White Christmas star Anne Whitfield has sadly passed away at the age of 85, her family has revealed.
The late actress is best known for starring as Susan Waverly, the granddaughter of Captain Bob Wallace, in the 1954 holiday film featuring Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.
Whitfield's grieving family revealed in a heartbreaking obituary that she passed away on February 15 at Valley Memorial Hospital hospital in Yakima, Washington.
They shared that the star's death comes following a tragic "unexpected accident" during a walk in her Washington neighborhood.
In an emotional tribute to the actor, Whitfield's family penned: "The life of Anne Langham Whitfield Phillips was a beautiful one, with every second used to uplift the world and those around her.
"Through the kindness of neighbors who provided expert medical support, family had the gift to say goodbye and express love and gratitude, a gift we will always cherish," they continued.
According to the message, the actress' last Christmas was a happy one. It read: "Just this past December during the holidays, Annie was able to watch White Christmas with her family on the movie’s 70th anniversary.
"Although Annie was a talented actor, Los Angeles didn’t have enough trees for her and she left Hollywood for her new life 'up north' in the 1970s," her family shared. "After 'retiring', Annie worked tirelessly as an activist and community organizer, working right up until the day she passed away."
Whitfield was born in Mississippi in 1938 and moved to Hollywood with her family to start acting at the age of four.
She began her broadcast career working in the radio realm, starring in programs such as The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show and One Man’s Family. Then when she was just 15, she secured a role in White Christmas.
The film was the highest-grossing musical film at the time and was most well known for its Irving Berlin theme song, White Christmas, still regularly played during the holiday period.
After starring in White Christmas, Whitfield went on to have a successful career in television starring in episodes of Manhunt, The Untouchables, and The Six Million Dollar Man, among others.
She left Hollywood in the 1970s and moved to Olympia in Washington where it is said she became dedicated to causes that promote "peace and preserve nature." She is survived by three children and seven grandchildren who the family says were the most "precious part" of her life.
The late actress' funeral will be held on March 22 with mourners urged to make donations to charity or plant trees in her memory.
Our thoughts are with Whitfield's family, friends, and fans at this time.