Ethel Barrymore
(1879 - 1959)The second eldest of the three acting Barrymores (Lionel, Ethel and John), she was initially a leading actress of the stage but in later years became a renowned character actress. A 5' 7" solidly built, but soft featured, woman with a kindly face, graying hair and inquisitive eyes, she was versatile enough to play women of all classes and types. She was born Ethel Mae Blythe on August 15, 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Maurice Barrymore (Herbert Blythe) and Georgina Drew. She was educated in a convent and made her stage debut at age 15 with her uncle, famed actor John Drew. All her life her love was the stage but she took time off to make films occasionally. Her film debut was in a silent "The Nightingale" (1914) as Isola Franti/The Nightingale. She worked in a little over a dozen silent films through 1919. Her other film credits included: "Rasputin and the Empress" (1932) with her brothers Lionel and John Barrymore, as Empress Alexandra/The Czarina, the only film the three appeared in together; "None But the Lonely Heart" (1944) with Cary Grant, as Ma Mott, for which she won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress; "The Spiral Staircase" (1946) as Mrs. Warren; "The Paradine Case" (1947) as Lady Sophie Horfield; "The Farmer's Daughter" (1947) as Mrs. Morley, one of her best roles; "Portrait of Jennie" (1948) as Miss Spinney, another charming role of hers; "Moonrise" (1948) as Grandma; "The Red Danube" (1949) as The Mother Superior; "The Great Sinner" (1949) as Grandmother; "Pinky" (1949) as Miss Em; "It's a Big Country" (1951) as Mrs. Brian Patrick Riordan; "The Secret of Convict Lake" (1951) as Granny; "Deadline - U.S.A." (1952) as Margaret Garrison; "The Story of Three Loves" (1953) as Mrs. Pennicot, in a wonderfully charming role; "Young at Heart" (1954) as Aunt Jessie Tuttle and "Johnny Trouble" (1957) as Mrs. Chandler, her last film. On TV she appeared on the drama series: "Omnibus"; "Climax!" and "Playhouse 90." She also hosted her own series "Ethel Barrymore Theater" (1956). She was married to Russell Griswold Colt from 1909 to 1923 when they divorced. They had three children. She died of a heart condition on June 18, 1959 in Beverly Hills, California at age 79.
From Great Character Actors, Page 7.
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