Elsa Lanchester
Biography
Elsa Lanchester was a British actress with a long career in theatre, film, and television. She studied dance as a child and began performing in theatre and cabaret after the First World War. Lanchester met Charles Laughton in 1927 and they were married two years later. She played small roles in British films, including a role with Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII. The couple moved to Hollywood after Laughton's success in American films. Lanchester played small film roles in Hollywood. She was born on October 28, 1902, in Lewisham, London, England, and died on December 26, 1986.
Career overview
Elsa Lanchester began her career in theatre and cabaret after the First World War. She established her career over the following decade. She met the actor Charles Laughton in 1927, and they were married two years later. Lanchester played small roles in British films, including the role of Anne of Cleves with Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).
The couple moved to Hollywood due to Laughton's success in American films. Lanchester played small film roles. She became sufficiently famous for Columbia to invite her into the recording studio to make 78 rpm discs of four of the numbers she sang in these revues, with piano arrangement and accompaniment by Kay Henderson: "Please Sell No More Drink...". Lanchester's known credits include 113 film and television roles.
Lanchester's acting career spanned multiple countries and mediums, including theatre, film, and television. She began her career in Britain and later moved to Hollywood. Her known credits demonstrate her versatility and range as an actress.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
117 titles- Charmed Lives: A Family Romance (2028) as Self (archive footage)
- Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014) as Mary Shelley / The Monster's Mate (archive footage)
- Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- The American Nightmare (2000) as Self
- Universal Horror (1998) as (archive footage)
- Turnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteers (1993) as Self
- Commercial Entertainment Product (1992) as The Monster's Bride
- Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate
- Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Die Laughing (1980) as Sophie
- The Hollywood Greats: Charles Laughton (1978) as Self
- Murder by Death (1976) as Jessica Marbles
- Terror in the Wax Museum (1973) as Julia Hawthorn
- Arnold (1973) as Hester
- Willard (1971) as Henrietta Stiles
- Night Gallery (1970)
- Nanny and the Professor (1970) as Aunt Henrietta
- Then Came Bronson (1969) as Hattie Calter
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969) as Mrs. Wochuk
- Me, Natalie (1969) as Miss Dennison
- In Name Only (1969) as Gertrude Caruso
- My Dog, the Thief (1969) as Mrs. Formby
- Rascal (1969) as Mrs. Satterfield
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Here's Lucy (1968) as Mumsie Westcott
- Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) as Emily Stowecroft
- Mannix (1967) as Portia Penhaven
- Mannix (1967) as Edna Barrington
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1967) as Madame Neherina
- Mondo Hollywood (1967)
- The John Forsythe Show (1965) as Margaret Culver
- That Darn Cat! (1965) as Mrs. MacDougall
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Dr. Agnes Dabree
- Mary Poppins (1964) as Katie Nanna
- Pajama Party (1964) as Aunt Wendy
- Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Chambermaid
- Burke's Law (1963) as Mrs. Ormsby
- Burke's Law (1963) as Bessie Mopes
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Aggie McGregor
- Noah and the Flood (1962) as Noah's wife
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Follow the Sun (1961)
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Miss Creshaw
- Startime (1959) as Self
- Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958) as Mother Goose
- Bell, Book and Candle (1958) as Aunt Queenie Holroyd
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957) as Miss Plimsoll
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- The Glass Slipper (1955) as Widow Sonder
- Alice in Wonderland (1955) as Red Queen
- Heidi (1955) as Fräulein Rottenmeier
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Mrs. Formby
- 3 Ring Circus (1954) as The Bearded Lady
- Hell's Half Acre (1954) as Lida O'Reilly
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Hanna Winters
- The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953) as Thelma
- Omnibus (1952)
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Rosie Bowker
- Les Miserables (1952) as Madame Magloire
- Androcles and the Lion (1952) as Megaera
- Dreamboat (1952) as Mathilda Coffey
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Edna Grundy
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Red Queen
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Betsey Monk, the Widow
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Emily
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Miss Mabel
- Frenchie (1950) as Countess
- Mystery Street (1950) as Mrs. Smerrling
- Buccaneer's Girl (1950) as Madame Brizar
- The Petty Girl (1950) as Dr. Crutcher
- The Secret Garden (1949) as Martha
- The Ed Wynn Show (1949) as Self
- The Inspector General (1949) as Maria
- Come to the Stable (1949) as Amelia Potts
- Studio One (1948) as Jenny Pratt
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Big Clock (1948) as Louise Patterson
- The Bishop's Wife (1947) as Matilda
- Northwest Outpost (1947) as Princess 'Tanya' Tatiana
- The Razor's Edge (1946) as Miss Keith
- The Spiral Staircase (1946) as Mrs. Oates
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Passport to Destiny (1944) as Ella Muggins
- Lassie Come Home (1943) as Mrs. Helen Carraclough
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Mamie
- Thumbs Up (1943) as Emily "Emmy" Ffinch
- Tales of Manhattan (1942) as Mrs. Smith
- Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942) as Bristol Isabel
- Ladies in Retirement (1941) as Emily Creed
- Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940) as Self
- Vessel of Wrath (1938) as Martha Jones
- Rembrandt (1936) as Hendrickje Stoffels
- Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate
- Naughty Marietta (1935) as Madame d'Annard
- David Copperfield (1935) as Clickett
- The Ghost Goes West (1935) as Miss Shepperton
- The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) as Anne of Cleves
- Potiphar's Wife (1931) as Thérèse
- The Stronger Sex (1931) as Thompson
- The Officers' Mess (1931) as Cora Melville
- The Love Habit (1931) as Matilde
- Ashes (1930) as Girl
- Comets (1930) as Herself
- Mr. Smith Wakes Up (1929) as Their Daughter
- Blue Bottles (1928) as Elsa
- The Tonic (1928) as Elsa
- The Constant Nymph (1928) as Lady
- Daydreams (1928) as Elsa / Heroine in Dream Sequence
- One of the Best (1927) as Kitty
- The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama (1924) as Beatrice de Carolle
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Elsa Lanchester best known for?
Elsa Lanchester is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Murder by Death (1976), Terror in the Wax Museum (1973), Willard (1971), Night Gallery (1970).
When and where was Elsa Lanchester born?
Elsa Lanchester was born on October 28, 1902 in Lewisham, London, England, UK. They passed away on December 26, 1986.
How many credits does Elsa Lanchester have?
Elsa Lanchester has accumulated over 117 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1924 to 2028.
What is Elsa Lanchester's background in cinema and television?
Elsa Lanchester was a British actress with a long career in theatre, film, and television. She studied dance as a child and began performing in theatre and cabaret after the First World War. Lanchester met Charles Laughton in 1927 and they were married two years later. She played small roles in British films, including...
Elsa Lanchester by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Red Queen — aged about 48
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957) as Miss Plimsoll — aged about 54
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Mrs. Formby — aged about 51
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Edna Grundy — aged about 48
- Night Gallery (1970) — aged about 67
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Aggie McGregor — aged about 59
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