Beulah Bondi
(1888 - 1981)She was most often seen in the role of a mother of the star of the film. Of slight stature, with a gaunt, pale looking face, dark hair and deep-set, penetrating eyes, she was a veteran actress who worked well into her 80s. Born Beulah Bondy in Chicago, Illinois on May 3, 1888, she began her acting career on the stage at age 7 moving to film in the 1930s. She was one of the more recognizable faces in films and is probably best remembered for her role as Mrs. Bailey, the mother of George Bailey, in "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946). Her versatility showed in that film as she played both a loving mother and a grumpy, bitter hag. Her greatest role is considered to be her role in 1937's "Make Way For Tomorrow" as Lucy 'Ma' Cooper and her own favorite performance was as a bigoted woman, Ma Bridges, in 1957's "Track of the Cat." Among her other films are: "Street Scene" (1931) as Emma Jones, her film debut; "Arrowsmith" (1931) uncredited, as Mrs. Tozer; "Rain" (1932) as Mrs. Davidson; "The Stranger's Return" (1933) as Beatrice; "Christopher Bean" (1933) as Mrs. Haggett; "Two Alone" (1934) as Mrs. Slag; "Registered Nurse" (1934) as Nurse McKenna; "The Good Fairy" (1935) as Dr. Schultz; "The Bad Boy" (1935) as Mrs. Larkin; "The Invisible Ray" (1936) as Lady Arabella Stevens; "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" (1936) as Melissa; "Hearts Divided" (1936) as Madame Letizia; "The Gorgeous Hussy" (1936) as Rachel Jackson, a role which won her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; "The Moon's Our Home" (1936) as Mrs. Boyce Medford; "The Case Against Mrs. Ames" (1936) as Mrs. Livingston Ames; "Maid of Salem" (1937) as Abigail Goode; "The Buccaneer" (1938) as Aunt Charlotte; "Of Human Hearts" (1938) as Mary Wilkins, which earned her a second Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; "Vivacious Lady" (1938) as Mrs. Morgan; "The Sisters" (1938) as Rose Elliott; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) as Ma Smith; "The Under-Pup" (1939) as Miss Thornton; "On Borrowed Time" (1939) as Nellie Northrup/Granny; "Our Town" (1940) as Mrs. Myrtle Webb; "Penny Serenade" (1941) as Miss Oliver, in a terrific role; "Shepherd of the Hills" (1941) as Aunt Mollie; "One Foot in Heaven" (1941) as Mrs. Lydia Sandow; "Tonight We Raid Calais" (1943) as Mme. Bonnard; "Watch on the Rhine" (1943) as Anise; "And Now Tomorrow" (1944) as Aunt Em; "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" (1944) as Miss Horn; "I Love a Soldier" (1944) as Etta Lane; "The Very Thought of You" (1944) as Mrs. Wheeler; "I Love a Soldier" (1944) as Etta Lane; "Back to Bataan" (1945) as Bertha Barnes; "The Southerner" (1945) as Granny Tucker; "Sister Kenny" (1946) as Mary Kenny; "Breakfast in Hollywood" (1946) as Annie; "High Conquest" (1947) as Clara Kingsley; "The Snake Pit" (1948) as Mrs. Greer; "The Sainted Sisters" (1948) as Hester Rivercomb; "So Dear to My Heart" (1949) as Granny Kincaid; "Reign of Terror" (1949) as Grandma; "Mr. Soft Touch" (1949) as Mrs. Hangale; "The Life of Riley" (1949) as Miss Bogle; "The Baron of Arizona" (1950) as Loma Morales; "Lone Star" (1952) as Minniver Bryan; "Latin Lovers" (1953) as Woman Analyst; "Track of the Cat" (1954) as Ma Bridges; "Back From Eternity" (1956) as Martha; "The Unholy Wife" (1957) as Emma Hochen; "The Big Fisherman" (1959) as Hannah; "A Summer Place" (1959) as Mrs. Hamilton Humble; "Tammy Tell Me True" (1961) as Mrs. Call; "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" (1962) as the Gypsy and Tammy and the Doctor" (1963) again as Mrs. Call, her final theatrical film. In later years she appeared often on TV winning an Emmy for a role on "The Waltons" (1972) and guest starring on such series as: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"; "Zane Grey Theatre"; "Wagon Train" and "Perry Mason." Her last role was in a TV movie "She Waits" (1971) as Mrs. Angela Medina. As often as she played the ideal mother in films, she never married in real life. She lived in a beautiful three story house built into the Hollywood Hills. She died on January 11, 1981 at age 92 in Hollywood, California of pulmonary complications due to broken ribs she suffered in a fall at her home.
From Great Character Actors, Page 1.
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