ONG and dance figured out a way to turn her legend Ann Miller misfortune into a windfall for is stuck in a tragic two- others. She’s donated more step with osteoporosis. ANN MILLER: than $300,000 worth of her The chronic bone clothes to the Motion Picture Sdisease has caused part of Home in Woodland Hills, Miller’s spine to collapse, Calif. And in October, the and the once-5-foot-6 beauty prestigious home for aging has shrunk to a diminutive MY BATTLE WITH stars will host a fashion 5-foot-1. show called The Ann Miller “I had three disks collapse Collection with celebrities in my spine and now it’s modeling her classic outfits. disintegrating,” the 80-year-old CRIPPLING BONE DISEASE “Ann is such a delight,” a actress tells GLOBE. “I lost close friend of Miller tells half a foot in just one year. Legendary GLOBE. “In spite of it all, It’s unbelievable.” EXCLUSIVE her positive spirit and good Thrice married and divorced hoofer humor still shine through.” Miller says with heels she used GLOBE Even with a dauntless to come up past the shoulder is the attitude, the still-spunky star of her longtime beau, 6-foot-4 INTERVIEW has found osteoporosis to be Morgan Woodward – but no incredible a difficult adjustment after longer. such an active life. “I used to be 5-foot-6, but shrinking “It feels so strange to be now I’m a shrimp,” she admits. literally shrinking before my “It’s very odd to see Morgan woman very eyes,” she confesses. and me standing next to each “I do feel fine most of the other. This osteoporosis time, except right before it business is really something. rains when my back starts There’s nothing you can do to hurt from the humidity. but to keep smiling.” “It’s rough, but I just Miller started dancing keep going. When I eat in when she was just 5 years ‘I used restaurants, they give me old and first appeared on the a cushion to sit on so I can silver screen in 1934’s Anne reach the table. And in my of Green Gables at age 11. to be car, I have a cushion so I She went on to star in such can look out.” classics as Stage Door, Easter 5-foot-6, Perhaps the toughest Parade and Kiss Me Kate. She pitfall may be selling her also wowed ’em on stage in but now Beverly Hills home, which the smash hits Mame, Sugar she bought for her mom Babies and Follies. I’m a in 1949 and GLOBE “I stopped dancing five photographed in 2001. years ago,” Miller notes. “And shrimp’ “The thought of leaving that’s when the osteoporosis this place is upsetting,” started.” Ann Miller doesn’t Miller says. “But the Now that most of her old stand as tall as she once staircase is 25 steps and it’s wardrobe no longer fits did alongside her beau getting harder and harder her dwindling frame, the NOW Morgan Woodward 1998 for me to manage them.” bighearted entertainer has – ROBIN MIZRAHI

NEWS: Associate Design Editor: AMI PHOTO LIBRARY: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/ ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Marc Richards PHOTO EDITOR: Rochelle Paller Martin Elfers CHIEF LIBRARIAN (Photo & Text): Kathleen Cottay Steve Coz SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SENIOR EDITOR: Jeffrey Rodack CHIEF COPY EDITOR: CORPORATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: ADMINISTRATION/HUMAN Patty Carroll Deputy Chief Photo Librarian: CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND NEWS EDITORS: Clif Dunn, Kimberly Riendeau Colin Jenkins RESOURCES: Daniel A. Rotstein CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Susan Goldfarb, Steve Herz Senior Copy Editor: Staff: Nichole Czomba, VICE PRESIDENT INFORMATION Bonnie Rubin-Schultz CORPORATE PHOTO DIRECTOR: David Pecker GOSSIP COLUMNIST: Lycia Naff Derek Czomba, Bill Graham TECHNOLOGY/CHIEF INFORMATION EDITOR IN CHIEF: Jim Lynch Roxanne Georgoulis, OFFICER: David Thompson LONDON BUREAU CHIEF: WRITERS: Kathleen Huebner, Lucille Towbis EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, INC.: MANAGING EDITOR: Joe Mullins John Bell Kim Humphreys, Rafe Klinger, FINANCE/CFO: Mike Porche, CEO AMI TEXT LIBRARY: John Miley GENERAL EDITOR: Larry Browne CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Diana Siegfried DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING: Asst. Librarian: Candy Cogswell (New York) Jeff Samuels FEATURES: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF Laura Coates, Sales Manager TELEVISION EDITOR: Bob Burns Senior Editor: Cara Gallo Staff: Nanette Dubiel, MARKETING OFFICER: Telephone: 212-888-3320 ext. 202 GOT A STORY? CALL: Phenicia Esterine, Kevin Hyson Fax: 212-838-7835 REPORTERS: EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Nicole Taylor Boca Raton, FL VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Senior Reporters: Shelby Loosch, 800-755-8605 Senior Executive Assistant: AMI RESEARCH CENTER: MANAGER: 561-989-1015 Bob Smith Eileen Laing Los Angeles Larry Bornstein RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS DIRECTOR: Reporters: Ian Drew, Robin Mizrahi, DIRECTOR: Mireya Throop TOLL FREE: Assistants: Hara Bender, Fiona Maynard J.D. Robinson, David Thompson, Bernadette Marshall, Deputy: Barbara Koskie SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT-GENERAL 866-840-8455 Assistant Deputy: Maria Peters COUNSEL: For Rights & Permissions/Syndication requests, Pete Trujillo, Beverly Williston Betty Romero please contact Maryann Higginson at Or E-mail us at: Senior Researcher: Laurie Miller Michael B. Kahane PHOTOS: AMI LOS ANGELES: 818-595-0588 or by e-mail at [email protected] Research Associates: June Baum, PRESIDENT, DIRECT RESPONSE [email protected] Assignment Editors: Theresa Honig, BUREAU CHIEF: Jerome George Larry Boytano, Amber Pradines New York: Lee Marsh, Jeanne Milewski MARKETING & PUBLICATION 212-888-9574 AMI WASHINGTON: DIRECTOR, TABLOIDS: Senior Photo Assistant: Kim Gallo Copyright © 2003 Globe Editorial, Inc. Washington, D.C.: BUREAU CHIEF: Courtney Callahan SUBSCRIBERS Bette Rockmore Editorial Assistant: Summer Federer All rights reserved 202-347-8366 AMI LAS VEGAS: SENIOR VP/PUBLISHER: Las Vegas: Communications Technician: For subscription queries, please We assume no responsibility for returning e-mail [email protected] David Enberg unsolicited material, including but not limited to 702-650-6584 Kyle Platte BUREAU CHIEF: Kevin Lynch AMI MIAMI: or call toll-free 1-800-513-9186 photographs, artwork, manuscripts and letters. Miami: 305-577-4679, DESIGN & COPY: (outside U.S. dial direct to ext. 374 BUREAU CHIEF: Leon Wagener CUSTOMER SERVICE: Call toll-free 1-866-MAGS AMI (1-866-624-7264) DESIGN EDITOR: Marty Gunther 1-386-445-4662). or e-mail [email protected]

10 June 3, 2003 / GLOBE

GL2210A0