Elizabeth Patterson
Biography
Mary Elizabeth Patterson was an American theatre, film, and television character actress born on November 22, 1874, in Savannah, Tennessee. She gained popular recognition late in her career for playing the elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on the television comedy series I Love Lucy. In 1926, at the age of 51, she was cast in her first movie, the silent film The Boy Friend. She transitioned successfully into the era of talkies and remained a very busy actress in Hollywood throughout the 1930s, averaging more than five films a year during that decade, usually in supporting roles. Her screen credits from that time include Tarnished Lady, Husband's Holiday, and A. She passed away on January 31, 1966, at the age of 91.
Career overview
Mary Elizabeth Patterson was an American theatre, film, and television character actress. Born on November 22, 1874, in Savannah, Tennessee, she gained popular recognition late in her career by playing the elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on the television comedy series I Love Lucy. Throughout her career, she built an extensive list of acting credits in film and television.
In 1926, at the age of 51, Patterson was cast in her first movie, the silent film The Boy Friend. She successfully transitioned into the era of talkies and remained a very busy actress in Hollywood throughout the 1930s. During that decade, she averaged more than five films a year, typically appearing in supporting roles. Her screen credits from this period include Tarnished Lady, Husband's Holiday, and A.
Patterson passed away on January 31, 1966, at the age of 91. Over the course of her life and career, she established a recognized presence across multiple entertainment mediums, ranging from early silent cinema through the rise of talking pictures and into the television era.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
127 titles- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Mrs. Melvane
- Tall Story (1960) as Connie
- Johnny Staccato (1959)
- New York Confidential (1959)
- The Oregon Trail (1959) as Maria Cooper
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958) as Mrs. Kale
- Portrait of a Murderer (1958) as Mrs. Finch
- Pal Joey (1957) as Mrs. Casey
- The Ninth Day (1957)
- The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956)
- Rendezvous in Black (1956) as Mrs. Middleton
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Miss Bessie
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Grandmother
- Playwrights '56 (1955)
- Las Vegas Shakedown (1955) as Mary Raff
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1955) as Aunt Polly
- Climax! (1954) as Aunt Polly
- Climax! (1954) as Jane Connor
- Climax! (1954) as Nellie Eldredge
- Climax! (1954) as Mrs. Garr
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Madame Elaine
- Three Lives (1953) as Mrs. Adams
- Adventures of Superman (1952)
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Ma / Mother Baker
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Mrs. Couche
- Washington Story (1952) as Miss Dee
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Mrs. Willoughby
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Mrs. Trumbull
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Dr. Gilley
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Mrs. Sargent
- Bright Leaf (1950) as Tabitha Singleton
- Little Women: Jo's Story (1950) as Aunt March
- Katie Did It (1950) as Aunt Priscilla Wakely
- Little Women: Meg's Story (1950) as Aunt March
- Little Women (1949) as Hannah
- Intruder in the Dust (1949) as Miss Eunice Habersham
- Song of Surrender (1949) as Mrs. Beecham
- Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948) as Cora
- Welcome Stranger (1947) as Mrs. Gilley
- The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) as Catherine Dennison
- Out of the Blue (1947) as Miss Spring
- I've Always Loved You (1946) as Mrs. Sompter
- The Secret Heart (1946) as Mrs. Stover
- Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946) as Cousin Emma
- Lady on a Train (1945) as Aunt Charlotte Waring
- Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) as Martha - Libby's Aunt
- Follow the Boys (1944) as Annie
- Together Again (1944) as Jessie
- The Sky's the Limit (1943) as Mrs. Fisher
- I Married a Witch (1942) as Margaret
- Her Cardboard Lover (1942) as Eva
- The Vanishing Virginian (1942) as Grandma
- Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942) as Mrs. Daly
- My Sister Eileen (1942) as Grandma Sherwood
- Lucky Legs (1942) as Annabelle Dinwiddie
- Almost Married (1942) as Aunt Matilda Manning
- Belle Starr (1941) as Sarah
- Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941) as Aunt Lily Lou Bethany
- Tobacco Road (1941) as Ada Lester
- Remember the Night (1940) as Aunt Emma "Emmie"
- Michael Shayne: Private Detective (1940) as Aunt Olivia
- Earthbound (1940) as Becky Tilden
- Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) as Rebecca
- Adventure in Diamonds (1940) as Nellie
- Who Killed Aunt Maggie? (1940) as Maggie Ambler
- The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) as Mrs. MacGregor
- Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939) as Aunt Blanche
- The Cat and the Canary (1939) as Aunt Susan
- Bad Little Angel (1939) as Mrs. Perkins
- Our Leading Citizen (1939) as Aunt Tillie
- Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939) as Aunt Blanche
- Bluebeard's 8th Wife (1938) as Aunt Hedwige
- Sons of the Legion (1938) as Grandmother Lee
- Bulldog Drummond's Peril (1938) as Aunt Blanche
- Scandal Street (1938) as Ada Smith
- Sing, You Sinners (1938) as Mrs. Daisy Beebe aka Mother Beebe
- Night of Mystery (1937) as Mrs. Tobias Greene
- High, Wide and Handsome (1937) as Grandma Cortlandt
- Hold 'Em Navy (1937) as Grandma Holland
- Night Club Scandal (1937) as Mrs. Elvira Ward
- Her Master's Voice (1936) as Mrs. Ellie Martin
- Small Town Girl (1936) as Ma Brannan
- Timothy's Quest (1936) as Vilda Cummins
- Go West Young Man (1936) as Aunt Kate Barnaby
- The Return of Sophie Lang (1936) as Araminta Sedley
- Old Hutch (1936) as Sarah Hutchins
- So Red the Rose (1935) as Mary Cherry
- Men Without Names (1935) as Ella Ferris
- Chasing Yesterday (1935) as Mlle. Prefere
- Hide-Out (1934) as 'Ma' Miller
- Infernal Machine (1933) as Elinor's Aunt
- Dinner at Eight (1933) as Miss Copeland
- The Story of Temple Drake (1933) as Aunt Jennie
- Secret of the Blue Room (1933) as Mary, Cook
- Golden Harvest (1933) as Lydia
- Hold Your Man (1933) as Miss Tuttle
- They Just Had to Get Married (1933) as Lizzie
- Doctor Bull (1933) as Aunt Patricia Banning
- Love Me Tonight (1932) as First Aunt
- Man Wanted (1932) as Miss Harper
- So Big! (1932) as Mrs. Tebbit (uncredited)
- New Morals for Old (1932) as Aunty Doe
- Miss Pinkerton (1932) as Juliet Mitchell
- A Bill of Divorcement (1932) as Aunt Hester Fairfield
- No Man of Her Own (1932) as Mrs. Randall
- Life Begins (1932) as Mrs. Tubby (uncredited)
- Boo (1932) as Susan (edited from "The Cat Creeps")
- Guilty as Hell (1932) as Elvira Ward
- They Call It Sin (1932) as Mrs. Cullen
- Breach of Promise (1932) as Cora Pugmire
- The Expert (1932) as Miss Crackenwald
- Husband's Holiday (1931) as Mrs. Caroline Reid
- The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) as Baroness Von Schwedel (uncredited)
- Heaven on Earth (1931) as Vergie
- Tarnished Lady (1931) as Mrs. Courtney
- Daddy Long Legs (1931) as Mrs. Lippett
- Penrod and Sam (1931) as Schoolteacher (uncredited)
- The Cat Creeps (1930) as Susan
- The Big Party (1930) as Mrs. Goldfarb
- The Lone Star Ranger (1930) as Sarah Martin
- Harmony at Home (1930) as Emma Haller
- Words and Music (1929) as Dean Crockett
- South Sea Rose (1929) as Sarah
- The Dancing Town (1928) as Ma Pepperall
- The Boy Friend (1926) as Mrs. Harper
- The Return of Peter Grimm (1926) as Mrs. Bartholomey
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Elizabeth Patterson best known for?
Elizabeth Patterson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960), Tall Story (1960), Johnny Staccato (1959), Pursuit of Jade (2026).
When and where was Elizabeth Patterson born?
Elizabeth Patterson was born on November 21, 1874 in Savannah, Tennessee, USA. They passed away on January 31, 1966.
How many credits does Elizabeth Patterson have?
Elizabeth Patterson has accumulated over 127 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1926 to 1960.
What is Elizabeth Patterson's background in cinema and television?
Mary Elizabeth Patterson was an American theatre, film, and television character actress born on November 22, 1874, in Savannah, Tennessee. She gained popular recognition late in her career for playing the elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on the television comedy series I Love Lucy. In 1926, at the age of 51, she was ...