Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was a prominent American actress. She initially appeared in small roles before gaining widespread recognition for her performance in The Killers (1946). Gardner quickly became one of Hollywood’s leading actresses and was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. Her role in Mogambo (1953) earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Throughout her career, Gardner starred in several notable films from the 1950s to the 1970s, including Bhowani Junction (1956), On The Beach (1959), The Night of the Iguana (1964), Earthquake (1974), and The Cassandra Crossing (1976). She continued to act regularly until 1986, just four years before her death from pneumonia at age 67 in 1990. Gardner is ranked 25th among the American Film Institute’s Greatest Female Stars.
