Lucille La.Verne
(1869 - 1945)Pictured above in her role in "A Tale of Two Cities" and looking much like the cartoon witch she voiced in Disney's animated "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is Lucille La Verne. This is the type role she excelled at, witches, old hags and other bedraggled types. Smallish, long-haired, with very intense eyes and a husky, rough voice, she was a sort of female Walter Brennan, sacrificing her looks for her craft. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee on November 8, 1869 (some reports say 1872) and began acting on stage as a child. She made her New York stage debut in 1888 while still a teen and seven years later had her own theatrical company which toured the U.S. and Europe performing command performances before the Royalty of Europe. She remained in legitimate theatre and made her film debut in "Over Night" (1915) a silent. Her film credits included: "Polly of the Circus" (1917) as Mandy; "Tempered Steel" (1918) as Old Mammy; "Orphans of the Storm" (1921) as Mother Frochard; "The Last Moment" (1928) as Innkeeper; her sound film debut in "Little Caesar" (1930) with Edward G. Robinson, as Ma; "Abraham Lincoln" (1930) as Midwife; "Sinner's Holiday" (1930) as Ma Delano; "24 Hours" (1931) as Mrs. Dacklehorse; "An American Tragedy" (1931) as Mrs. Asa Griffiths; "While Paris Sleeps" (1932) as Mme. Golden Bonnet; "Alias the Doctor" (1932) as Mother Brenner; "Union Depot" (1932) uncredited as Lady with Pipe; "Kentucky Kernels" (1934) as Aunt Hanna; "A Tale of Two Cities" (1935) as The Vengeance, her best role and Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1935) as Voice of Queen/Witch, her last role. Her voice was most memorable, especially in her "Snow White..." role. She retired after working on "Snow White..." and became a co-owner of a night club. She died on March 4, 1945 in Culver City, California at age 75.
From Great Character Actors, Page 6.
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