‘The War of the Worlds’ star dead at 96

Ann Robinson, the iconic star of the 1953 science fiction classic The War of the Worlds, has died at the age of 96. News of her passing was recently confirmed by her granddaughter, Tori Bravo, who shared that Robinson died at her home in Los Angeles on Sept. 26.

A Legacy Beyond the Screen

Before becoming a household name in cinema history, Robinson began her career in Hollywood as a stunt performer. While under contract at Paramount Pictures, she caught the attention of producer George Pal. She was ultimately cast as Sylvia Van Buren, the library science teacher at the center of the Martian invasion, a role that would define her career for decades.

Reflecting on her career in a 1994 interview with Tom Weaver for the book Attack of the Monster Movie Makers, Robinson noted, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, that she felt she had received more professional mileage out of The War of the Worlds than Vivien Leigh did with Gone With the Wind.

Enduring Connections

Robinson’s association with the franchise stretched well beyond the original film. She reprised her role for the 1988-90 syndicated television series and was even invited by director Steven Spielberg to appear in his 2005 reimagining of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise.

In a 2016 interview with Nick Thomas, Robinson recounted the experience of working with Spielberg on the 2005 project. She recalled the director’s enthusiasm, noting that he was a lifelong fan of the original film and even asked for a photo with her on set.

Although her passing occurred in September, the news was only recently made public. Her contributions to the genre continue to be celebrated by film fans worldwide.