From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ann Robinson (born May 25, 1929) is an American actress. Robinson was born in Hollywood, California to a bank employee father. She began her professional life as a stunt woman. Paramount signed her as an actress in the 1950s, and her first leading role was as "Sylvia Van Buren" in that studio's 1953 film, The War of the Worlds, a role she reprised 35 years later in three episodes of the War of the Worlds television series. She also had a small role in the ...