Gladys Cooper
Biography
Dame Gladys Constance Cooper was an English actress, theatrical manager, and producer whose career spanned seven decades across stage, film, and television. Born on December 18, 1888, in Chiswick, England, UK, her life spanned until her death on November 17, 1971, at the age of 82. She began her career on stage as a teenager in Edwardian musical comedy and pantomime, and by World War I she was starring in dramatic roles and silent films. She managed the Playhouse Theatre from 1917 to 1933, playing many roles there. By the 1930s, she was starring steadily in both the West End and on Broadway, and in 1940 she moved to Hollywood, where she achieved success in various character roles. Her known acting credits include fifty-nine items.
Career overview
Dame Gladys Constance Cooper was an English actress, theatrical manager, and producer whose career spanned seven decades across stage, film, and television. Born on December 18, 1888, she began her professional journey as a teenager performing in Edwardian musical comedy and pantomime. By the time of the First World War, she had transitioned into starring in dramatic roles and silent films.
In addition to her acting work, Cooper served as a manager of the Playhouse Theatre from 1917 to 1933, taking on numerous roles during her tenure. By the early 1920s, she earned critical praise for her performances in plays written by W. Somerset Maugham and other prominent authors. Throughout the 1930s, she maintained a steady presence as a star on both the West End and Broadway stages.
Cooper relocated to Hollywood in 1940, where she successfully established herself in a variety of character roles in film. Her extensive screen and television work included appearances in productions such as Playhouse 90, The Twilight Zone, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Throughout her long life and career, she achieved recognition as a prolific performer before her death on November 17, 1971.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
62 titles- The Switch (1976) as Grand Duchess Ozerov
- The Persuaders! (1971) as Grand Duchess Ozerov
- The Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens (1970) as Mrs. Ternan
- A Nice Girl Like Me (1969) as Aunt Mary
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Callan (1967)
- The Happiest Millionaire (1967) as Aunt Mary
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) as Mama Rosha
- The Rogues (1964) as Margaret St. Clair
- My Fair Lady (1964) as Mrs. Higgins
- Burke's Law (1963) as Harriet Richards
- The Outer Limits (1963) as Mrs. Palmer
- The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) as Mrs. Karoudjian
- Pygmalion (1963) as Mrs. Higgins
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mrs. Raydon
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Laura
- Going My Way (1962)
- Ben Casey (1961)
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Millie McKenzie
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Elva Keene
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Wanda Dunn
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Mrs. Maude Harper
- Naked City (1958) as Mrs. Ernest Johns, Sr.
- Separate Tables (1958) as Mrs. Railton-Bell
- Circle of the Day (1957) as Mrs. Millet
- The Mystery of Thirteen (1957) as Mrs. Palmer
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Marguerite Gillespie
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955) as Lady Binfield
- At Sword's Point (1952) as Queen Anne
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mrs. Higgins
- Thunder on the Hill (1951) as Mother Superior
- The Secret Garden (1949) as Mrs. Medlock
- Madame Bovary (1949) as Madame Dupuis
- The Pirate (1948) as Aunt Inez
- Homecoming (1948) as Mrs. Kirby
- The Bishop's Wife (1947) as Mrs. Hamilton
- Green Dolphin Street (1947) as Sophie Patourel
- The Green Years (1946) as Grandma Leckie
- The Cockeyed Miracle (1946) as Amy Griggs
- Beware of Pity (1946) as Mrs. Klara Condor
- The Valley of Decision (1945) as Clarissa Scott
- Love Letters (1945) as Beatrice Remington
- The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) as Jean Ashwood
- Mrs. Parkington (1944) as Alice, Dutchess de Brancourt
- The Song of Bernadette (1943) as Sister Marie Therese Vauzous
- Mr. Lucky (1943) as Veronica Steadman
- Princess O'Rourke (1943) as Miss Haskell
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Mrs. Barringer
- Now, Voyager (1942) as Mrs. Henry Vale
- Eagle Squadron (1942) as Aunt Emmeline
- This Above All (1942) as Iris Cathaway
- That Hamilton Woman (1941) as Lady Francis Nelson
- The Black Cat (1941) as Myrna Hartley
- The Gay Falcon (1941) as Maxine Wood
- Rebecca (1940) as Beatrice Lacy
- Kitty Foyle (1940) as Mrs. Strafford
- The Iron Duke (1934) as Madame - Duchess d'Angoulème
- Bonnie Prince Charlie (1923) as Flora MacDonald
- The Bohemian Girl (1922) as Arlene Arnheim
- Masks and Faces (1917) as Mabel Vane
- The Sorrows Of Satan (1917) as Lady Sybil Elton
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Gladys Cooper best known for?
Gladys Cooper is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Persuaders! (1971), The Stepford Wives (2004), La Voleuse (1966), The Happiest Millionaire (1967).
When and where was Gladys Cooper born?
Gladys Cooper was born on December 18, 1888 in Chiswick, England, UK. They passed away on November 17, 1971.
How many credits does Gladys Cooper have?
Gladys Cooper has accumulated over 62 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1922 to 1976.
What is Gladys Cooper's background in cinema and television?
Dame Gladys Constance Cooper was an English actress, theatrical manager, and producer whose career spanned seven decades across stage, film, and television. Born on December 18, 1888, in Chiswick, England, UK, her life spanned until her death on November 17, 1971, at the age of 82. She began her career on stage as a te...
Gladys Cooper by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mrs. Higgins — aged about 62
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Millie McKenzie — aged about 70
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Elva Keene — aged about 70
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Wanda Dunn — aged about 70
- The Rogues (1964) as Margaret St. Clair — aged about 75
- Rebecca (1940) as Beatrice Lacy — aged about 51
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