Veteran Hollywood actress Ann Robinson, best known for her role in the classic sci-fi film The War of the Worlds, has passed away at the age of 96, her family confirmed.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robinson died on September 26, 2025, at her Los Angeles home. However, news of her passing was only made public last month. Her granddaughter, Toti Bravo, confirmed the details.
Robinson began her Hollywood journey as a stunt performer before gaining fame for her starring role in the Oscar-winning 1953 adaptation of The War of the Worlds, based on H.G. Wells’ iconic 1898 novel. In the film, her character Sylvia teams up with scientist Clayton Forrester to battle invading Martians armed with devastating heat rays.
The movie became a timeless favorite among science fiction fans and was later selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2011 for its cultural and artistic importance.
Due to the film’s lasting popularity, director Steven Spielberg released a modern adaptation in 2005 starring Tom Cruise. Robinson and fellow original cast member Gene Barry also made special cameo appearances in the remake.
Reflecting on the experience, Robinson once shared that Spielberg, a longtime admirer of the original film, treated them “like Hollywood royalty.”
Throughout her career, Robinson also appeared in several popular television shows, including Dragnet, Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 77 Sunset Strip, and Gilligan’s Island.
She is survived by her son, Jaime Bravo Jr., and two grandchildren.
