Cathy O'Donnell

Cathy O'Donnell Profile Photo

Characters played by Cathy O'Donnell

Tirzah — Ben-Hur (1959)

Judah's younger sister in the 1959 film, suffers leprosy and is healed by Christ.

Wilma Cameron — The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Wilma Cameron is Homer's next-door neighbor and longtime sweetheart, whom he intended to marry after returning from the war. Homer doubts that she understands the practical difficulties of marrying a man without hands, but Wilma proves her love by promising to help him. They marry, with Fred serving as best man.

Catherine "Keechie" Mobley — They Live by Night (1949)

A young woman working at a service station who falls in love with escaped convict Bowie. After a hasty marriage, they flee together, but she becomes pregnant and desperately tries to keep him away from further crime. She shares the emotional climax by reading his farewell letter as he is killed by police.

Barbara Waggoman — The Man from Laramie (1955)

The daughter of the local store owner and niece of Alec Waggoman. She is unhappy in Coronado and suggests hauling salt for Lockhart. She harbors unrequited feelings for Vic, begging him to leave town with her, and is left behind at the end of the film.

Virginia Merrill — Never Trust a Gambler (1951)

Virginia Merrill is Steve Garry's ex-wife, living in Los Angeles. Although she distrusts him, she reluctantly hides him from Police Sgt. Ed Donovan and others. Steve later forces her to travel with him, but she secretly leaves a note at a gas station to help the pursuing police locate them.

Judith Hutter — The Deerslayer (1957)

The other Hutter daughter living on the floating fort, caught in the crossfire of frontier tensions and needing urgent evacuation to Albany.

Judy Miniver — The Miniver Story (1950)

Young Miniver daughter who navigates wartime romance and personal growth during the conflict.

Rusty — Bury Me Dead (1947)

A resentful young woman raised as Barbara's sister, she learns she is merely an orphan without legal inheritance rights. She falls in love with Rod, resents Barbara for taking George Mandley, and mistakenly believes her manipulations drove Rod and Barbara apart. She becomes a target in the mansion's deadly schemes.

Career Overview

Cathy O'Donnell has 21 screen credits in a career dating back to 1946. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Ben-Hur with 1 titles. Signature works include Ben-Hur, They Live by Night, The Man from Laramie. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For
Acting
Gender
female
Known Credits
21
Birth Date
1923-07-06
Birth Place
Siluria, Alabama, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 2 universes

Frequent Collaborators

Credits

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q524094), public domain (CC0).