Anne Kimbell

Anne Kimbell Relph, known professionally as Anne Kimbell (née Banks; June 28, 1932 – May 16, 2017) was an American actress most active on screen during the 1950s. Kimbell is best known as the star of the 1954 science fiction film, Monster from the Ocean Floor.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Kimbell preserved the Jones Theater in Westcliffe, Colorado, and founded the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts. to Andrew and Kathryn (née Collins) Banks. Kimbell starred in the 1957 London production of Roar Like a Dove, which was produced by actress Vivien Leigh.

Personal life Kimbell met her future husband, James F. Relph, a United States Foreign Service officer, while appearing on stage in London. The couple married in London. She effectively retired from film to join Relph at his diplomatic postings in Switzerland, Germany, Chad, and Tunisia.

Kimbell and her family returned to California during the early 1980s. During her later life, Kimbell divided her time between her home in Westcliffe, Colorado, and a second home in Laguna Beach, California.

Administration California Kimbell served as the executive director of the Orange County Center at the University of Southern California, which encourages professionals to obtain advanced degrees in business, education or social work. She also founded an "Enterprising Woman" organization to support female entrepreneurs.

Colorado In 1992, Kimbell traveled to Colorado with the intention of purchasing a horse ranch. She acquired the ranch as planned, but also purchased the Jones Theater in Westcliffe, Colorado, which the previous owner had intended to convert into a laundromat. Kimbell wanted to preserve the theater as a working cultural landmark in the Wet Mountain Valley. She founded the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts (WCPA) and based it at the theater. She and her business partner, Tom Stagg, expanded the WCPA and oversaw the addition of the new Studio 2 onto the existing Jones Theater. Kimbell also developed the Shakespeare in the Park festival, which is now held annually in Westcliffe. She served as the WCPA's president, producer and, finally, its artistic director until her death in 2017.

Other countries Kimbell developed women's cultural programs in Tunisia and a school for women in Chad.

Writing Kimbell was the author of several novels, including To Catch a Spy, The Ibeji Twins and Assignment Paris.

Death Kimbell died on May 16, 2017, at the age of 84.