Anne Whitfield, “White Christmas” actress, dies at 85

The actress played Susan Waverly, the granddaughter of Major General Thomas Waverly (Dean Jagger), in the holiday classic.

Anne Whitfield, the actress best known for playing Susan Waverly in White Christmas, has died at age 85. The actor died on Feb. 15 at Valley Memorial Hospital in Yakima, Wash., following an accident, according to a death notice on the blog of Burien, Wash.

Born in Oxford, Miss., in 1938, Whitfield moved to Hollywood with her mother as a child while her father was deployed in World War II. She quickly began working as an actor on nationally broadcast radio programs like The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show and One Man’s Family.

Whitfield was cast in her most enduring project, White Christmas, at age 15. She played Susan Waverly, the granddaughter of Major General Thomas Waverly (Dean Jagger), in the holiday classic. Susan encourages her grandfather to host a performance by the film’s main characters (played by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen) at his hotel, which ultimately yields a moving tribute to the general himself. Whitfield’s obituary states that she watched White Christmas with her family in December 2023 in celebration of the film’s 70th anniversary.

Whitfield appeared in the movies Juvenile Jungle and Tick, Tick, Tick, and also acted in episodes of shows like Days of Our Lives, Perry Mason, The Magical World of Disney, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Bonanza. She also performed uncredited voice work in Disney’s Peter Pan.

The actress moved to Olympia, Wash. in the 1970s, working for the Evergreen State’s Department of Ecology as a steward of clean water. She was socially and politically active, working against climate change, assisting the unhoused, and advocating for women’s rights and refugees. Whitfield was also an accomplished hiker and frequent traveler. She is survived by her three children and seven grandchildren.

“Annie’s greatest wish is for her family and future generations to thrive in a world characterized by love, acceptance, natural beauty, and the cessation of political and social injustices,” her obituary reads. “She was a powerhouse in life and we hope her immense positive energy flows out to those who had the pleasure of knowing her.”

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