Ellen Corby

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Ellen Corby (born June 3, 1911 in Racine , Wisconsin , † April 14, 1999 in Los Angeles , California ; actually Ellen Hansen ) was an American actress . She became known to a worldwide audience primarily through her role as "Grandma" Esther Walton in the US series The Waltons . For her performance in this series, she received a total of three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award .

life and career

Ellen Corby was born as Ellen Hansen to Danish immigrants in Racine, Wisconsin . She grew up in Philadelphia . In 1932 she began her career in Atlantic City as a chorister in an amateur theater. In the same year she moved to Hollywood and got a job at RKO Studios and Hal Roach Studios as a scriptwriter. She also took acting lessons. In the 1930s and 1940s she played numerous small or extra roles, only after a long time did her roles grow a little. Because she was never considered a Hollywood beauty, she has often played old-young or quirky ladies since the beginning of her career, often significantly older than herself.

In 1949 she was awarded the Golden Globe in the category " Best Supporting Actress " for her performance in the film Mystery of the Mother and was nominated for an Oscar in the same category , which however went to Claire Trevor at the award ceremony . These successes had no effect on her career, where she continued to be seen in small supporting roles. Some of the most famous films she appeared in include Billy Wilder's Sabrina and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo - From the Realm of the Dead . In addition to numerous films, she was also seen in numerous TV productions, including in comic roles; she appeared on the Andy Griffith Show and starred in series such as Police Report or Perry Mason .

She was best known for her role as "Grandma" Esther Walton in the US series The Waltons . For her performance in this series, she was awarded a total of three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. From 1934 to 1944 she was married to Francis Corby; the couple had no children and that was their only marriage. After a severe stroke in 1977 that destroyed her language center, she was only able to take part in The Waltons sporadically . The screenwriters unceremoniously wrote the disease on the series to explain its condition. From 1978 she appeared only sporadically in the series and in 1980 was completely removed from the series. In the later television specials of the Waltons, however, she took part again, her last role was the Grandma Esther Walton in the television film A Walton Easter (1997).

Ellen Corby died at the age of 87 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House And Hospital in Woodland Hills , a borough of Los Angeles. Her grave is in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Celebrity Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

literature

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Commons : Ellen Corby  - Collection of Images
personal data
SURNAME Corby, Ellen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hansen, Ellen (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-american actress
DATE OF BIRTH June 3, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH Racine , Wisconsin , United States
DATE OF DEATH April 14, 1999
Place of death Los Angeles , California , United States