Obituaries [Updated]

One of the last surviving cast members of the 1939 classic, Gone With the Wind, Fred Crane (pictured in 2007), who had a minor role in the film as one of the Tarleton twins (suitors of Scarlett O'Hara), has died at the age of 90. He died of complications from diabetes.

You can see Crane in the very first sequence after the film's opening credits on the steps of Tara with Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh. The other "twin" was played by none other than television's Superman, George Reeves (1914-1959).

A fun fact about Crane: He had Hollywood connections which helped him get into the business. His aunt was the famous silent screen star Leatrice Joy, who also was one of actor John Gilbert's wives. Her daughter, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, had auditioned for the part of Suellen, but lost the part to Evelyn Keyes, who died just a few weeks ago. Crane, though, got the part of the Tarleton twin.

Very few GWTW cast members, major or minor, are still alive nearly 70 years after the film's release. Two who come to mind are Olivia de Havilland, 92, who played Melanie Wilkes, and Ann Rutherford, 87 (some sources have her older), who played another of Scarlett's younger sisters, Careen.

Other living cast members include the following:

Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie Wilkes, is the movie’s only remaining principal star. Other surviving cast members are Ann Rutherford (Careen O’Hara); Cammie King (Bonnie Blue Butler); Alicia Rhett (India Wilkes)*; Mickey Kuhn (Beau Wilkes); and other actors who played characters as infants, said Herb Bridges of Newnan, who built what was considered the world’s largest “Gone With the Wind” collection.

Crane was the last surviving credited male actor in the film. He was only 20 years old at the time he signed for his role.

A full cast roster is here, if you're interested in who is alive and who is dead.

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*--Alicia Rhett, born in 1915, is 93 years old. She also had a career as a portrait painter and illustrator. She is the oldest credited cast member of GWTW. Cammie King at 74 is the youngest credited cast member.