Who was Anne Edwards? American Writer and Actress Dead at 96

Anne Edwards, acclaimed as “The Queen of Biography” for her bestselling works on actresses Vivien Leigh and Katharine Hepburn, along with 14 other celebrity biographies, passed away on January 20 in Beverly Hills, California. At the age of 96, she succumbed to lung cancer at a senior living facility, as confirmed by her daughter, Catherine Edwards Sadler.

Beyond her extensive biographical portfolio, the prolific writer left a legacy that encompassed eight novels, three children’s books, two memoirs, and one autobiography.

Ms. Edwards began her career as a child performer on radio and stage, achieving a significant milestone by selling her first screenplay in 1949 at the age of 22. The resulting western film, “Quantez,” starring Fred MacMurray, was released in 1957.

Her literary journey continued with the publication of her first novel, the mystery “The Survivors,” in 1968, followed by her inaugural biography, focusing on Judy Garland, in 1975. Notably, her biography “Vivien Leigh: A Biography” (1977) enjoyed a remarkable 19 weeks on The New York Times’s hardcover best-seller list.

In addition to Leigh and Garland, Edwards authored biographies of notable figures such as Maria Callas, Ronald Reagan, Barbra Streisand, and Diana, Princess of Wales. Her versatility extended to screenwriting, contributing to the British thriller “A Question of Adultery” (1958), featuring Julie London (released in the U.S. as “The Case of Mrs. Loring”). She also collaborated with Sidney Buchman on early and unused drafts of the screenplay for “Funny Girl” (1968).

Among her novels, “Haunted Summer” (1974), delving into the lives of author Mary Shelley and poet Lord Byron, was adapted into a film in 1988.

Ms. Edwards’ connection to California began in the late 1930s when her family moved to the state at the invitation of her uncle, Dave Chasen, owner of the renowned West Hollywood restaurant, Chasen’s, frequented by celebrities.

Survivors include her daughter, Catherine Edwards Sadler, a son, Michael Edwards, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her third husband, the author and songwriter Stephen Citron, to whom she was married in 1980, passed away in 2013.