Anne Baxter ( May 7 , 1923 – December 12 , 1985 ) was an American actress. Born in Michigan City, Indiana to Kenneth Stuart Baxter and Catherine Wright; her maternal grandfather was architect Frank Lloyd Wright . Baxter's father was a prominent executive with the Seagrams Distillery Co. and she was raised in New York City amidst luxury and sophistication. At age 10, Baxter attended a Broadway play starring Helen Hayes , and was so impressed that she declared to her family that she wanted to become an actress. By the age of 13, Anne had appeared on Broadway . During this period, Baxter learned her acting craft as a student of the famed teacher, Madame Maria Ouspenskaya .