EP
Elizabeth Patterson
Actor
Born November 21, 1874Died January 31, 1966 (91 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Patterson (November 22, 1874 – January 31, 1966) was an American theatre, film, and television character actress who gained popular recognition late in her career playing the elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on the television comedy series I Love Lucy.
In 1926, at the age of 51, Patterson was cast in her first movie, a silent film, The Boy Friend. Transitioning successfully into the era of "talkies", she remained a very busy actress in Hollywood throughout the 1930s, averaging more than five films a year during that decade, usually in supporting roles. A few of her screen credits at that time include Tarnished Lady; Husband's Holiday; A Bill of Divorcement; So Big!; The Story of Temple Drake; Hold Your Man; Dinner at Eight; High, Wide, and Handsome; and No Man of Her Own. She also appeared in the role of Susan in two adaptations of John Willard's popular play The Cat and the Canary: The Cat Creeps in 1930 and The Cat and the Canary in 1939.
Patterson continued to perform frequently in the 1940s, when she was cast in more than 30 additional films. Among her notable roles is her 1949 portrayal of the heroic character Eunice Habersham in the groundbreaking racial crime drama Intruder in the Dust, a film based on the William Faulkner novel of the same name and set in the Deep South. Although she would appear in a few more feature films in the 1950s, such as Washington Story and Pal Joey, Patterson by then began to focus her work increasingly on roles in the rapidly expanding medium of television.
In 1952, at the age of 77, Patterson made her first appearance on the hit CBS-TV sitcom I Love Lucy in the episode "The Marriage License". Her character on I Love Lucy proved to be so popular among viewers, as well as useful to the writers of the series, that she continued in the role for three more years, often serving in episode storylines as a convenient babysitter for "Little Ricky".
Prior to, during, and after her work on I Love Lucy, Patterson appeared in many other American television series during the 1950s and early 1960s. Her first credited performance on the "small screen" was in March 1950 in "The Walking Stick", a teleplay on the NBC anthology series The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre. During the 11 years after that initial televised performance to her final role on television in 1961, she portrayed characters in a variety of other series, including Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, Studio One in Hollywood, General Electric Theater, Stage 7, Lux Video Theatre, Crossroads, The Star and the Story, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Adventures of Superman, New York Confidential, 77 Sunset Strip, Johnny Stacatto, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Playhouse 90, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, and The New Breed.
Patterson, who never married, lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel during her 35-year film and television career.. On January 31, 1966, she died at age 91 in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia. Her gravesite is in Savannah Cemetery in her hometown in Tennessee.
Mary Elizabeth Patterson (November 22, 1874 – January 31, 1966) was an American theatre, film, and television character actress who gained popular recognition late in her career playing the elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on the television comedy series I Love Lucy.
In 1926, at the age of 51, Patterson was cast in her first movie, a silent film, The Boy Friend. Transitioning successfully into the era of "talkies", she remained a very busy actress in Hollywood throughout the 1930s, averaging more than five films a year during that decade, usually in supporting roles. A few of her screen credits at that time include Tarnished Lady; Husband's Holiday; A Bill of Divorcement; So Big!; The Story of Temple Drake; Hold Your Man; Dinner at Eight; High, Wide, and Handsome; and No Man of Her Own. She also appeared in the role of Susan in two adaptations of John Willard's popular play The Cat and the Canary: The Cat Creeps in 1930 and The Cat and the Canary in 1939.
Patterson continued to perform frequently in the 1940s, when she was cast in more than 30 additional films. Among her notable roles is her 1949 portrayal of the heroic character Eunice Habersham in the groundbreaking racial crime drama Intruder in the Dust, a film based on the William Faulkner novel of the same name and set in the Deep South. Although she would appear in a few more feature films in the 1950s, such as Washington Story and Pal Joey, Patterson by then began to focus her work increasingly on roles in the rapidly expanding medium of television.
In 1952, at the age of 77, Patterson made her first appearance on the hit CBS-TV sitcom I Love Lucy in the episode "The Marriage License". Her character on I Love Lucy proved to be so popular among viewers, as well as useful to the writers of the series, that she continued in the role for three more years, often serving in episode storylines as a convenient babysitter for "Little Ricky".
Prior to, during, and after her work on I Love Lucy, Patterson appeared in many other American television series during the 1950s and early 1960s. Her first credited performance on the "small screen" was in March 1950 in "The Walking Stick", a teleplay on the NBC anthology series The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre. During the 11 years after that initial televised performance to her final role on television in 1961, she portrayed characters in a variety of other series, including Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, Studio One in Hollywood, General Electric Theater, Stage 7, Lux Video Theatre, Crossroads, The Star and the Story, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Adventures of Superman, New York Confidential, 77 Sunset Strip, Johnny Stacatto, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Playhouse 90, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, and The New Breed.
Patterson, who never married, lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel during her 35-year film and television career.. On January 31, 1966, she died at age 91 in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia. Her gravesite is in Savannah Cemetery in her hometown in Tennessee.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 1961 | The New Breed (TV Series) · as Mrs. Honeyman |
| 1960 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV Series) · as Mrs. Melvane |
| 1960 | Tall Story · as Connie |
| 1959 | Johnny Staccato (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The Oregon Trail · as Maria Cooper |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Pal Joey · as Mrs. Casey |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Aunt Ida |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1955 | Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Mary Donovan |
| 1955 | Playwrights '56 (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Miss Bessie |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn · as Aunt Polly |
| 1955 | Las Vegas Shakedown · as Mary Raff |
| 1955 | Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) · as Hannah |
| 1955 | Stage 7 (TV Series) · as Grandmother |
| 1955 | The Star and the Story (TV Series) · as Amy Carey |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Mrs. Garr |
| 1953 | Ponds Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Madame Elaine |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Mrs. Dunkel |
| 1952 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Mrs. Couche |
| 1952 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Ma / Mother Baker |
| 1952 | Adventures of Superman (TV Series) |
| 1952 | Washington Story · as Miss Dee |
| 1951 | I Love Lucy (TV Series) · as Mrs. Trumbull |
| 1950 | Little Women: Jo's Story · as Aunt March |
| 1950 | Little Women: Meg's Story · as Aunt March |
| 1950 | The Bigelow Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | Katie Did It · as Aunt Priscilla Wakely |
| 1950 | The Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mrs. Haggett |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Dr. Gilley |
| 1950 | Bright Leaf · as Tabitha Singleton |
| 1950 | The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1949 | Intruder in the Dust · as Miss Eunice Habersham |
| 1949 | Song of Surrender · as Mrs. Beecham |
| 1949 | Little Women · as Hannah |
| 1948 | Miss Tatlock's Millions · as Cora |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Aunt March |
| 1948 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1947 | Welcome Stranger · as Mrs. Gilley |
| 1947 | Out of the Blue · as Miss Spring |
| 1947 | The Shocking Miss Pilgrim · as Catherine Dennison |
| 1946 | The Secret Heart · as Mrs. Stover |
| 1946 | I've Always Loved You · as Mrs. Sompter |
| 1946 | Colonel Effingham's Raid · as Cousin Emma |
| 1945 | Lady on a Train · as Aunt Charlotte Waring |
| 1944 | Together Again · as Jessie |
| 1944 | Hail the Conquering Hero · as Martha - Libby's Aunt |
| 1944 | Follow the Boys · as Annie |
| 1943 | The Sky's the Limit · as Mrs. Fisher |
| 1942 | Beyond the Blue Horizon · as Mrs. Daly |
| 1942 | I Married a Witch · as Margaret |
| 1942 | My Sister Eileen · as Grandma Sherwood |
| 1942 | Her Cardboard Lover · as Eva |
| 1942 | The Vanishing Virginian · as Grandma |
| 1941 | Belle Starr · as Sarah |
| 1941 | Kiss the Boys Goodbye · as Aunt Lily Lou Bethany |
| 1941 | Tobacco Road · as Ada Lester |
| 1940 | Michael Shayne: Private Detective · as Aunt Olivia |
| 1940 | Who Killed Aunt Maggie? · as Maggie Ambler |
| 1940 | Anne of Windy Poplars · as Rebecca |
| 1940 | Earthbound · as Becky Tilden |
| 1940 | Adventure in Diamonds · as Nellie |
| 1939 | Remember the Night · as Aunt Emma |
| 1939 | The Cat and the Canary · as Aunt Susan |
| 1939 | Bad Little Angel · as Mrs. Perkins |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Bride · as Aunt Blanche |
| 1939 | Our Leading Citizen · as Aunt Tillie |
| 1939 | Land of Liberty · as Cast |
| 1939 | The Story of Alexander Graham Bell · as Mrs. Macgregor |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police · as Aunt Blanche |
| 1938 | Sons of the Legion · as Grandmother Lee |
| 1938 | Sing, You Sinners · as Mrs. Daisy Beebe Aka Mother Beebe |
| 1938 | Bluebeard's Eighth Wife · as Aunt Hedwige |
| 1938 | Bulldog Drummond's Peril · as Aunt Blanche |
| 1937 | Night Club Scandal · as Mrs. Elvira Ward |
| 1937 | High, Wide and Handsome · as Grandma Cortlandt |
| 1936 | Go West Young Man · as Aunt Kate Barnaby |
| 1936 | Old Hutch · as Sarah Hutchins |
| 1936 | The Return of Sophie Lang · as Araminta Sedley |
| 1936 | Small Town Girl · as Ma Brannan |
| 1935 | So Red the Rose · as Mary Cherry |
| 1935 | Men Without Names · as Aunt Ella |
| 1935 | Chasing Yesterday · as Mlle. Prefere |
| 1934 | Hide-Out · as 'ma' Miller |
| 1933 | Dinner at Eight · as Miss Copeland |
| 1933 | Ever in My Heart · as Clara Tuttle--Canteen Worker |
| 1933 | Doctor Bull · as Aunt Patricia Banning |
| 1933 | Golden Harvest · as Lydia |
| 1933 | Secret of the Blue Room · as Mary, Cook |
| 1933 | Hold Your Man · as Miss Tuttle |
| 1933 | The Story of Temple Drake · as Aunt Jennie |
| 1932 | No Man of Her Own · as Mrs. Randall |
| 1932 | Boo! · as Susan (edited From "the Cat Creeps") |
| 1932 | The Conquerors · as Roger's Landlady |
| 1932 | They Call It Sin · as Mrs. Cullen |
| 1932 | A Bill of Divorcement · as Aunt Hester Fairfield |
| 1932 | Life Begins · as Mrs. Tubby (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Love Me Tonight · as First Aunt |
| 1932 | Guilty as Hell · as Elvira Ward |
| 1932 | Miss Pinkerton · as Juliet Mitchell |
| 1932 | New Morals for Old · as Aunty Doe |
| 1932 | So Big! · as Mrs. Tebbit (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Man Wanted · as Miss Harper |
| 1932 | The Expert · as Miss Crackenwald |
| 1931 | Penrod and Sam · as Schoolteacher (uncredited) |
| 1931 | The Smiling Lieutenant · as Baroness Von Schwedel (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Daddy Long Legs · as Mrs. Lippett |
| 1931 | Tarnished Lady · as Mrs. Courtney |
| 1930 | The Cat Creeps · as Susan |
| 1930 | The Lone Star Ranger · as Sarah Martin |
| 1929 | Words and Music · as Dean Crockett |