Ruth Donnelly
Biography
Ruth Donnelly was an American stage and film actress. Born on May 17, 1896, in North Trenton, New Jersey, USA. Her father was the mayor of Trenton, New Jersey. She began her stage career at the age of 17 in 1913, in The Quaker Girl. Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan. Donnelly made her first film appearance in 1913 and went on to have a Hollywood career that lasted from 1931 to 1957. She often played the wife of Guy Kibbee in her films. Donnelly's acting credits include roles in films such as Footlight Parade, Wonder Bar, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and The Bells of St. Mary's.
Career overview
Ruth Donnelly began her stage career at the age of 17 in 1913, appearing in The Quaker Girl. Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who cast her in numerous comic-relief roles in musicals such as Going Up in 1917.
Donnelly made her first film appearance in 1913, but her Hollywood career began in earnest in 1931. She continued to act in films until 1957. During this period, she often appeared alongside Guy Kibbee in various movies, including Footlight Parade, Wonder Bar, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Donnelly's filmography also includes the role of Sister Michael in The Bells of St. Mary's, which starred Bing Crosby. Throughout her acting career, Donnelly accumulated a total of 90 known credits.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Way to the Gold (1957) as Mrs. Williams
- Autumn Leaves (1956) as Liz Eckhart
- A Lawless Street (1955) as Molly Higgins
- The Spoilers (1955) as Duchess
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Ma Dolan
- The Secret of Convict Lake (1951) as Mary Fancher
- I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951) as Glory White
- The Wild Blue Yonder (1951) as Maj. Ida Winton
- Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950) as Martha
- The Snake Pit (1948) as Ruth
- Fighting Father Dunne (1948) as Kate Mulvey
- Millie's Daughter (1947) as Helen Reilly
- The Fabulous Texan (1947) as Utopia Mills
- Little Miss Broadway (1947) as Minerva Van Dorn
- The Ghost Goes Wild (1947) as Aunt Susan Beecher
- In Old Sacramento (1946) as Zebby Booker
- Cross My Heart (1946) as Eve Harper
- Cinderella Jones (1946) as Cora Elliot
- The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) as Sister Michael
- Pillow to Post (1945) as Mrs. Grace Wingate
- Breakdowns of 1944 (1944) as Self
- This Is the Army (1943) as Mrs. O'Brien
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as Nurse Hamilton
- Sleepy Lagoon (1943) as Sarah Rogers
- Johnny Doughboy (1942) as Biggy Biggsworth
- Petticoat Politics (1941) as Lil Higgins
- Model Wife (1941) as Mrs. Milo Everett
- You Belong to Me (1941) as Emma
- The Gay Vagabond (1941) as Kate Dixon
- Sailors on Leave (1941) as Aunt Navy
- Rise and Shine (1941) as Mame Bacon
- The Roundup (1941) as Polly Hope
- Scatterbrain (1940) as Miss Stevens
- My Little Chickadee (1940) as Aunt Lou
- Meet the Missus (1940) as Lil Higgins
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) as Emma Hopper
- The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939) as Effie Perkins
- The Family Next Door (1939) as Mrs. Rose Pierce
- A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Nora Marko
- Army Girl (1938) as Leila Kennett
- The Affairs of Annabel (1938) as Josephine
- Meet the Girls (1938) as Daisy Watson
- Annabel Takes a Tour (1938) as Josephine
- Personal Secretary (1938) as Grumpy
- Roaring Timber (1937) as Aunt Mary
- Portia on Trial (1937) as Jane Wilkins
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) as Mabel Dawson
- Song and Dance Man (1936) as Patsy O'Madigan
- More Than a Secretary (1936) as Helen Davis
- Fatal Lady (1936) as Melba York
- Cain and Mabel (1936) as Aunt Mimi
- Behind the Scenes of Cain and Mabel (1936) as Self
- 13 Hours by Air (1936) as Vi Johnson
- Hands Across the Table (1935) as Laura
- Red Salute (1935) as Mrs. Edith Rooney
- Personal Maid's Secret (1935) as Lizzie
- The White Cockatoo (1935) as Mrs. Byng
- Maybe It's Love (1935) as Florrie Sands
- Traveling Saleslady (1935) as Mrs. Twitchell
- Alibi Ike (1935) as Bess
- Housewife (1934) as Dora Wilson
- Wonder Bar (1934) as Emma Simpson
- Romance in the Rain (1934) as Miss Sparks
- Happiness Ahead (1934) as Anna
- Merry Wives of Reno (1934) as Lois
- Heat Lightning (1934) as Mrs. Ashton-Ashley
- Mandalay (1934) as Mrs. George Peters
- Footlight Parade (1933) as Mrs. Gould
- Convention City (1933) as Mrs. Ellerbe
- Private Detective 62 (1933) as Amy Moran
- Ladies They Talk About (1933) as Noonan
- Bureau of Missing Persons (1933) as Gwendolyn 'Pete' Harris
- Ever in My Heart (1933) as Lizzie
- Sing, Sinner, Sing (1933) as Margaret 'Maggie' Flannigan
- Just Around the Corner (1933) as Mrs. Sears
- Female (1933) as Miss Frothingham
- Goodbye Again (1933) as Richview Hotel Maid
- Employees' Entrance (1933) as Miss Hall, Anderson's secretary
- Lilly Turner (1933) as Edna Yokum
- Hard to Handle (1933) as Lil Waters
- Havana Widows (1933) as Mrs. Emily Jones
- How to Break 90 #6: Fine Points (1933) as Herself
- Jewel Robbery (1932) as Berta, Teri's Maid (uncredited)
- Make Me a Star (1932) as The Countess
- Blessed Event (1932) as Miss Stevens
- The Rainbow Trail (1932) as Widow Abigail
- Wicked (1931) as Fanny
- The Spider (1931) as Mrs. Wimbledon
- Rubber Heels (1927) as Fanny Pratt