Ida Lupino, an earthy, intelligent movie actress who created a luminous gallery of worldly wise villainesses, gangster's molls and hand-wringing neurotics, died on Thursday night at her home in Burbank, Calif. She was 77 years old. Miss Lupino had cancer and had recently suffered a stroke, Mary Ann Anderson, her former secretary, said yesterday.

Ida Lupino was born in London on Feb. 4, 1918, during a German zeppelin bombing. Miss Lupino was petite, standing only 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 112 pounds. She had auburn hair and violet eyes framed by half-inch-long lashes. Her leisure pursuits included skin diving, writing short stories and children's books, and composing music. One work, “Aladdin Suite,” was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Miss Lupino is survived by a daughter, Bridget Duff, and a sister, Rita Lupino.

(Escape Me Never)