Legendary actress found dead this morning after an “unexpected accident” while out for a walk near her home in Washington
The star of the holiday classic White Christmas has passed away at the age of 85. Her family shared that the veteran actress tragically died in an “unexpected accident” while out for a walk near her home in Washington, D.C.
Best known for her role as Susan Waverly in the 1954 film White Christmas, she passed away at Valley Memorial Hospital in Yakima, Washington, surrounded by her loved ones.
In a heartfelt statement, her family wrote, “The life of Anne Langham Whitfield Phillips was a beautiful one, with every moment dedicated to uplifting the world and those around her. Through the kindness of neighbors who provided expert medical support, we were gifted the opportunity to say goodbye and express our love and gratitude—a gift we will always cherish.”
Just last December, she celebrated the 70th anniversary of White Christmas by watching the film with her family. Although she was a talented actor, she found Los Angeles lacking the natural beauty she craved. In the 1970s, she left Hollywood and moved “up north” to pursue a new life focused on causes that promoted peace and the protection of nature.
Even after retiring from acting, she remained deeply committed to activism and community organizing, dedicating her efforts to these causes right up until her final days. Her three children and seven grandchildren were the most cherished parts of her life, and they will deeply miss her presence.
Born on August 27, 1938, in Oxford, Mississippi, she began her career in radio dramas as a child and continued to act while attending UCLA. Her mother moved her to Hollywood at the age of four to help launch her career in show business, while her father served overseas as the leader of the Army Band.
She had been performing in theater since 1949, starring in productions like Annie Get Your Gun, and gradually started landing small roles on television shows such as Racket Squad, One Man’s Family, and Hollywood Opening Night. At just 15 years old, she landed her iconic role in White Christmas.
She continued acting in small film roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with her final film appearance in Robert Altman’s 1999 comedy Cookies’ Fortune.