Gail Davis

 Gail Davis (October 5, 1925 – March 15, 1997)

She was best known for her starring role as Annie Oakley in the 1950s television Western series Annie Oakley. In 1947 she made her motion picture debut in a comedy film short. She then appeared in minor roles in another four films (the first being The Romance of Rosy Ridge) until landing a supporting role under star Roy Rogers in a 1948 Western film, The Far Frontier. Between 1948-53, Davis appeared in 32 feature films, all but three of which were in the Western genre, including twenty films with or for the production company of the singing cowboy star, Gene Autry. She believed her success as Annie Oakley undermined other opportunities she might have had for other roles in the future. In 1982, she told a reporter, "I tried to find other acting work, but I was so identified as Annie Oakley that directors would say, 'Gail, I'd like to hire you, but you re going to have to wait a few years, dye your hair and cut off your pigtails.' Directors just couldn't envision me in a sexy part or playing a heavy. I was always going to be Annie Oakley. So, as they say, I retired." During her retirement Davis made guest appearances at western memorabilia shows and film festivals. Her last public appearance was in 1994, when she received the Golden Boot Award from the Motion Picture and Television Fund. She died of cancer at age 71 in 1997, and is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.