Elsa Lanchester
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Biography
Gifted character actress, often in eccentric yet wistful parts, in the US from 1934. Perhaps best remembered for her dual roles in "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935), as both the monster's mate and his "creator," author Mary Shelley, Lanchester also brought her slightly dizzy, perennially scene-stealing charm to films as diverse as "Rembrandt" (1937), "Mystery Street" (1950), "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958) and "Murder by Death" (1976). Lanchester was married to actor Charles Laughton from 1929 until his death in 1962; besides working memorably together with him in "Rembrandt" she also played the nurse who endlessly fidgets over his misbehaving barrister (both of them received Oscar nominations) in Billy Wilder's delightful "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957).
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Life Events
1919
At age 16, organized the Children's Theatre (date approximate)
1923
Stage acting debut alongside John Gielgud in "The Insect Play
1926
Appeared in the musical revue "Riverside Nights"
1927
Acted on stage opposite Laughton in "Mr. Prohack"
1927
Made screen acting debut in the silents "One of the Best" and "The Constant Nymph"
1928
Starred in three short films written by H G Wells, "Bluebottles", "The Tonic" and "Daydreams"
1931
Played Laughton's 12-year-old daughter in the London stage play "Payment Deferred"; made Broadway debut in the role, although neither production was successful
1932
Appeared as Anne of Cleves to Laughton's Tudor king in "The Private Life of Henry VIII"
1933
Acted in several plays with Laughton at the Old Vic in London
1933
Offered courtesy contract by MGM
1934
Immigrated to USA
1934
Played the maid Clickett in "David Copperfield"; Laughton had originally been offered role of Mr. Micawber but withdrew and was replaced by W C Fields
1935
Portrayed author Mary Shelley and the titular "The Bride of Frankenstein"; film reunited her with James Whale who directed; role eventually became her best known
1936
Starred with Laughton in "Rembrandt"
1938
Had what she felt was her best her screen role in "The Beachcomber/Vessel of Wrath", playing a spinster missionary
1941
Acted on Broadway in "They Walk Alone"
1944
Played leading role in the RKO film "Passport to Destiny"
1946
Appeared as a spinster secretary opposite Tyrone Power in "The Razor's Edge"
1946
Cast the cook in the thriller "The Spiral Staircase"
1947
Played a maid in "The Bishop's Wife", starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven
1949
Received first Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for "Come to the Stable"; played an artista who allows a group of nuns to use her stable as a dispensary
1954
Cast a circus bearded lady in the Martin & Lewis vehicle "Three-Ring Circus"
1955
Acted in a TV musical version of "Heidi" (NBC)
1955
Played the stepmother in "The Glass Slipper", a musical retelling of the Cinderella story; Estelle Winwood also in cast
1957
Earned second Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for "Witness for the Prosecution"; Laughton also nominated as Best Actor
1958
Returned to the stage opposite Laughton in "The Party"
1958
Supported Kim Novak and James Stewart in "Bell, Book and Candle"
1959
Debuted one-woman show "Elsa Lanchester in Person", staged by Laughton
1964
Appeared in the Disney feature "Mary Poppins"
1964
Returned to acting after Laughton's 1962 death with guest appearance on the TV show "Burke's Law"
1967
Dueted with Elvis Presley in "Easy Come, Easy Go"
1971
Played Bruce Davison's nagging mother in "Willard"
1976
Reteamed with Estelle Winwood in the Neil Simon-penned spoof of detective fiction "Murder By Death"; played Dame Jessie Marbles
1980
Final film, "Die Laughing"
1983
Suffered a stroke that left her incapacitated
1998
Portrayed by Rosalind Ayres in Bill Condon's award-winning fictional biography of James Whale, "Gods and Monsters"
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