Imitation of Life 65 years old

Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!

Imitation of Life

Lora Meredith, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway, has a chance encounter with Annie Johnson, a black single mother. Annie becomes the caretaker of Lora's daughter, Susie, while Lora pursues her stage career. Both women deal with the difficulties of motherhood: Lora's thirst for fame threatens her relationship with Susie, while Annie's light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane, struggles with her African-American identity.

Credits

Imitation of Life Cast

Name Character
John Gavin He was 28, 86 years old when he died as Steve Archer
Bess Flowers She was 60, 85 years old when she died as Geraldine Moore
Elinor Donahue She was 22, now 87 years old as Lora's Friend
Dan O'Herlihy He was 39, 85 years old when he died as David Edwards
Sandra Dee She was 17, 62 years old when she died as Susie (16)
Lana Turner She was 38, 74 years old when she died as Lora Meredith
Robert Alda He was 45, 72 years old when he died as Allen Loomis
Billy House He was 69, 72 years old when he died as Fat Man on Beach
Myrna Fahey She was 26, 40 years old when she died as Iris Dawn
Sandra Gould She was 42, 82 years old when she died as Receptionist
Napoleon Whiting He was 48, 74 years old when he died as Kenneth, Lora's Butler
George Barrows He was 45, 80 years old when he died as Furniture Mover
Susan Kohner She was 22, now 87 years old as Sarah Jane (18)
Juanita Moore She was 44, 99 years old when she died as Annie Johnson
Joel Fluellen He was 51, 82 years old when he died as Minister
Terry Burnham She was 9, 64 years old when she died as Susie (6)
Frank Baker He was 66, 88 years old when he died as Party Guest
Jack Weston He was 34, 71 years old when he died as Stage manager
Eddie Parker He was 58, 59 years old when he died as Cop at Funeral
Jeffrey Sayre He was 58, 73 years old when he died as Audience Member
Mahalia Jackson She was 47, 60 years old when she died as Choir Soloist
George Ford He was 33, now 31 years old as Show Spectator
John McNamara He was 2, 6 years old when he died as Doctor
Peg Shirley as Fay
Richard Collier He was 22, 18 years old when he died as McKinney
John Vivyan He was 43, 68 years old when he died as Young man
Adolf Eichmann He was 53, 56 years old when he died as Himself (Archive Footage)
Lee Goodman He was 35, 64 years old when he died as Photographer
Joseph Mell He was 43, 62 years old when he died as Watchman
Than Wyenn He was 39, 95 years old when he died as Romano
Karin Dicker as Sarah Jane (8)
Ann Robinson She was 29, now 95 years old as Showgirl
Troy Donahue He was 23, 65 years old when he died as Frankie
Steve Carruthers as Actor at Audition
Paul Levitt as Waiter

Imitation of Life Crew

Name Department
Milton Carruth as Editor. He was 60 (73) years old when He died Editing
Glenn E. Anderson as Sound. Sound
Leslie I. Carey as Sound. She was 63 (88) years old when She died Sound
Norman Deming as Production Manager. He was 53 (77) years old when He died Production
Jean Louis as Costume Designer. He was 51 (89) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up
Clifford Stine as Special Effects. He was 53 (80) years old when He died Crew
Alexander Golitzen as Art Direction. He was 51 (97) years old when He died Art
Richard H. Riedel as Art Direction. He was 55 (55) years old when He died Art
Russell A. Gausman as Set Decoration. He was 66 (70) years old when He died Art
Julia Heron as Set Decoration. She was 61 (79) years old when She died Art
Larry Germain as Hairstylist. He was 45 (67) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up
Paul Francis Webster as Songs. He was 51 (76) years old when He died Sound
Frank Skinner as Original Music Composer. He was 61 (70) years old when He died Sound
Eleanore Griffin as Screenplay. She was 55 (91) years old when She died Writing
Wayne Fitzgerald as Title Designer. He was 29 (89) years old when He died Art
Henry Mancini as Original Music Composer. He was 35 (70) years old when He died Sound
Russell Metty as Director of Photography. He was 52 (71) years old when He died Camera
Del Armstrong as Makeup Artist. He was 43 (87) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up
Bill Thomas as Costume Designer. He was 17 (58) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up
Bud Westmore as Makeup Artist. He was 41 (55) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up
Douglas Sirk as Director. He was 62 (89) years old when He died Directing
Joseph Gershenson as Music Supervisor. Sound
Fannie Hurst as Novel. She was 69 (78) years old when She died Writing
LaVaughn Speer as Hairstylist. Costume & Make-Up
Sammy Fain as Songs. He was 56 (87) years old when He died Sound
Allan Scott as Screenplay. He was 52 (88) years old when He died Writing
Frank Shaw as Assistant Director. He was 63 (66) years old when He died Directing
Imitation of Life poster
Imitation of Life (65 years)

Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!

  • Release day: Friday, October 02, 1959
  • Runtime: 125 minutes