1921 – 1986

Donna Reed

American film and television actress

peace activisttelevision actorfilm actoractor

Born

1921-01-27, Denison

Died

1986-01-14

Birthplace state

Iowa

Biography

Donna Reed was an American actress. Her career spanned more than 40 years and included appearances in over 40 films. She is best known for playing Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946), and for her Academy Award–winning performance as Lorene in Fred Zinnemann's war drama From Here to Eternity (1953).

Occupation

Donna Reed is recorded as a peace activist, a television actor, a film actor and a actor, born in Iowa (1921–1986).

Connections to Iowa

Donna Reed was born in Denison, Iowa in 1921. Explore other notable figures from Iowa, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Iowa›Iowahistory ›Historic sites in Iowa›

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Everything a full report reveals about Denison

Donna Reed came from Denison. A full Aubrey report on Denison pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Iowa

Other historical figures born in Iowa, ranked by historical prominence.

Herbert Hoover

president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 (1874–1964)

John Wayne

American actor (1907–1979)

Norman Borlaug

American biologist (1914–2009)

Henry A. Wallace

American politician (1888–1965); Vice President of the United States from 1941 to 1945

Glenn Miller

American band leader, arranger, and composer (1904–1944)

Cloris Leachman

American actress and comedian (1926–2021)

Mamie Eisenhower

First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961

Frequently asked about Donna Reed

Who was Donna Reed?

Donna Reed was American film and television actress, born in Iowa (1921 – 1986).

When and where was Donna Reed born?

Donna Reed was born on 1921-01-27 in Denison.

When did Donna Reed die?

Donna died on 1986-01-14.

What was Donna Reed known for?

Donna Reed is recorded as a peace activist, a television actor, a film actor and a actor.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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