Audrey Totter was born on December 20, 1917, in Joliet, Illinois, and grew up in a family of Austro-Slovenian and Swedish descent. She graduated from Joliet High School, where she participated in school plays, igniting her passion for acting.

Audrey Totter began her career in radio in the late 1930s, performing in soap operas like "Painted Dreams" and "Ma Perkins." She later created the role of Millie Bronson in the radio show "Meet Millie."

Her success in radio led to a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), where she made her film debut in "Main Street After Dark" in 1945. She quickly became known for her roles in film noir, including "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Lady in the Lake."

Her husky voice and magnetic presence made her a standout femme fatale in these classic films. Despite her success, MGM dropped her in 1951, and she later signed with Columbia Pictures and 20th Century Fox.

She retired from acting in 1987 after a guest role on "Murder, She Wrote." She passed away on December 12, 2013, at the age of 95. She was married to Dr. Leo Fred, assistant dean of the UCLA School of Medicine, from 1953 until his death in 1995, and they had one daughter.