Donna Anderson
Encyclopedia
Donna Anderson is an American actress, who had a film career as a character actress during the 1960s and 1970s. She appeared on television in the series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
and Little House on the Prairie
and many more.
, Colorado
, the daughter of Wenona Hanly-Knaflich and Louis John Knaflich.
, directed by Stanley Kramer
. The following year, Kramer got her to star in Inherit the Wind
, which led to her receiving a Golden Laurel
nomination for Top New Female personality.
In the 1960s she had become more famous with TV than with films, appearing in such television shows such as Gunsmoke
, The Incredible Hulk, The A-team
and Murder, She Wrote
. Her only leading TV role was in ABC
's The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
, where she played Jenny from 1963-1964. She hasn't been acting since 1984.
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV series)
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters is a 26-episode western television series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Robert Lewis Taylor. The show aired in the 1963-1964 television season and was produced by MGM Television....
and Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
and many more.
Early life
Anderson was born Donna Knaflich in GunnisonGunnison
Gunnison may refer to:* John W. Gunnison , U.S. explorer whose name is used in several places in the Western states* The Gunnison River in Colorado** Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park* Gunnison, Colorado* Gunnison County, Colorado...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, the daughter of Wenona Hanly-Knaflich and Louis John Knaflich.
Career
She made her film debut in 1959 in On the BeachOn the Beach (1959 film)
On the Beach is a post-apocalyptic drama film based on Nevil Shute's 1957 novel of the same name. The film features Gregory Peck , Ava Gardner , Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins...
, directed by Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies...
. The following year, Kramer got her to star in Inherit the Wind
Inherit the Wind (1960 film)
Inherit the Wind is a 1960 Hollywood film adaptation of the play of the same name, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, directed by Stanley Kramer....
, which led to her receiving a Golden Laurel
Producers Guild of America Award
The Producers Guild of America Award was originally established in 1990 as the Golden Laurel Awards, created by PGA Treasurer Joel Freeman with the support of Guild President Leonard Stern, in order to honor the visionaries who produce and execute motion picture and television product...
nomination for Top New Female personality.
In the 1960s she had become more famous with TV than with films, appearing in such television shows such as Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
, The Incredible Hulk, The A-team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
and Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
. Her only leading TV role was in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV series)
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters is a 26-episode western television series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Robert Lewis Taylor. The show aired in the 1963-1964 television season and was produced by MGM Television....
, where she played Jenny from 1963-1964. She hasn't been acting since 1984.
Filmography
- On the BeachOn the Beach (1959 film)On the Beach is a post-apocalyptic drama film based on Nevil Shute's 1957 novel of the same name. The film features Gregory Peck , Ava Gardner , Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins...
(1959) - Inherit the WindInherit the Wind (1960 film)Inherit the Wind is a 1960 Hollywood film adaptation of the play of the same name, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, directed by Stanley Kramer....
(1960) - Sinderella and the Golden Bra (1964)
- Werewolves on WheelsWerewolves on WheelsWerewolves on Wheels is a 1971 American exploitation film that blends two genres: the outlaw biker film and the traditional horror movie.-Plot:...
(1971) - Deadhead Miles (1972)