Jane Darwell
Acting Born Oct 15, 1879 Died Aug 13, 1967 Palmyra, Missouri, USA 185 credits
Biography
Jane Darwell was an American actress of stage, film, and television who was born Patti Woodard on October 15, 1879, in Palmyra, Missouri, and died on August 13, 1967, at the age of 87. During a career spanning half a century, she appeared in more than 100 major motion pictures, with 184 known credits on her filmography. Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her portrayal of the matriarch and leader of the Joad family, Ma Joad, in the 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. For her performance in this literary film adaptation, she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is also well known for her role as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins.
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Career overview
Jane Darwell was an American actress of stage, film, and television. Born Patti Woodard on October 15, 1879, in Palmyra, Missouri, she built a career that spanned half a century with known credits numbering 184 and appearances in more than 100 major motion pictures.
Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her portrayal of the matriarch and leader of the Joad family, Ma Joad, in the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, titled Früchte des Zorns in the German source, released in 1940. For this role, she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Another notable role in her career was her appearance as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins.
Throughout her extensive career in entertainment, Darwell worked across film, stage, and television before her death on August 13, 1967, at the age of 87.
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Frequent co-stars
Tony Denison
9 shared titles
Trond Fausa Aurvåg
7 shared titles
Caitlin Wachs
4 shared titles
Henry Fonda
3 shared titles
Russell Simpson
3 shared titles
Ward Bond
3 shared titles
Robert Gossett
2 shared titles
G.W. Bailey
2 shared titles
Michael Paul Chan
2 shared titles
Raymond Cruz
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Disney's Greatest Lullabies Volume 2
Mary Poppins
Burke's Law
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Hound-Dog Man
The Last Hurrah
MaverickThree Men on a HorseThe Greer Case
Prima DonnaThere's Always TomorrowGirls in PrisonSincerely, Willis Wade
Matinee TheaterScreen Director's PlayhouseHit the DeckA Life at Stake
LassieClimax!Climax!Studio 57The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Letter to LorettaThe Sun Shines BrightThe BigamistAffair with a StrangerIt Happens Every Thursday
The Ford Television TheatreCavalcade of AmericaWe're Not Married!
The Lemon Drop KidJourney Into LightExcuse My Dust
Wagon MasterCagedRedwood Forest TrailThe Daughter of Rosie O'GradyThe Second Face
Red Canyon
Studio One3 GodfathersTrain to Alcatraz
The Red StallionKeeper of the Bees
My Darling ClementineThree Wise FoolsThe Dark Horse
Captain Tugboat AnnieI Live in Grosvenor Square
Tender ComradeShe's a SweetheartThe Impatient YearsMusic in ManhattanReckless Age
The Ox-Bow IncidentGovernment GirlStage Door CanteenFamily FeudGildersleeve's Bad Day
All Through the NightThe Battle of MidwayThe Great GildersleeveHighways by NightThe Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
All That Money Can BuySmall Town DebThieves Fall OutPrivate Nurse
The Grapes of WrathBrigham YoungUntamedChad HannaYouth Will Be Served
Gone with the WindJesse JamesThe Rains CameGrand Jury SecretsMiracle on Main Street
Up the RiverLittle Miss BroadwayFive of a KindBattle of BroadwayThree Blind Mice
The Singing MarineDangerously YoursLove Is NewsSlave ShipLest We Forget
Captain JanuaryPrivate NumberThe Country DoctorPoor Little Rich GirlLaughing at Trouble
Wig-WagCurly TopThe Gilded LilyLife Begins at FortyMcFadden´s Flats
The Scarlet EmpressWonder BarBright EyesFinishing SchoolOne Night of Love
Full Filmography
185 titles- Disney's Greatest Lullabies Volume 2 (1986) as (archive footage)
- Mary Poppins (1964) as Bird Woman
- Burke's Law (1963) as Mrs. Leah Mulligan
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mamie Carnation
- Hound-Dog Man (1959) as Grandma Wilson
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Delia
- Maverick (1957) as Mrs. Knowles
- Three Men on a Horse (1957) as Lady on Bus
- The Greer Case (1957) as Annie Jackson
- Prima Donna (1956) as Lena
- There's Always Tomorrow (1956) as Mme Rogers
- Girls in Prison (1956) as Matron Jamieson
- Sincerely, Willis Wade (1956) as Mrs. Jacoby
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Lena
- Hit the Deck (1955) as Jenny
- A Life at Stake (1955) as Landlady
- Lassie (1954)
- Climax! (1954) as B. Cool
- Climax! (1954) as Mrs. Koestler
- Studio 57 (1954)
- The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954)
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Irene Townsend
- The Sun Shines Bright (1953) as Aurora Ratchitt
- The Bigamist (1953) as Mrs. Connelley
- Affair with a Stranger (1953) as Ma Stanton
- It Happens Every Thursday (1953) as Mrs. Spatch
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Mama Mumby
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Minna
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Mrs. Bush
- The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) as 'Nellie Thursday' Regan
- Journey Into Light (1951) as Mack
- Excuse My Dust (1951) as Mrs. Belden
- Wagon Master (1950) as Sister Ledyard
- Caged (1950) as Isolation Matron
- Redwood Forest Trail (1950) as Hattie Hickory
- The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950) as Mrs. Murphy
- The Second Face (1950) as Mrs. Lockridge
- Three Husbands (1950) as Mrs. Wurdeman
- Father's Wild Game (1950) as Minerva Bobbin
- Surrender (1950) as Molly Hale
- Red Canyon (1949) as Aunt Jane
- Studio One (1948) as Anna - Maid
- 3 Godfathers (1948) as Miss Florie
- Train to Alcatraz (1948) as Aunt Ella
- The Red Stallion (1947) as Aggie Curtis
- Keeper of the Bees (1947) as Mrs. Ferris
- My Darling Clementine (1946) as Kate Nelson
- Three Wise Fools (1946) as Sister Mary Brigid
- The Dark Horse (1946) as Aunt Hattie
- Captain Tugboat Annie (1945) as Tugboat Annie
- I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) as Mrs. Patterson
- Tender Comrade (1944) as Mrs. Henderson
- She's a Sweetheart (1944) as Mom
- The Impatient Years (1944) as Minister's wife
- Music in Manhattan (1944) as Mrs. Pearson
- Reckless Age (1944) as Mrs. Connors
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as Ma Grier
- Government Girl (1943) as Miss Trask (uncredited)
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as Jane Darwell
- Family Feud (1943) as The Mother
- Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943) as Aunt Emma Forrester
- All Through the Night (1942) as Mrs. Donahue
- The Battle of Midway (1942) as Narrator (voice)
- The Great Gildersleeve (1942) as Aunt Emma Forrester
- Highways by Night (1942) as Grandma Fogarty
- The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe (1942) as Mariah Clemm
- On the Sunny Side (1942) as Annie
- It Happened in Flatbush (1942) as Mrs. Maguire
- Young America (1942) as Grandmother Nora Campbell
- Men of Texas (1942) as Mrs.Scott aka Aunt Hattie
- All That Money Can Buy (1941) as Ma Stone
- Small Town Deb (1941) as Katie
- Thieves Fall Out (1941) as Grandma Allen
- Private Nurse (1941) as Miss Adams
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Ma Joad
- Brigham Young (1940) as Eliza Kent
- Untamed (1940) as Mrs. Maggie Moriarty
- Chad Hanna (1940) as Mrs. Bettina Huguenine
- Youth Will Be Served (1940) as Supervisor Stormer
- Gone with the Wind (1939) as Mrs. Merriwether
- Jesse James (1939) as Mrs. Samuels
- The Rains Came (1939) as Aunt Phoebe Smiley
- Grand Jury Secrets (1939) as Mrs. Keefe
- Miracle on Main Street (1939) as Mrs. Herman
- The Zero Hour (1939) as Sophie
- Inside Story (1939) as Aunt Mary Perkins
- 20,000 Men a Year (1939) as Mrs. Allen
- Unexpected Father (1939) as Mrs. Callahan
- Up the River (1938) as Mrs. Graham
- Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Miss Hutchins
- Five of a Kind (1938) as Nurse Waldron
- Battle of Broadway (1938) as Mrs. Rogers
- Three Blind Mice (1938) as Mrs. Kilian
- Time Out for Murder (1938) as Polly, Helen's supervisor
- The Jury's Secret (1938) as Mrs. Sheldon, Bill's Mother
- Change of Heart (1938) as Mrs. Thompson
- The Singing Marine (1937) as Ma Marine
- Dangerously Yours (1937) as Aunt Cynthia Barton
- Love Is News (1937) as Mrs. Flaherty
- Slave Ship (1937) as Mrs. Marlowe
- Lest We Forget (1937) as Archive Footage
- Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937) as Mrs. Krueger
- Nancy Steele Is Missing! (1937) as Mrs. Mary Flaherty
- Fifty Roads to Town (1937) as Mrs. Henry
- The Great Hospital Mystery (1937) as Nurse Sarah Keats
- Captain January (1936) as Eliza Croft
- Private Number (1936) as Mrs. Frisby
- The Country Doctor (1936) as Mrs. Graham
- Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) as Woodward
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Glory Bradford
- Little Miss Nobody (1936) as Eva Bradley
- Craig's Wife (1936) as Mrs. Harold
- White Fang (1936) as Maud Mahoney
- Star for a Night (1936) as Mrs. Martha Lind
- Paddy O'Day (1936) as Dora
- The First Baby (1936) as Mrs. Ellis
- Wig-Wag (1935) as Mrs. Winchell - Jack's Mother
- Curly Top (1935) as Mrs. Denham
- The Gilded Lily (1935) as Woman in Crowd at Southampton (uncredited)
- Life Begins at Forty (1935) as Ida Harris
- McFadden´s Flats (1935) as Nora McFadden
- One More Spring (1935) as Mary Sweeney
- Navy Wife (1935) as Mrs. Louise Keats
- Metropolitan (1935) as Grandma
- We're Only Human (1935) as Mrs. Walsh
- The Scarlet Empress (1934) as Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
- Wonder Bar (1934) as Baroness (uncredited)
- Bright Eyes (1934) as Mrs. Higgins
- Finishing School (1934) as Maude (uncredited)
- One Night of Love (1934) as Mrs. Barrett - Mary's Mother
- Gentlemen Are Born (1934) as Landlady
- Once to Every Woman (1934) as Mrs. Wood (uncredited)
- Heat Lightning (1934) as Gladys
- Fashions of 1934 (1934) as Customer at Maison Elegance (uncredited)
- Change of Heart (1934) as Mrs. McGowan
- Let's Talk It Over (1934) as Mrs. O'Keefe
- Desirable (1934) as Frederick's Mother
- Journal of a Crime (1934) as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
- David Harum (1934) as Mrs. Woolsey (uncredited)
- Blind Date (1934) as Ma Taylor
- Happiness Ahead (1934) as Mrs. Davis - The Landlady
- Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) as Mrs. O'Day
- Tomorrow's Youth (1934) as Mary O'Brien
- Million Dollar Ransom (1934) as Ma McGarry (Uncredited)
- Cross Country Cruise (1934) as Mrs. O'Hara (Uncredited)
- The White Parade (1934) as Sailor
- Embarrassing Moments (1934) as Mrs. Stuckelberger
- Before Dawn (1933) as Mrs. Marble
- Bondage (1933) as Mrs. Elizabeth Wharton
- Murders in the Zoo (1933) as Banquet Guest (uncredited)
- Design for Living (1933) as Curtis' Housekeeper
- He Couldn't Take It (1933) as Mrs. Case
- Roman Scandals (1933) as Roman Spa Proprietress (uncredited)
- Bed of Roses (1933) as Mrs. Webster -- Head Prison Matron (uncredited)
- Air Hostess (1933) as Ma Kearny
- One Sunday Afternoon (1933) as Mrs. Lind
- Ann Vickers (1933) as Mrs. Gage (uncredited)
- Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933) as Mrs. Spence - Landlady (uncredited)
- King for a Night (1933) as Mrs. Williams
- Only Yesterday (1933) as Mrs. Lane
- The Girl in 419 (1933) as Nurse Esmond
- Emergency Call (1933) as Nurse Brown (uncredited)
- Child of Manhattan (1933) as Mrs. McGonagle
- Jennie Gerhardt (1933) as Boardinghouse Keeper (uncredited)
- The Past of Mary Holmes (1933)
- Back Street (1932) as Mrs. Adolph Schmidt
- Hot Saturday (1932) as Mrs. Brock
- Young America (1932) as School Teacher (Uncredited)
- Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) as Alice's Aunt
- Women Won't Tell (1932) as Mrs. Walter Robinson
- Huckleberry Finn (1931) as Widow Douglas
- Ladies of the Big House (1931) as Mrs. Turner
- Tom Sawyer (1930) as Widow Douglas
- Little Church Around the Corner (1923) as Anxious Woman at Mine Disaster (uncredited)
- The Restless Sex (1920) as Housekeeper (uncredited)
- Hypocrites (1915) as Madam (uncredited)
- After Five (1915) as Mrs. Russell - Aunt Diddy
- The Goose Girl (1915) as Irma
- The Rug Maker's Daughter (1915) as Mrs. Van Buren
- The Rose of the Rancho (1914) as Señora Castro Kenton, Juanita's Mother
- The Only Son (1914) as Mrs. Brainerd
- The Master Mind (1914) as Milwaukee Sadie
- Brewster's Millions (1914) as Mrs. Dan De Mille
- Ready Money (1914) as Mrs. Tyler
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jane Darwell best known for?
Jane Darwell is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mary Poppins (1964), Burke's Law (1963), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962), The Last Hurrah (1958).
When and where was Jane Darwell born?
Jane Darwell was born on October 15, 1879 in Palmyra, Missouri, USA. They passed away on August 13, 1967.
How many credits does Jane Darwell have?
Jane Darwell has accumulated over 185 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 1986.
What is Jane Darwell's background in cinema and television?
Jane Darwell was an American actress of stage, film, and television who was born Patti Woodard on October 15, 1879, in Palmyra, Missouri, and died on August 13, 1967, at the age of 87. During a career spanning half a century, she appeared in more than 100 major motion pictures, with 184 known credits on her filmography...
Jane Darwell by the numbers
185credits
171films
14TV series
1914–1986active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Gone with the Wind (1939) as Mrs. Merriwether — aged about 59
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mamie Carnation — aged about 82
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Mama Mumby — aged about 72
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Ma Joad — aged about 60
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as Ma Grier — aged about 63
- Mary Poppins (1964) as Bird Woman — aged about 84
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