Elsa Lanchester

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

October 28, 1902

Died

December 26, 1986 (age 84)

Place of Birth

Lewisham, London, England, UK

Also Known As

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester

Elizabeth Lanchester Sullivan

Elsa Lanchester

Biography

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

Known For

Filmography

2025FilmLegacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Moviesas Self - (archive footage)2018FilmScotty and the Secret History of Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)2014FilmMonster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Filmas Mary Shelley / The Monster's Mate (archive footage)2007FilmFamous Monster: Forrest J Ackermanas Self (archive footage)2000FilmThe American Nightmareas Self1998FilmUniversal Horroras (archive footage)1993FilmTurnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteersas Self1992FilmCommercial Entertainment Productas The Monster's Bride1991FilmFrankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbookas Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate1988FilmHollywood Scandals and Tragedies1983FilmHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footageas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)1980FilmDie Laughingas Sophie1976FilmMurder by Deathas Jessica Marbles1973FilmArnoldas Hester1973FilmTerror in the Wax Museumas Julia Hawthorn1971FilmWillardas Henrietta Stiles1970TVNight Gallery1970TVNanny and the Professoras Aunt Henrietta1969FilmIn Name Onlyas Gertrude Caruso1969FilmMy Dog, the Thiefas Mrs. Formby1969TVThen Came Bronsonas Hattie Calter1969TVThe Bill Cosby Showas Mrs. Wochuk1969FilmMe, Natalieas Miss Dennison1969FilmRascalas Mrs. Satterfield1968TVHere's Lucyas Mumsie Westcott1968TVThe Dick Cavett Showas Self - Guest1968FilmBlackbeard's Ghostas Emily Stowecroft1967TVMannixas Portia Penhaven1967FilmMondo Hollywood1967FilmEasy Come, Easy Goas Madame Neherina1965FilmThat Darn Cat!as Mrs. MacDougall1965TVThe John Forsythe Showas Margaret Culver1964FilmMary Poppinsas Katie Nanna1964FilmPajama Partyas Aunt Wendy1964TVThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.as Dr. Agnes Dabree1964FilmHoneymoon Hotelas Chambermaid1963TVBurke's Lawas Mrs. Ormsby1962TVThe Merv Griffin Showas Self1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1962TVThe Alfred Hitchcock Houras Aggie McGregor1962FilmNoah and the Floodas Noah's wife1961TVBen Casey1961TVFollow the Sun1959TVAdventures in Paradiseas Miss Creshaw1958FilmBell, Book and Candleas Aunt Queenie Holroyd1958TVShirley Temple's Storybookas Mother Goose1957FilmWitness for the Prosecutionas Miss Plimsoll1957TVTonight Starring Jack Paaras Self1956TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Showas Self1955FilmAlice in Wonderlandas Red Queen1955TVThe 20th Century Fox Hour1955FilmHeidias Fräulein Rottenmeier1955FilmThe Glass Slipperas Widow Sonder1954Film3 Ring Circusas The Bearded Lady1954TVThe Wonderful World of Disneyas Mrs. Formby1954FilmHell's Half Acreas Lida O'Reilly1953FilmThe Girls of Pleasure Islandas Thelma1953TVGeneral Electric Theateras Hanna Winters1952FilmAndrocles and the Lionas Megaera1952TVThe Ford Television Theatreas Rosie Bowker1952FilmLes Miserablesas Madame Magloire1952FilmDreamboatas Mathilda Coffey1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Red Queen1951TVI Love Lucyas Edna Grundy1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Betsey Monk, the Widow1950FilmFrenchieas Countess1950TVLux Video Theatreas Emily1950TVStar Timeas Self1950FilmThe Petty Girlas Dr. Crutcher1950FilmMystery Streetas Mrs. Smerrling1950FilmBuccaneer's Girlas Madame Brizar1950TVRobert Montgomery Presents1949FilmThe Inspector Generalas Maria1949TVThe Ed Wynn Showas Self1949FilmCome to the Stableas Amelia Potts1949FilmThe Secret Gardenas Martha1948TVStudio Oneas Jenny Pratt1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self1948FilmThe Big Clockas Louise Patterson1947FilmThe Bishop's Wifeas Matilda1947FilmNorthwest Outpostas Princess 'Tanya' Tatiana1946FilmThe Razor's Edgeas Miss Keith1946FilmThe Spiral Staircaseas Mrs. Oates1944FilmPassport to Destinyas Ella Muggins1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter1943FilmLassie Come Homeas Mrs. Helen Carraclough1943FilmThumbs Upas Emily "Emmy" Ffinch1943FilmForever and a Dayas Mamie1942FilmTales of Manhattanas Mrs. Smith1942FilmSon of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blakeas Bristol Isabel1941FilmLadies in Retirementas Emily Creed1940FilmCavalcade of the Academy Awardsas Self1938FilmVessel of Wrathas Martha Jones1936FilmRembrandtas Hendrickje Stoffels1935FilmThe Ghost Goes Westas Miss Shepperton1935FilmBride of Frankensteinas Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's Mate1935FilmNaughty Mariettaas Madame d'Annard1935FilmDavid Copperfieldas Clickett1933FilmThe Private Life of Henry VIIIas Anne of Cleves1931FilmThe Officers' Messas Cora Melville1931FilmPotiphar's Wifeas Thérèse1931FilmThe Stronger Sexas Thompson1931FilmThe Love Habitas Matilde1930FilmAshesas Girl1930FilmCometsas Herself1928FilmBlue Bottlesas Elsa1928FilmDaydreamsas Elsa / Heroine in Dream Sequence1928FilmThe Tonicas Elsa1928FilmThe Constant Nymphas Lady1927FilmOne of the Bestas Kitty1924FilmThe Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodramaas Beatrice de Carolle

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