Elsa Lanchester

Elsa Lanchester

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (October 28, 1902 – December 26, 1986) was a British actress with a long career in theatre, film and television and former dancer. Lanchester studied dance as a child and after the First World War began performing in theatre and cabaret, where she established her career over the following decade. She met the actor Charles Laughton in 1927, and they were married two years later. She began playing small roles in British films, including the role of Anne of Cleves with Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). Laughton's success in American films resulted in the couple moving to Hollywood, where Lanchester played small film roles. Her role as the bride in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), brought her recognition, and came to be one of the roles most closely associated with her throughout her life. Lanchester played supporting roles through the 1940s and 1950s. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Come to the Stable (1949) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957), the last of twelve films in which she appeared with Laughton. Following Laughton's death in 1962, Lanchester resumed her career with appearances in such Disney films as Mary Poppins (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965) and Blackbeard's Ghost (1968). The horror film, Willard, (1971) was highly successful and one of her last roles was in Murder By Death (1976). Description above from the Wikipedia article Elsa Lanchester, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Known For

Filmography

2018

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/27/2018

2014

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
as Mary Shelley / The Monster's Mate (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 8/1/2014

2009

Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood
Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/1/2009

2007

Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 5/16/2007

2000

The American Nightmare
The American Nightmare
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/11/2000

1998

Universal Horror
Universal Horror
as (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/8/1998

1993

Turnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteers
Turnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteers
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/25/1993

1992

Commercial Entertainment Product
Commercial Entertainment Product
as The Monster's Bride
Movie - Released: 11/24/1992

1991

Movie
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate
Movie - Released: 1/1/1991

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 2/25/1983

1980

Die Laughing
Die Laughing
as Sophie
Movie - Released: 4/1/1980

1976

Murder by Death
Murder by Death
as Jessica Marbles
Movie - Released: 6/23/1976

1973

Arnold
Arnold
as Hester
Movie - Released: 11/16/1973
Terror in the Wax Museum
Terror in the Wax Museum
as Julia Hawthorn
Movie - Released: 5/2/1973

1971

Willard
Willard
as Henrietta Stiles
Movie - Released: 7/30/1971

1970

Night Gallery
Night Gallery
TV - Released: 12/16/1970
Nanny and the Professor
Nanny and the Professor
as Aunt Henrietta
TV - Released: 1/21/1970

1969

My Dog, the Thief
My Dog, the Thief
as Mrs. Formby
Movie - Released: 9/21/1969
Rascal
Rascal
as Mrs. Satterfield
Movie - Released: 6/11/1969
Me, Natalie
Me, Natalie
as Miss Dennison
Movie - Released: 7/13/1969
In Name Only
In Name Only
as Gertrude Caruso
Movie - Released: 11/25/1969
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
as Mrs. Wochuk
TV - Released: 9/14/1969
Then Came Bronson
Then Came Bronson
TV - Released: 9/17/1969

1968

Blackbeard's Ghost
Blackbeard's Ghost
as Emily Stowecroft
Movie - Released: 2/8/1968
Here's Lucy
Here's Lucy
as Mumsie Westcott
TV - Released: 9/23/1968
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 6/6/1968

1967

Easy Come, Easy Go
Easy Come, Easy Go
as Madame Neherina
Movie - Released: 5/28/1967
Mannix
Mannix
as Portia Penhaven
TV - Released: 9/16/1967
Mannix
Mannix
as Edna Barrington
TV - Released: 9/16/1967

1965

That Darn Cat!
That Darn Cat!
as Mrs. MacDougall
Movie - Released: 12/2/1965
TV
The John Forsythe Show
as Margaret Culver
TV - Released: 9/13/1965

1964

Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
as Katie Nanna
Movie - Released: 12/17/1964
Pajama Party
Pajama Party
as Aunt Wendy
Movie - Released: 11/11/1964
Honeymoon Hotel
Honeymoon Hotel
as Chambermaid
Movie - Released: 6/3/1964

1963

Burke's Law
Burke's Law
as Mrs. Ormsby
TV - Released: 9/20/1963
Burke's Law
Burke's Law
as Bessie Mopes
TV - Released: 9/20/1963

1962

Movie
The Flood
as Noah's wife
Movie - Released: 5/5/1962
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
TV - Released: 10/1/1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
as Aggie McGregor
TV - Released: 9/20/1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
TV - Released: 10/1/1962

1961

Ben Casey
Ben Casey
TV - Released: 10/2/1961
Follow the Sun
Follow the Sun
TV - Released: 9/17/1961

1959

Adventures in Paradise
Adventures in Paradise
as Miss Creshaw
TV - Released: 10/5/1959

1958

Bell, Book and Candle
Bell, Book and Candle
as Aunt Queenie Holroyd
Movie - Released: 12/25/1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Shirley Temple's Storybook
as Mother Goose
TV - Released: 1/12/1958

1957

Witness for the Prosecution
Witness for the Prosecution
as Miss Plimsoll
Movie - Released: 12/17/1957
TV
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
as Self
TV - Released: 7/29/1957

1956

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
TV - Released: 10/5/1956

1955

The Glass Slipper
The Glass Slipper
as Widow Sonder
Movie - Released: 3/24/1955
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland
as Red Queen
Movie - Released: 10/22/1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
The 20th Century Fox Hour
TV - Released: 10/5/1955

1954

Hell's Half Acre
Hell's Half Acre
as Lida O'Reilly
Movie - Released: 6/1/1954
3 Ring Circus
3 Ring Circus
as The Bearded Lady
Movie - Released: 12/22/1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Mrs. Formby
TV - Released: 10/27/1954

1953

The Girls of Pleasure Island
The Girls of Pleasure Island
as Thelma
Movie - Released: 4/1/1953
General Electric Theater
General Electric Theater
as Hanna Winters
TV - Released: 2/1/1953

1952

Androcles and the Lion
Androcles and the Lion
as Megaera
Movie - Released: 12/1/1952
Dreamboat
Dreamboat
as Mathilda Coffey
Movie - Released: 7/26/1952
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
as Madame Magloire
Movie - Released: 8/14/1952
The Ford Television Theatre
The Ford Television Theatre
as Rosie Bowker
TV - Released: 10/2/1952

1951

I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
as Edna Grundy
TV - Released: 10/15/1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Red Queen
TV - Released: 12/24/1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Betsey Monk, the Widow
TV - Released: 10/5/1951

1950

Buccaneer's Girl
Buccaneer's Girl
as Madame Brizar
Movie - Released: 3/1/1950
Mystery Street
Mystery Street
as Mrs. Smerrling
Movie - Released: 6/23/1950
The Petty Girl
The Petty Girl
as Dr. Crutcher
Movie - Released: 8/17/1950
Frenchie
Frenchie
as Countess
Movie - Released: 12/25/1950
TV
Lux Video Theatre
as Emily
TV - Released: 10/2/1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV - Released: 1/30/1950
TV
Star Time
as Self
TV - Released: 9/2/1950
TV
Lux Video Theatre
as Miss Mabel
TV - Released: 10/2/1950

1949

The Inspector General
The Inspector General
as Maria
Movie - Released: 12/31/1949
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden
as Martha
Movie - Released: 4/30/1949
Come to the Stable
Come to the Stable
as Amelia Potts
Movie - Released: 7/27/1949

1948

The Big Clock
The Big Clock
as Louise Patterson
Movie - Released: 3/18/1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
TV - Released: 6/20/1948
Studio One
Studio One
as Jenny Pratt
TV - Released: 11/7/1948

1947

The Bishop's Wife
The Bishop's Wife
as Matilda
Movie - Released: 12/25/1947
Northwest Outpost
Northwest Outpost
as Princess 'Tanya' Tatiana
Movie - Released: 6/25/1947

1946

The Spiral Staircase
The Spiral Staircase
as Mrs. Oates
Movie - Released: 1/26/1946
The Razor's Edge
The Razor's Edge
as Miss Keith
Movie - Released: 11/19/1946

1944

Passport to Destiny
Passport to Destiny
as Ella Muggins
Movie - Released: 1/31/1944

1943

Lassie Come Home
Lassie Come Home
as Mrs. Helen Carraclough
Movie - Released: 12/1/1943
Thumbs Up
Thumbs Up
as Emily "Emmy" Ffinch
Movie - Released: 7/5/1943
Forever and a Day
Forever and a Day
as Mamie
Movie - Released: 1/21/1943

1942

Tales of Manhattan
Tales of Manhattan
as Elsa (Mrs Charles) Smith
Movie - Released: 8/5/1942
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake
as Bristol Isabel
Movie - Released: 1/29/1942

1941

Ladies in Retirement
Ladies in Retirement
as Emily Creed
Movie - Released: 9/9/1941

1940

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/31/1940

1938

Vessel of Wrath
Vessel of Wrath
as Martha Jones
Movie - Released: 3/4/1938

1936

Rembrandt
Rembrandt
as Hendrickje Stoffels
Movie - Released: 11/6/1936

1935

Bride of Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein
as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate
Movie - Released: 4/20/1935
Naughty Marietta
Naughty Marietta
as Madame d'Annard
Movie - Released: 3/29/1935
The Ghost Goes West
The Ghost Goes West
as Miss Shepperton
Movie - Released: 12/17/1935
David Copperfield
David Copperfield
as Clickett
Movie - Released: 1/18/1935

1933

The Private Life of Henry VIII
The Private Life of Henry VIII
as Anne of Cleves
Movie - Released: 8/17/1933

1931

The Love Habit
The Love Habit
as Matilde
Movie - Released: 1/16/1931
Potiphar's Wife
Potiphar's Wife
as Thérèse
Movie - Released: 3/28/1931
The Stronger Sex
The Stronger Sex
as Thompson
Movie - Released: 2/26/1931
Movie
The Officers' Mess
as Cora Melville
Movie - Released: 5/8/1931

1930

Movie
Ashes
Movie - Released: 12/31/1930
Comets
Comets
as Herself
Movie - Released: 9/19/1930

1928

Blue Bottles
Blue Bottles
as Elsa
Movie - Released: 5/5/1928
The Constant Nymph
The Constant Nymph
as Lady
Movie - Released: 2/20/1928
Daydreams
Daydreams
as Elsa / Heroine in Dream Sequence
Movie - Released: 5/1/1928
The Tonic
The Tonic
as Elsa
Movie - Released: 5/1/1928

1927

Movie
One of the Best
as Kitty
Movie - Released: 11/1/1927

1924

The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama
The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama
as Beatrice de Carolle
Movie - Released: 1/1/1924