 Sir John Gielgud |
Born: April 14 th, 1904 South Kensington,
London, England Remarks: John was considered to be the century’s greatest Shakespearean actor and played dukes and kings, cardinals and popes on the stage, screen, and television. Yet ironically, he won his only Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in “Arthur”…. as butler and valet to a drunken playboy! And he richly deserved it! A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Gielgud made his stage debut in 1921 at the Old Vic and literally captured the London stage with his Hamlet during the 1929-30 season. His film debut came in 1924 with “Who is That Man?” Gielgud was also nominated for an Oscar in 1964 for his performance in “Becket” as Louis VII of France. He became Sir John Gielgud in 1953 when he was knighted for his contribution to the arts. Films: (72) also included “Richard III (1955), “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” (1937), “The Shoes of the Fisherman”(1968) and “Gannake” (1982) |
 Arthur Treacher |
Born: July 23 rd, 1894 Brighton, East Sussex
England. Remarks: Arthur was the epitome of cinematic English butlers! While he studied to be a lawyer like his father, the stage beckoned and soon after serving in WWII he turned to acting on the London stage. In 1926 Treacher came to America first to Broadway and then Hollywood where he was cast as a butler and was rarely given the chance to play anything else! He became P.G. Modehouse’s impeccable butler Jeeves where he served David Niven in “Thank You, Jeeves” (1936) and the sequel “Step lively Jeeves” (1937). In later years, he lent his name to the Arthur Treacher Fish and Chips Fast Food chain. Films: (75) Also included “Here Comes the Groom” (1934), “The Women in Red” (1935), “Heidi” (1937), “National Velvet” (1944) and “Mary Poppins”(1964) |
.jpg) Melville Cooper |
Born: October 15 th, 1896 Birmingham, England Remarks: Melville Cooper made his stage debut in 1914 at Stratford-on-Avon but WWI interrupted his acting career when he was wounded in battle and captured by the Germans. He made his British film debut in 1930 and four years later his US film debut in “The Private Life of Don Juan”. Cooper played many character parts from butlers to crooks, coroners to naval officers. In “Pride and Prejudice” he was memorable as the pompous Mr. Collins who courted Greer Garson as Elizabeth. But his butler roles always seemed to stand out. Films: (67) also included “The Bishop Misbehaves” (1935), “All Rights Reserved” (1938), “Too Many Husbands” (1940), “Rebecca” (1940), “Random Harvest” (1942) and “Bundle of Joy” (1956) |
 Halliwell Hobbes |
Born: November 16 th, 1877 Stratford-on-Avon,
England Remarks: After appearing on the London stage, where he worked with stage greats Mrs. Patrick Campell and Ellen Terry, Hobbes left England for the Broadway stage in 1923. He made his film debut in “Lucky in Love” (1929) and went on to become a permanent fixture in Hollywood Films where he played English butlers in over 20 pictures. But the actor always felt his most successful work had been on the stage. Television also claimed his services in the 190s in quest spots on the Alcoa Hour, Studio One, and Robert Montgomery Presents. Films: (109) also include “Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931), “Maudalay” (1934), “Rose Marie” (1936), “Gaslight” (1944), “Mr. Skeffington” (1944), and “That Forsyte Woman” (1949). |
 Eric Blore |
Born: December 23 rd 1887 London England Remarks: Eric was a butler or “gentlemen’s gentlemen” on both stage and screen and the lifted eyebrow and petulant pout was his trademark for over 50 years. He left college in London to work as an insurance agent white getting a foothold in an acting career and toured Australia as part of his apprenticeship. British films followed and then Blore was brought to Hollywood by RKO for “Flying Down to Rio” in 1933 where he hung out with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire for four more movies. He is also Jameson, the light-fingered valet in 10 of the “Lone Wolf” films for Columbia Studios Films: (85) also included “Smartest Girl in Town” (1936), “The Lady Eve” (1941),” Sullivan’s Travels” (1941), “Kitty” (1945), and “Abie’s Irish Rose” (1946). |
 Alan Mowbray |
Born: August18th, 1896 London England Remarks: Alan took up acting in 1923 as a desperation move when he ran out of money. He went on tour with the Theater Guild, writing and directing some of the plays he stared in and ended up in Hollywood. Besides butlers and valets, his film resume included everything from British peerage to conmen (he played British ambassador John Hay in “The King and I” in 1956), versatility being his strong point. In 1960, his 28-year-old daughter Patricia married his best friend, 60-year-old Douglas Dumbrille! Films: (142) also included “Becky Sharp” (1935), “Rose Marie” (1936), “That Hamilton Woman” (1941), “My Darling Clementine” (1946), “Captain From Castile” (1947) and “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1969) |
 Dame Judith Anderson |
Born: February 10 th, 1897 Adelaide South Australia Remarks: Can anyone forget Judith’s chilling portrayal of the foreboding Miss Damers in “Rebecca”?… The housekeeper from hell? Well, of course, Judith did a lot more then clean house. She made her stage debut in Sydney (1915) and her New York debut in 1918. But soon her enormous talent made her one of the leading actresses of the contemporary stage, a success more lasting then her film credits. In 1936 she played Gertrude to John Gielgud’s Hamlet, Lady MacBeth in “MacBeth” (1937, 1941), and in 1947 and 1949 the title role of “Medea” Her first film appearance came in 1933 in “Blood Money”. Later Judith found television also fertile ground. She was named Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1960. Films: (27) also include “Kings Row” (1942), “Edge of Darkness” (1943), “The Strange Love of Martha Her” (1946), “The Furies” (1950), and “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock” (1984) |
 Una O’Conner |
Born: October 23 rd 1880 Belfast (Northern)
Ireland Remarks: Una began as a member of the Abbey Players in Ireland then moved on to the London stage where she was cast in the housekeeper role in Noel Coward’s “Carelcade”. When Fox films wanted to do the film version in 1924, they knew they had to have Una reprise the role. Thereafter she played Irish, Cockney, or Scottish servants in many of her movies, always able to reduce employers to putty with one of those icy contemptuous glances. She also developed an ear-piercing shriek that could shatter chandeliers. Two of her more memorable housekeeper roles: Mrs. Breen in “Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945), and Janet McKenzie in “Witness for the Prosecution”(1957). She was also the lady in the tobacco shop in “Random Harvest”(1942). Films: (67) also include “The Barretts of Wimpole Street”(1934), “Bride of Frankenstein”(1935), “The Informer”(1935), “Rose Marie”(1936), “Of Human Bondage”(1946) and “The Corpse Came C.O.D.” (1947). |
 Connie Gilchrist |
Born: February 2 nd, 1902 Brooklyn New York Remarks: While she made her stage debut in London at 16 and did repertory in France and on the European Continent, Connie never lost that touch of Brooklyn Heights. Her acting abilities were in her genes (her mother was stage actress Martha Daniels) and she paid her dues on stage before ever reaching Broadway in 1935. On a pre Broadway tour in “Ladies and Gentlemen” her performance caught the eye of producer Leland Hayward who got her a long-term contract with MGM in 1940. She was the Scott’s cook in “Valley of Decision”(1945) with Gregory Peck and Greer Garson…and Mrs. Jenson in the television series “The Real McCoys” (1957). Films: (89) also include “Betty the Kind”(1941), “Johnny Eager” (1942), “Presently Lily Mars” (1943), “The Hucksters” (1947), and “Some Come Running” (1958). |
 Edith Barrett |
Born: January 19 th, 1907 Roxbury, Massachusetts Remarks: Born Edith Williams, she changed her name to that of her maternal grandfather, Lawrence Barrett, the famous Shakespearean actor, and made her stage debut at 16. The play was “A House Divided”. In 1938 she married Vincent Prince on the stage of the Mercury Theater where they were both appearing in an Orson Welles production of “The Shoemaker’s Holiday.” Later that year she followed Vincent to Hollywood and made her film debut in “Ladies in Retirement”(1941). Her role of Mrs. Fairfax in “Jane Eyre” was one her best. Films: (20) also included “The Ghost Ship” (1943), “The Song of Bernadette” (1943), “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), and “The Swan” (1956). |
 Marjorie Main |
Born: February 24th, 1890 Acton, Indiana Remarks: Known for her salty crusty screen persona, Marjorie used it to full advantage as Katie the maid in “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944) 5 years before she made the first of her memorable Ma Kettle films (1949-1957). Her father was a minister so to save him embarrassment she changed her name when she went on stage. After vaudeville and stock productions, she made her Broadway debut in 1916 and her film debut in 1931 . In 1937 she reprised her stage role as Baby Face Martin in the film version of “Dead End” with Humphrey Bogart and even sang with Bert Lahr in “Rose Marie” (1936) starring our favorite duo Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. Films: (86) also included “Naughty Marietta” (1935), “The Women” (1939), “Honky Tonk” (1941), “Heaven Can Wait” (1943), “The Harvey Girls” (1946) and “Friendly Persuasion” (1956). |
 Louise Beavers |
Born: March 8 th, 1902 Cincinnati, Ohio Remarks: Louise began her career as a minstrel show singer but when she took the job as actress Leatrice Joy’s real life maid she literally began her new career as a reel-life maid! As a black actress she was relegated to those roles for the rest of her acting career even though she actually co-starred with Claudette Colbert in the 1934 movie “Imitation of Life.” In 1952 she segued to television with “Beulah” (195201953), “Make Room for Daddy” (1953-1954) and “Swamp Fox” (1959). Louise Beavers was a fine actress who died too soon to see the tide turning for black actors. Films: (159) also included “Annabelle’s Affairs” (1931), “42 nd Street”(1933), “Gambling Lady”(1934), “Brother Rat” (1938), “Reap the Wild Wind”(1942) and “The Jackie Robinson Story” (1950). |
