Ann Ayars | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ayars inFiesta (1941) | |
| Born | (1918-07-23)July 23, 1918 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1995(1995-02-27) (aged 76) Hemet, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1941–1967 |
| Known for | Dr. Kildare Pictures Fiesta The Tales of Hoffmann |
Ann Ayars (July 23, 1918 – February 27, 1995) was an American soprano and actress. Early in her career she acted in several TV series and non musical films. Later, she sang with theNew York City Opera (NYCO), and became known worldwide when she sang and acted the part of Antonia in the 1951British filmThe Tales of Hoffmann.[2][1] From 1968 to 1987 she taught voice and piano and staged 19 full-length opera productions atMt. San Jacinto College in California, where she was made a professor emerita.[citation needed]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ann Ayars" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Ann Ayars was born inBeverly Hills, California. She began as a singer in the late 1930s and started acting in the early 1940s. She had parts in several television series, includingBatman,Hazel,Mission: Impossible,The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,Perry Mason,The Virginian andThe Monroes.[3]
She starred as Cholita in the 1941 filmFiesta and in 1942 she was Cynthia Cookie Charles inDr. Kildare's Victory. Also in 1942, she appeared as Constance Selden inApache Trail, Kaaren de Relle inNazi Agent and Juliette inReunion in France. In 1943 she was Mrs Sandoval inThe Human Comedy and Susan Thayer inThe Youngest Profession.
She left Hollywood in 1943 to join the newly formedNew York City Opera, becoming one of its leading lyric sopranos. Her operatic roles included Monica inThe Medium, Mimi inLa bohème and Violetta inLa traviata. Her friend,mezzo-sopranoFrances Bible, said "Her work with the opera has inspired many young singers, many of whom went on to professional careers."[1]
Courtesy of MGM, Ayars helped entertain the troops in February 1944 atCamp Roberts, California, starring inRio Rita along withJanis Paige.
She had a star part as Antonia in the 1951Powell and Pressburger filmThe Tales of Hoffmann, which was based on theopéra fantastique byJacques Offenbach. Although all the parts in the film are sung, onlyRobert Rounseville (Hoffmann) and Ayars sang their own parts, the others being dubbed.
In 1968 she returned to California and took a post teaching voice and piano atMt. San Jacinto College inSan Jacinto, California,[4] where she staged 19 full-length opera productions.
She retired in 1987. She died on February 27, 1995 at her home inHemet inRiverside County, aged 76, following complications from diabetes.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
