Warm, strikingly pretty leading lady of the 1940s and 50s who later enjoyed a considerable popularity in TV sitcoms with the enjoyable if somewhat bland "The Donna Reed Show" in the 50s and 60s. A former beauty queen, Reed enjoyed a key film landmark early in her Hollywood career when she lovingly and gracefully played James Stewart's small-town sweetheart and later loving wife in the Christmas perennial, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). Reed's big screen career continued through the 50s, but many of her credits were standard romantic heroine leads in modest, forgettable comedies, dramas and
Played last leading role in a feature, "The Whole Truth"
1958
Played Donna Stone on the long-running ABC sitcom, "The Donna Reed Show"
1960
Last feature film appearance, a cameo in the star-studded box office bomb, "Pepe"
Returned to series TV when she replaced an ailing Barbara Bel Geddes for a season in the role of Miss Ellie on the long-running CBS primetime serial drama, "Dallas"
