Ann Sothern (January 22, 1909 - March 15, 2001) was an Academy Award-nominated American film and television actress with a career spanning six decades.

The Ann Sothern Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS for 93 episodes. The series began on October 6, 1958, and ended on September 25, 1961. The series starred Ann Sothern as Katy O'Connor, assistant manager of the plush Bartley House Hotel in New York City. The series also starred Don Porter, Ann Tyrrell, Jesse White, Ernest Truex, and Reta Shaw. The Ann Sothern Show was Sothern's second sitcom for CBS. Sothern's first series, Private Secretary, ended in 1957 after a contract dispute occurred between Sothern and Secretary's producer Jack Chertok.

Katy O'Connor is the assistant manager of the Bartley House Hotel in New York City working for Jason Macauley. She expected to get her bosses job when he was transferred to Calcutta, India but he was replaced by James Devery. Katy's secretary, best friend and roommate is Olive Smith; she had a romantic fling with Delbert Gray during the 1960-61 season. Written by J.E. McKillop

Ann Sothern's film career started as an extra in 1927. Originally a redhead, for the comedy roles she began to get she bleached her hair blond. After working at MGM and on Broadway, Ann was signed by Columbia Pictures for Let's Fall in Love (1933). The next year she would work with Eddie Cantor in his hit Kid Millions (1934). For the next two years, Ann would appear in a number of "B" pictures until she was dropped by Columbia in 1936. She then went to RKO, where the quality of her films did not improve. She appeared in a series of "B' pictures movies with Gene Raymond, but her career was going nowhere. In 1938 she left RKO and played the tart in Trade Winds (1938), which got her a contract at MGM. She was given the lead in a "B" comedy about a brassy, energetic showgirl not salesgirl--originally intended for Jean Harlow--that wound up becoming a huge hit and spawned a series of sequels that ran until 1947: Maisie (1939). Ann also appeared in such well received features as Brother Orchid (1940), Cry 'Havoc' (1943) and Letter to Three Wives, A (1949). After 1950 the roles dried up and Ann turned to television and another hit series, playing the meddlesome Susie in the 1953 series "Private Secretary" (1953). The series was canceled in 1957 and Ann came back in "Ann Sothern Show, The" (1958), which ran from 1958 to 1961. In 1965, she would be the voice of the 1928 Porter in the camp classic "My Mother the Car" (1965). While the 1970s and 1980s were relatively quiet for Ann, she would be nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the neighbor of Lillian Gish and Bette Davis in Whales of August, The (1987).

Ann Sothern, born Harriet Lake on January 22,1909 in Valley City, North Dakota, and her film career started as an extra-bit part in the film Broadway Nights (1927) in 1927. She would work as an extra for the next six years. It barely paid the bills. Finally, Ann got her break with Columbia Pictures when they signed her to a contract in 1934. Her first role for Columbia was in the film Party's Over, The (1934). The work was getting better and a bit more lucrative as she would be in 11 movies in 1934 and 1935. It wasn't riches but it was better than being just an extra. The films weren't much to write home about either. Ann was dropped by Columbia in 1936 and she signed with RKO Pictures. With RKO, she played in a number of forgettable productions such as Dangerous Number (1937) and She's Got Everything (1937). Ann left RKO two years later and played Jean Livingstone in Trade Winds (1938) which landed her a contract with MGM. In 1939, Ann starred in Maisie (1939) which would turn into a series of ten films with the last being Undercover Maisie (1947) in 1947. In between, she starred in such movies as Dulcy (1940), Thousands Cheer (1943) and Three Hearts for Julia (1943). During the 1950's, she played in only four films. By this time, however, Ann had turned to the relatively new medium--television, where she would attract legions of new fans. In 1953, Ann played the role of Susie in "Private Secretary" (1953), which ran until 1957. The quality and comedy was quite good, but, unfortunately, it doesn't run anywhere in syndicated re-runs. In 1958, she starred in "Ann Sothern Show, The" (1958), as Katy O'Connor, which ran until 1961. In 1965, she would be the voice in "My Mother the Car" (1965). This was a story about a man (Jerry Van Dyke) who bought a 1928 Porter and, lo and behold, it was "Mom". The 1970's and 1980's were drought ridden for Ann, but she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Tisha Doughty in 1987's Whales of August, The (1987). For Ann, it was a wonderful way to leave show business. At 90, Ann lives in quiet retirement.