
Jessie Ralph
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jessie Ralph (born Jessie Ralph Chambers, November 5, 1864 – May 30, 1944) was an American stage and screen actress, best known for her matronly roles in many classic motion pictures. She was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1864. She made her acting debut in 1880, at the age of sixteen. She made it to Broadway, where George M. Cohan cast her in many of his musicals, but she also excelled at dramatic roles. Although she made her Hollywood debut in 1916, in a motion picture career that would eventually span 25 years, she only became a permanent Hollywood actress in 1933. She was nearly 70 at this time, so her roles were limited to matronly roles, but her expertise at stealing scenes captured the imagination of cinema-goers of the time. Her best-known roles are as Greta Garbo's maid in Camille, as W.C. Fields' battle-axe of a mother-in-law in The Bank Dick, as Myrna Loy's supercilious aunt Katherine in After the Thin Man, and as Nurse Peggotty in David Copperfield. She starred in 55 movies altogether, 52 between 1933 and 1941. Jessie Ralph retired from Hollywood in 1941, after her leg was amputated. She died four years later in her home town of Gloucester at the age of 79. She was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Known For
Credits
- 1941 ·They Met in Bombayas Duchess of Beltravers
- 1941 ·The Lady from Cheyenneas Mrs. McGuinness
- 1940 ·The Bank Dickas Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch
- 1940 ·I Want a Divorceas Grandma Brokaw
- 1940 ·The Girl from Avenue Aas Mrs. Van Dyne
- 1940 ·I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Babyas Mama McGann
- 1940 ·Star Dustas Aunt Martha Parker
- 1940 ·The Blue Birdas Fairy Berylune
- 1939 ·Drums Along the Mohawkas Mrs. Weaver
- 1939 ·Mickey the Kidas Veronica Hudson
- 1939 ·The Kid From Texasas Aunt Minetta
- 1939 ·Cafe Societyas Mrs. De Witt
- 1939 ·St. Louis Bluesas Aunt Tibbie
- 1939 ·Four Girls in Whiteas Miss Tobias
- 1938 ·Port of Seven Seasas Honorine
- 1938 ·Hold That Kissas Aunt Lucy
- 1938 ·Love Is a Headacheas Sheriff Janet Winfield
- 1937 ·Double Weddingas Mrs. Kensington-Bly
- 1937 ·The Romance of Celluloidas Self
- 1937 ·The Good Earthas Cuckoo
- 1937 ·The Last of Mrs. Cheyneyas The Duchess of Ebley
- 1936 ·Camilleas Nanine
- 1936 ·After the Thin Manas Aunt Katherine Forrest
- 1936 ·Walking on Airas Evelyn Bennett
- 1936 ·San Franciscoas Mrs. Maisie Burley
- 1936 ·Bunker Beanas Grandmother
- 1936 ·The Unguarded Houras Lady Agatha Hathaway
- 1936 ·Yellow Dustas Mrs. Brian
- 1936 ·Little Lord Fauntleroyas Applewoman
- 1936 ·The Garden Murder Caseas Mrs. Hammle
- 1935 ·Captain Bloodas Mrs. Barlow
- 1935 ·I Found Stella Parishas Nana
- 1935 ·Metropolitanas Charwoman
- 1935 ·I Live My Lifeas Mrs. O.H.B. Gage, Kay's Grandmother
- 1935 ·Jalnaas Gran Whiteoaks
- 1935 ·Paris in Springas Countess de Charelle
- 1935 ·Mark of the Vampireas Midwife
- 1935 ·Les Misérablesas Madame Magloire
- 1935 ·Vanessa: Her Love Storyas Lady Mullion
- 1935 ·Enchanted Aprilas Mrs. Phoebe Fisher
- 1935 ·David Copperfieldas Clara Peggotty
- 1934 ·Evelyn Prenticeas Mrs. Blake
- 1934 ·We Live Againas Matrona Pavlovna
- 1934 ·The Affairs of Cellinias Beatrice
- 1934 ·One Night of Loveas Angelina
- 1934 ·Murder at the Vanitiesas Mrs. Helene Smith
- 1934 ·Coming Out Partyas Nora
- 1934 ·Nanaas Zoe
- 1933 ·Ann Carver's Professionas Terry
- 1933 ·Cocktail Houras Princess
- 1933 ·Elmer, the Greatas Sarah Crosby (uncredited)
- 1933 ·Child of Manhattanas Aunt Minnie
- 1921 ·Such a Little Queenas Mary
- 1919 ·The Madonna of the Slumsas