Josephine Hull
(1886 - 1957)Like many other actors on these pages, Josephine Hull had a very limited movie and television career as she was devoted to theatre and the stage. She did, however, create some extremely memorable roles on film and was awarded for her efforts with a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Very squat and tiny at 5 foot 2 inches with a craggy face and quivery voice she became most successful in her senior years. She was born Josephine Sherwood in Newtonville, Massachusetts on January 3, 1886 to a non-theatrical family. Her parents were alarmed and concerned when she chose to follow drama at Radcliffe College. After graduation she joined a Boston stock theatre company touring for a few years at $6 a week salary. It was at this time she met her husband Shelley Hull, brother of actor Henry Hull and decided to quit acting for marriage. After her husband's death in 1919, she returned to the theatre to act and direct. She became a successful Broadway actress which was her chosen career. She was persuaded to do films and made her film debut in "Careless Lady" (1932) as Aunt Cora. Her other films were: "After Tomorrow" (1932) as Mrs. Piper; one of her best roles "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944) with Cary Grant, as Abby Brewster; her Oscar winning role in "Harvey" (1950) with James Stewart, as Veta Louise Simmons and "The Lady from Texas" (1951) as Miss Birdie, her final film. In her case it was quality over quantity. On TV she appeared in the early live drama series: "The Philco Television Playhouse" (1948) in "Dear Guest and Ghost" and "The U.S. Steel Hour" (1953) in "The Meanest Man in the World." She died of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 12, 1957 in New York City, New York at age 71.
From Great Character Actors, Page 5.
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