Billie Burke
Biography
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Billie Burke was an American actress born on August 7, 1884, in Washington, District of Columbia, and she passed away on May 14, 1970. She was famous on Broadway and radio, and appeared in both silent and sound films. Modern audiences primarily know her for her role as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical film The Wizard of Oz. Additionally, she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live. Her acting career spanned numerous known credits, and she was known for her work in projects including Playhouse 90 and 77 Sunset Strip.
Career overview
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Billie Burke was an American actress born on August 7, 1884, in Washington, District of Columbia, and she passed away on May 14, 1970. She was famous on Broadway and in radio, as well as in both silent and sound films, and was noted for her comedic talent.
Modern audiences primarily know her for her role as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical film The Wizard of Oz. Additionally, she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live. Her extensive career in acting spanned numerous credits across film and television, with notable appearances including works such as Playhouse 90 and 77 Sunset Strip.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Billie Burke.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
95 titles- The Wizard of Oz at Sphere (2025) as Glinda (archive footage)
- Ziegfeld on Film (2004) as Herself (archive footage)
- The Dark Side of the Rainbow (2000) as Glinda (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (1990) as Self (archive footage)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Sergeant Rutledge (1960) as Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate
- Pepe (1960) as Billie Burke
- The Young Philadelphians (1959) as Mrs. J. Arthur Allen
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- The Star Wagon (1957) as Mrs. Rutledge
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Small Town Girl (1953) as Mrs. Livingston
- Doc Corkle (1952) as Melinda
- Father's Little Dividend (1951) as Doris Dunstan
- Father of the Bride (1950) as Doris Dunstan
- The Boy From Indiana (1950) as Zelda Bagley
- Three Husbands (1950) as Jenny Bard Whittaker
- The Golden Twenties (1950) as Self (archive footage)
- Lights Out (1949)
- The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) as Mrs. Livingston Belney
- And Baby Makes Three (1949) as Mrs. Marvin Fletcher
- Billie Gets Her Man (1948) as Billie Baxter
- The Bachelor's Daughters (1946) as Molly Burns
- Breakfast in Hollywood (1946) as Mrs. Frances Cartwright
- The Cheaters (1945) as Clara Pidgeon
- Swing Out, Sister (1945) as Jessica Mariman
- So's Your Uncle (1943) as Aunt Minerva
- Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) as Mrs. Prescott
- Gildersleeve on Broadway (1943) as Mrs. Laura Chandler
- You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith (1943) as Aunt Harriet Crandall
- Girl Trouble (1942) as Celeste Rowland
- In This Our Life (1942) as Lavinia Timberlake
- They All Kissed the Bride (1942) as Mrs. Drew
- What's Cookin'? (1942) as Agatha Courtney
- The Wild Man of Borneo (1941) as Bernice Marshall, Boardinghouse Keeper
- The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) as Daisy Stanley
- Topper Returns (1941) as Mrs. Clara Topper
- One Night In Lisbon (1941) as Catherine Enfilden
- Irene (1940) as Mrs. Herman Vincent
- The Ghost Comes Home (1940) as Cora Adams
- Dulcy (1940) as Eleanor Forbes
- The Captain is a Lady (1940) as Blossy Stort
- And One Was Beautiful (1940) as Julia Lattimer
- Hullabaloo (1940) as Penny Merriweather
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) as Glinda
- Zenobia (1939) as Mrs. Tibbett
- Eternally Yours (1939) as Aunt Abby
- Remember? (1939) as Mrs. Bronson
- Bridal Suite (1939) as Mrs. Lillian McGill
- Merrily We Live (1938) as Mrs. Emily Kilbourne
- The Young in Heart (1938) as Marmy Carleton
- Everybody Sing (1938) as Diana Bellaire
- Topper Takes a Trip (1938) as Mrs. Clara Topper
- Topper (1937) as Mrs. Topper
- Parnell (1937) as Clara Wood
- Navy Blue and Gold (1937) as Mrs. Alyce Gates
- The Bride Wore Red (1937) as Contessa di Meina
- My American Wife (1936) as Mrs. Robert Cantillon
- Craig's Wife (1936) as Mrs. Frazier
- Piccadilly Jim (1936) as Eugenia Willis, Nesta's Sister
- Society Doctor (1935) as Mrs. Crane
- A Feather in Her Hat (1935) as Julia Trent Anders
- Becky Sharp (1935) as Lady Bareacres
- She Couldn't Take It (1935) as Mrs. Daniel Van Dyke
- After Office Hours (1935) as Mrs. Norwood
- Splendor (1935) as Clarissa
- Doubting Thomas (1935) as Paula Brown
- Forsaking All Others (1934) as Aunt Paula
- Finishing School (1934) as Mrs. Radcliffe
- We're Rich Again (1934) as Linda Page
- Where Sinners Meet (1934) as Eustasia
- Dinner at Eight (1933) as Millicent Jordan
- Only Yesterday (1933) as Julia Warren
- Christopher Strong (1933) as Lady Elaine Strong
- A Bill of Divorcement (1932) as Meg Fairfield
- Glorifying the American Girl (1929) as Self (uncredited)
- The Education of Elizabeth (1921) as Elizabeth Banks
- The Frisky Mrs. Johnson (1920) as Belle Johnson
- Away Goes Prudence (1920) as Prudence Thorne
- Sadie Love (1919) as Sadie Love
- Wanted: A Husband (1919) as Amanda Darcy Cole
- Good Gracious, Annabelle (1919) as Annabelle Leigh
- The Misleading Widow (1919) as Betty Taradine
- The Make-Believe Wife (1918) as Phyllis Ashbrook
- Let's Get a Divorce (1918) as Mme. Cyprienne Marcey
- In Pursuit of Polly (1918) as Polly Marsden
- Eve's Daughter (1918) as Irene Simpson-Bates
- Arms and the Girl (1917) as Ruth Sherwood
- The Land of Promise (1917) as Nora Marsh
- The Mysterious Miss Terry (1917) as Mavis Terry
- Gloria's Romance (1916) as Gloria Stafford (as Miss Billie Burke)
- Peggy (1916) as Peggy Cameron
- Oz as Self / Glinda the Good Witch (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Billie Burke best known for?
Billie Burke is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment! III (1994), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), Pepe (1960), The Young Philadelphians (1959).
When and where was Billie Burke born?
Billie Burke was born on August 7, 1884 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. They passed away on May 14, 1970.
How many credits does Billie Burke have?
Billie Burke has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2025.
What is Billie Burke's background in cinema and television?
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Billie Burke was an American actress born on August 7, 1884, in Washington, District of Columbia, and she passed away on May 14, 1970. She was famous on Broadway and radio, and appeared in both silent and sound films. Modern audiences primarily know her for her role as Glinda the Good Wi...