8-21-14 Beulah Bondi, born Beulah Bondy, May 3, 1889, was an American actress of stage, film and television. She began her acting career as a young child in theater, and after establishing herself as a stage actress, she reprised her role in Street Scene for the 1931 film version. She played supporting roles in several films during the 1930s, and was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She made her Broadway debut in One of the Family in 1925. She next appeared in another hit, Saturdays Children in 1926. It was her performance in Street Scene, in 1929, that brought her to the movies at the age of 43. She repeated her roll in Street Scene in 1931. She was one of the first five women to be nominated for an Academy Award in the newly created category of Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Gorgeous Hussy, although she lost the award to Gale Sondergaard. Two years later, she was nominated again for Of Human Hearts, and lost again, but her reputation as a character actress kept her employed. She would most often be seen in the role of the mother of the star of the film for the rest of her career, with the exception of Make Way for Tomorrow in 1937. She often played mature roles in her early film career even though she was only in her early 40s. She played James Stewart’s mother in four films: Its a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts and Vivacious Lady. In 1940 she played Mrs. Webb, Our Town. Her television credits include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train, Perry Mason and her final appearance as Martha Corinne Walton on The Waltons in two episodes, The Conflict and The Pony Cart, for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. When her name was called, it first appeared that she was not present, but she received a standing ovation as she walked slowly to the podium, from which she thanked the audience for honoring her while she was still living! Despite the fact that she was known for playing mother figures, she never married in real life. Her career spanned from 1895 to 1976. She January 11, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, at age 91.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:34:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015