Rita Johnson

Rita Ann Johnson (August 13, 1913 – October 31, 1965) was an American actress.

Early years Johnson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of a single mother, Lillian Johnson.

She worked as a waitress in her mother's lunchroom and sold hot dogs on the Boston-Worcester turnpike. She later attended the New England Conservatory of Music.

Career Early in her career, Johnson was busy in radio. "By 1936 she... was appearing in ten radio shows a week."

Johnson began acting on Broadway in 1935 and started her film career two years later. She played a murderer in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and a doomed wife in the RKO film noir They Won't Believe Me (1947).

In an incident that was never fully explained, Johnson suffered a head trauma on September 6, 1948 that required brain surgery. Unsubstantiated rumors promulgated by gossip columnists such as Walter Winchell suggested she might have been abused by a boyfriend, but the only explanation she offered was that a large, industrial-grade hair dryer at her apartment had fallen on her. It put a virtual halt to her film career. Her screen time in movies after that was limited due to her reduced mobility and powers of concentration.

Personal life Johnson was married to businessman L. Stanley Kahn. She was married to Edwin Hutzler from 1943 to 1946, when they were divorced.

Johnson suffered from alcoholism. She died of a brain hemorrhage on October 31, 1965, at age 52.

Partial filmography

London by Night (1937) – Patricia Herrick My Dear Miss Aldrich (1937) – Ellen Warfield Man-Proof (1938) – Florence Letter of Introduction (1938) – Honey Smashing the Rackets (1938) – Letty Lane Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938) – Sally Harrison The Girl Downstairs (1938) – Rosalind Brown Honolulu (1939) – Cecelia Grayson Within the Law (1939) – Agnes Broadway Serenade (1939) – Judith Tyrrell 6,000 Enemies (1939) – Anne Barry Stronger Than Desire (1939) – Barbara Winter They All Come Out (1939) – Kitty Carson Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939) – Lou Farnsby Congo Maisie (1940) – Kay McWade The Golden Fleecing (1940) – Marian Edwards Edison, the Man (1940) – Mary Stilwell Forty Little Mothers (1940) – Mary Blake Maisie Was a Lady (1941) – Minor Role (scenes deleted) Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) – Julia Farnsworth Appointment for Love (1941) – Nancy Benson The Major and the Minor (1942) – Pamela Hill My Friend Flicka (1943) – Nell McLaughlin The Affairs of Susan (1945) – Mona Kent Thunderhead, Son of Flicka (1945) – Nelle McLaughlin The Naughty Nineties (1945) – Bonita Farrow Pardon My Past (1945) – Mary Pemberton The Perfect Marriage (1947) – Mabel Manning The Michigan Kid (1947) – Sue Dawson They Won't Believe Me (1947) – Greta Ballentine Sleep, My Love (1948) – Barby The Big Clock (1948) – Pauline York An Innocent Affair (1948) – Eve Lawrence Family Honeymoon (1948) – Minna Fenster The Second Face (1950) – Claire Elwood Susan Slept Here (1954) – Dr. Rawley, Harvey's Shrink Emergency Hospital (1956) – Head Nurse Norma Mullin All Mine to Give (1957) – Katie Tyler (final film role)

Radio appearances

Year Program Episode/source 1943 Lux Radio Theatre My Friend Flicka 1952 Family Theater The Crossroads of Christmas