Donna Stone (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas | Mary Bailey (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Deadly Lessons | Miss Wade | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Best Place to Be | Sheila Callahan | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Pepe | Donna Reed | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Whole Truth | Carol Poulton | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Beyond Mombasa | Ann Wilson | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Backlash | Karyl Orton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Benny Goodman Story | Alice Hammond | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Ransom! | Edith Stannard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Far Horizons | Sacajawea | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | They Rode West | Laurie MacKaye | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Last Time I Saw Paris | Marion Ellswirth | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Three Hours to Kill | Laurie Mastin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | Gun Fury | Jennifer Ballard | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | From Here to Eternity | Alma 'Lorene' Burke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Caddy | Kathy Taylor | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Raiders of the Seven Seas | Alida | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Trouble Along the Way | Alice Singleton | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Hangman's Knot | Molly Hull | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Scandal Sheet | Julie Allison | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Saturday's Hero | Melissa McCabe | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Screen Actors | Self (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Chicago Deadline | Rosita Jean D'Ur | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Ann Daniels | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Green Dolphin Street | Marguerite Patourel | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Mary Hatch | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Faithful in My Fashion | Jean "Chunky" Kendrick | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | They Were Expendable | Lt. Sandy Davyss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Gladys Hallward | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Gentle Annie | Mary Lingen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | See Here, Private Hargrove | Carol Holiday | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Twenty Years After | (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thousands Cheer | Customer in Red Skelton Skit | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Man from Down Under | Mary Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case | Marcia Bradburn | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Human Comedy | Bess Macauley | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sucker Bait | Geraldine - Waitress | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Eyes in the Night | Barbara Lawry | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Apache Trail | Rosalia Martinez | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Calling Dr. Gillespie | Marcia Bradburn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Mokey | Anthea Delano | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Courtship of Andy Hardy | Melodie Nesbit | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Bugle Sounds | Sally Hanson | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Babes on Broadway | Secretary (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man | Molly Ford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Get-Away | Maria Theresa 'Terry' O'Reilly | Flop | Similar → |
Donna Reed - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Donna Reed?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Donna Reed is "Rat Pack" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Donna Reed acted in?
Donna Reed has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Donna Reed?
Other notable films include "It's a Wonderful Life", "From Here to Eternity", and "Beyond Glory".