Josephine Crowell
Biography
Josephine Bonaparte Crowell was a Canadian character actress of the silent film era. Born on January 11, 1859, in Nova Scotia, Canada, she also performed under the name Josephine Bonep. Before her career in film, she appeared in vaudeville as early as 1879. Active on screen between 1912 and 1929, she appeared in more than 90 films, frequently portraying maternal or elderly figures. Among her notable screen work is her dramatic portrayal of the mother in D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation, as well as performances in Intolerance, Home, Sweet Home, The Merry Widow, The Man Who Laughs, Hot Water, Speedy, and Wrong Again. She passed away on July 27, 1932, at the age of 73.
Career overview
Josephine Bonaparte Crowell was a Canadian character actress of the silent film era. Born on January 11, 1859, in Nova Scotia, Canada, she also appeared under the name Josephine Bonep. Her performance career began in vaudeville as early as 1879 before transitioning to the screen. Over the course of her career, she appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1929, often portraying maternal or elderly figures.
On screen, she is best remembered for her dramatic portrayal of the mother in D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation released in 1915. Her extensive filmography also features comedic performances in Harold Lloyd's Speedy and Hot Water, as well as roles in The Man Who Laughs, The Merry Widow, Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages, Wrong Again, and Home, Sweet Home. With known acting credits numbering in the eighties according to archival databases, she established a prolific body of work in silent cinema.
Crowell passed away on July 27, 1932, at the age of seventy-three. Throughout her decades in the entertainment industry, from her early days on the vaudeville stage to her extensive contributions to silent films, she remained a recognizable character actress of her era.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
83 titles- I Am Not a Racist (2019) as The Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Css van Alstyne in 'The Sporting Venus' (arch. foot.) (uncred.)
- Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy (1962) as (archive footage)
- Wrong Again (1929) as Painting owner's mother
- The Man Who Laughs (1928) as Queen Anne
- Scrambled Weddings (1928) as Her Mother
- Speedy (1928) as Lady in Car (uncredited)
- Dad's Choice (1928) as A Bargain Hunter
- Fighting Love (1927) as Princess Torini
- No Publicity (1927) as Mrs. Van Pelt
- Mantrap (1926) as Mrs. McGavity
- Dog Shy (1926) as The Girl's Mother
- Bred in Old Kentucky (1926) as Landlady
- For Wives Only (1926) as Housekeeper
- Padlocked (1926) as Mrs. Galloway
- Yellow Fingers (1926) as Mrs. Van Kronk
- The Merry Widow (1925) as Queen Milena
- No Father to Guide Him (1925) as Jimmy's Mother-in-Law
- Zander the Great (1925) as Orphanage Trustee (uncredited)
- Welcome Home (1925) as Miss Pringle
- The Sporting Venus (1925) as Countess Van Alstyne
- The Splendid Crime (1925) as Mary
- New Brooms (1925)
- Flowing Gold (1924) as Ma Briskow
- Hot Water (1924) as Wifey's Mother Winnifred Ward Stokes
- Ashes of Vengeance (1923) as Catherine de Medicis
- Yesterday's Wife (1923) as Mrs. Harbours
- Rupert of Hentzau (1923) as Mother Holf
- Nobody's Money (1923) as Mrs. Judson
- Main Street (1923) as Widow Bogart
- Minnie (1922) as Stepmother
- Shattered Idols (1922) as Mrs. Chichester
- Lights of the Desert (1922) as Ma Curtis
- A Homespun Vamp (1922) as Mrs. Dobbs
- Seeing's Believing (1922) as Martha Scribbins
- Live and Let Live (1921) as Mrs. Boland
- Home Stuff (1921) as Ma Deep
- Bunty Pulls the Strings (1921) as Susie Simpson
- Don't Neglect Your Wife (1921) as Mrs. Abott
- The Snob (1921)
- The Six Best Cellars (1920) as Mrs. Teak
- Held by the Enemy (1920) as Sarah Hayne
- Dangerous to Men (1920) as Henrietta
- Flames of the Flesh (1920) as Madame Binnat
- Crooked Streets (1920) as Mrs. Griswold
- Half a Chance (1920) as Mother Rogers
- Puppy Love (1919) as Mercy Winters
- Diane of the Green Van (1919) as Aunt Agatha
- Peppy Polly (1919) as Mrs. Crafton
- The Greatest Question (1919) as Mrs. Cain
- Josselyn's Wife (1919) as Aunt Elsie
- Hearts of the World (1918) as The Mother
- Stella Maris (1918) as Aunt Gladys Linden
- Women's Weapons (1918) as Margaret
- The Bravest Way (1918) as Janitress
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917) as Miranda Sawyer
- Cheerful Givers (1917) as Mrs. Harriet Gray
- The Fair Barbarian (1917) as Lady Theobald
- The Bad Boy (1917) as Mrs. Bates
- Betsy's Burglar (1917) as Mrs. Dunn
- Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916) as Catherine de Médici
- The Old Folks at Home (1916) as Mrs. Coburn
- The House Built Upon Sand (1916) as Mrs. Shockley
- The Little School Ma'am (1916) as Widow Larkin
- Martha's Vindication (1916) as Jennie Hawkins
- A Child of the Paris Streets (1916) as The Landlady
- Pillars of Society (1916) as Karsten's Mother (as Josephine B. Crowell)
- The She-Devil (1916)
- The Birth of a Nation (1915) as Mrs. Cameron
- A Man and His Mate (1915)
- A Yankee from the West (1915) as Mrs. Stuvic, an Illinois Matron
- Old Mother Grey (1915) as Old Mother Grey
- The Craven (1915) as Mrs. Walton
- The Folly of Anne (1914)
- Home, Sweet Home (1914) as Payne's Mother
- The Tear That Burned (1914) as The Blind Mother
- The Sisters (1914)
- The Avenging Conscience (1914) as The Sweetheart's Mother (uncredited)
- The Mountain Rat (1914) as Mrs. Williams - Douglas's Mother
- The Hop Smugglers (1914) as Helen's Mother
- The Painted Lady (1914) as The Mother
- The Better Way (1914) as Sunbeam's Employer
- The School Teacher and the Waif (1912)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Josephine Crowell best known for?
Josephine Crowell is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Big Parade of Comedy (1964), Hearts of the World (1918), Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916), The Birth of a Nation (1915).
When and where was Josephine Crowell born?
Josephine Crowell was born on January 10, 1859 in Nova Scotia, Canada. They passed away on July 27, 1932.
How many credits does Josephine Crowell have?
Josephine Crowell has accumulated over 83 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2019.
What is Josephine Crowell's background in cinema and television?
Josephine Bonaparte Crowell was a Canadian character actress of the silent film era. Born on January 11, 1859, in Nova Scotia, Canada, she also performed under the name Josephine Bonep. Before her career in film, she appeared in vaudeville as early as 1879. Active on screen between 1912 and 1929, she appeared in more t...
Josephine Crowell by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Css van Alstyne in 'The Sporting Venus' (arch. foot.) (uncred.) — aged about 105
- Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916) as Catherine de Médici — aged about 57
- Hearts of the World (1918) as The Mother — aged about 59
- The Birth of a Nation (1915) as Mrs. Cameron — aged about 56
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