Virginia Patton Moss, the final surviving adult cast member of Frank Capra’sIt’s a Wonderful Life, passed on August 18th in Albany, Ga, of natural causes at the age of 97. Moss, credited under her birth name of Virginia Patton, played Ruth Dakin Bailey, the wife of Todd Karns’ Harry Bailey, whom he decided to surprise his family with upon returning home from college—making her the sister-in-law to protagonist George Bailey (James Stewart).
“Virginia touched so many lives with her gifts of kindness and grace. She will always be remembered for her warm hugs, her zest for life, her elegance, and her deep faith in God. Virginia’s presence made any gathering extra special, and her passion for family and friends was immeasurable,” herobituaryreads.
In 1949, Moss married Cruse W. Moss, taking her husband’s last name as her own. In 2012, Cruse claimed that “Virginia was the only girl that was contracted directly by Frank Capra. Everybody else in that film was loaned by another studio. But Ginny was not with the studio, and Frank Capra actually signed her for that picture.” Following her appearance inIt’s a Wonderful Life, she also continued to participate in interviews regarding the movie throughout her own life.
“When you were on the set, you knew your lines, you knew your business. It was a camaraderie, but it was a business. It was a wonderful atmosphere that some other directors didn’t produce,” Moss said during an interview withPatch.
While Moss was the final surviving adult cast member of the holiday classic, a number of the child actors in the film are still alive. Such as Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu Bailey, George’s daughter, and a little girl who really loved her new flower. Grimes posted a tribute to her costar on her personal Facebook page:
“We have another angel! Virginia Patton Moss. She was 97 years old. She played Harry Bailey’s wife in the film, it’s a Wonderful Life! She is now with her beloved Cruse. She will be missed!”
Moss’ Life Outside The Movie
Moss started her career as a performer during her time as a student at the University of Southern California, taking part in plays and playing minor roles in feature films. Moss acted in four more films afterIt’s a Wonderful Life, including as the lead performance in the 1948 WesternBlack Eagle. According to IMDB, she has a total of 15 acting credits, spanning from 1943 to 1949. Her final screen credit was in 1949 with the comedyThe Lucky Stiff, which starred Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy, and Claire Trevor.
After her marriage, Moss and her husband then relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Moss would begin a career as a businesswoman, raise a family of three children, and served as a docent at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. The two of them remained married until Cruse died in 2018.
“I couldn’t see me doing that for my life. I wanted exactly what I am. Ann Arbor, Michigan, a wonderful husband, wonderful children, a good part of the community. I work hard for the community,” Moss said in 2012, reflecting on her decision to leave acting behind.
