Job Actress
Years active 1895-1976
Known for Widows, mothers, dowagers and grandmothers, who were usually practical types
Top Roles Ma Bailey, Ma Smith, Mrs. Greer, Miss Oliver, Rose Elliott
Top GenresDrama, Romance, Comedy, Film Adaptation, Western, Historical
Top TopicsBook-Based, World War II, Based on Play
Top Collaborators (Producer), (Director), (Producer), (Director)
Shares birthday with Bing Crosby, Mary Astor, Virginia Vincent  see more..

Beulah Bondi Overview:

Legendary character actress, Beulah Bondi, was born Beulah Bondy on May 3, 1888 in Chicago, IL. Bondi appeared in over 85 film and TV roles. Her best known films include four in which she played James Stewart's mother: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Of Human Hearts (1938), and Vivacious Lady (1938). Another notable Bondi role was as Lucy Cooper, a mother abandoned by her children, in Leo McCarey's Depression-era melodrama Make Way for Tomorrow (1937). Bondi died at the age of 92 on Jan 11, 1981 in Woodland Hills, CA and was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.

MINI BIO:

After a highly successful stage career, Beulah Bondi spent most of her Hollywood like playing widows, mothers, dowagers and grandmothers, who were usually practical types. Ironically however, in real life she never married.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Bondi was nominated for two Oscars, she never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1936Best Supporting ActressThe Gorgeous Hussy (1936)Rachel JacksonNominated
1938Best Supporting ActressOf Human Hearts (1938)Mary WilkinsNominated
.

She was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

BlogHub Articles:

By Amanda Garrett on Dec 15, 2017 From Old Hollywood Films

Today, I'm writing about the life and career of character actor . This article is part of the What a Character Blogathon hosted by Outspoken & Freckled, Once Upon a Screen, and Paula's Cinema Club. Old Hollywood character actor appeared in around 50 movies during h... Read full article


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Beulah Bondi Quotes:

Rhoda Cooper: Why don't you face facts, Grandma?
Lucy Cooper: Oh, Rhoda!
[Pats her hand]
Lucy Cooper: When you're seventeen and the world's beautiful, facing facts is just as slick fun as dancing or going to partis, but when you're seventy... well, you don't care about dancing, you don't think about parties anymore, and about the only fun you have left is pretending that there ain't any facts to face, so would you mind if I just went on pretending?


[Cherry apologizes for almost injuring Mrs. Medford]
Cherry Chester: If I ever did, I'd blow my brains out!
Mrs. Boyce Medford: I know. And then I'd have to tidy up afterward.


Mrs. Greer: Good afternoon, my dear. I don't think I've had the pleasure of seeing you here before.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: I'm Virginia Cunningham. I came from Five.
Mrs. Greer: Nobody comes to One from Five. Even I had to spend a few days in Two before coming here. And I, my dear, have money.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: That must be convenient.
Mrs. Greer: My husband, Mr. Greer, is very wealthy. I have more jewels than I can possibly wear. You, of course, are a charity patient?
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Oh, no. It so happens that my husband, Mr. Cunningham, is very wealthy. My diamonds simply weigh me down.
Mrs. Greer: I have the Hope Diamond!
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: I have the Hopeless Emerald! It carries the Cunningham curse. You've probably read about it.
Mrs. Greer: Mr. Greer...
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Your husband?
Mrs. Greer: Mr. Greer, my husband, considered buying it, but it has a flaw. You see, you can't put an imperfect stone on the most beautiful hands in the world.


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Beulah Bondi Facts
Died in her California home of injuries she sustained after tripping over her cat.

Though she often played loving mothers and wives, she never married nor had children.

Always said her greatest regret was being passed over for the role of Ma Joad in John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

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