Jessie.Royce Landis
(1904 - 1972)Often the society matron, Jessie Royce Landis could play other types too. Born Jessie Royce Medbury November 25, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois she began her acting career on the stage in New York and London. Her trademarks were her sharp featured looks and flaming red hair. She truly had a talent for playing aristocratic types, often the mother of the star and her knack for portraying sarcasm to the hilt served her well in her roles. Her best remembered roles were in two Hitchcock films: "To Catch a Thief" (1955) as the mother of Grace Kelly and "North by Northwest" (1959) as Cary Grant's wisecracking mother. Among her other film credits were: "My Foolish Heart" (1949) as Martha Winters, her film debut; "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" (1949) as Mrs. Chase; "It Happens Every Spring" (1949) as Mrs. Greenleaf; "The Swan" (1956) as Princess Beatrix; "My Man Godfrey" (1957) as Angelica; "Goodbye Again" (1961) with Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Perkins, as Mrs. Van Der Besh; "Bon Voyage" (1962) as La Comtesse; "Critic's Choice" (1963) as Charlotte Orr; "Gidget Goes to Rome" (1963) as Aunt Albertina Blythe and "Airport" (1970) as Mrs. Harriet DuBarry Mossman, her last theatrical film. She appeared in made for TV movies including: "Mr. & Mrs. Bo Jo Jones" (1971); "Colombo: Lady in Waiting" (1972) and "Ceremony of Innocence" (1972). She guest starred on such series as: "U.S. Steel Hour" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." She died on February 2, 1972 of cancer in Danbury, Connecticut.
From Great Character Actors, Page 1.
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