GA
Gertrude Astor
Actor
Born November 9, 1887Died November 9, 1977 (90 years)
Gertrude Astor (Born Gertrude Eyster November 9, 1887 – November 9, 1977) was an American motion picture character actress, who began her career playing trombone on a riverboat.
Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Astor at the age of 12 ran off and joined a woman's band as a trombone player and toured the states. In New York she left the band to obtain film work and got a job as an extra before her career took off. Astor was a prolific performer, between 1915 and 1962 she appeared in over 250 movies. Her first known credit is in a Biograph short in 1915. She then became a contract player at Universal. A tall, angular and beautiful woman, Astor frequently towered over the leading men of the era; thus, she was most frequently utilized in comedy roles as aristocrats, golddiggers and "heroine's best pal".
Her best-known silent appearances were as the visiting stage star in Stage Struck (1925) with Gloria Swanson, as the vamp who plants stolen money on Harry Langdon in The Strong Man (1926), and as Laura LaPlante's wisecracking travelling companion in The Cat and the Canary (1927).
Astor worked prolifically at Hal Roach studios with such headliners as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, and especially Charley Chase. She was also kept busy at Columbia Pictures' short subjects unit.
She continued to play bits in feature films throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. She was briefly glimpsed as the first murder victim in the Sherlock Holmes adventure The Scarlet Claw and was among the ranks of dress extras in 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. Her last appearance was in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
In her later years, Astor was a welcome guest at several Sons of the Desert gatherings, and became an honorary member of the Way Out West tent.
She died in Woodland Hills, California from a stroke. She is interred in the Abbey of Psalms in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.
Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Astor at the age of 12 ran off and joined a woman's band as a trombone player and toured the states. In New York she left the band to obtain film work and got a job as an extra before her career took off. Astor was a prolific performer, between 1915 and 1962 she appeared in over 250 movies. Her first known credit is in a Biograph short in 1915. She then became a contract player at Universal. A tall, angular and beautiful woman, Astor frequently towered over the leading men of the era; thus, she was most frequently utilized in comedy roles as aristocrats, golddiggers and "heroine's best pal".
Her best-known silent appearances were as the visiting stage star in Stage Struck (1925) with Gloria Swanson, as the vamp who plants stolen money on Harry Langdon in The Strong Man (1926), and as Laura LaPlante's wisecracking travelling companion in The Cat and the Canary (1927).
Astor worked prolifically at Hal Roach studios with such headliners as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, and especially Charley Chase. She was also kept busy at Columbia Pictures' short subjects unit.
She continued to play bits in feature films throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. She was briefly glimpsed as the first murder victim in the Sherlock Holmes adventure The Scarlet Claw and was among the ranks of dress extras in 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. Her last appearance was in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
In her later years, Astor was a welcome guest at several Sons of the Desert gatherings, and became an honorary member of the Way Out West tent.
She died in Woodland Hills, California from a stroke. She is interred in the Abbey of Psalms in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 1966 | Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter · as Townswoman |
| 1965 | My Mother the Car (TV Series) |
| 1965 | The Sound of Music · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1964 | My Fair Lady · as Cockney |
| 1964 | The Unsinkable Molly Brown · as Denver Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1963 | The New Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) · as Ingrid |
| 1962 | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1962 | Hands of a Stranger · as Nagging Wife |
| 1962 | The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse · as Woman At Auction |
| 1961 | The Devil's Hand · as The Elderly Cultist |
| 1961 | Twenty Plus Two · as Julia Joliet |
| 1961 | Two Rode Together · as Mrs. Wringle (uncredited) |
| 1961 | All in a Night's Work · as Customer (uncredited) |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as Party Guest |
| 1960 | Sergeant Rutledge · as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Best of Everything · as Leading Woman In Play (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Tingler · as Member Of Silent Movie Audience (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Horse Soldiers · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Juror |
| 1958 | Rescue 8 (TV Series) · as Nurse |
| 1958 | The Female Animal · as Actress On Movie Set (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Too Much, Too Soon · as Audience Member |
| 1957 | My Man Godfrey · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1957 | How To Marry A Millionaire (TV Series) · as Stockholder |
| 1957 | Maverick (TV Series) · as Wife |
| 1957 | An Affair to Remember · as Ballet Audience Member |
| 1957 | The Oklahoman · as Townswoman Gossip |
| 1956 | Westward Ho, the Wagons! · as Wagon Woman |
| 1956 | Everything But the Truth · as Bit Part |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days · as Extra (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Boss · as Woman At Dedication |
| 1956 | Broken Arrow (TV Series) · as Older Woman |
| 1956 | Outside the Law · as Commuter At Airport |
| 1956 | The Searchers · as Wedding Guest |
| 1955 | Lady Godiva of Coventry · as Townswoman |
| 1955 | At Gunpoint · as Mrs. Metcalfe |
| 1955 | Artists and Models · as Dancer |
| 1955 | The Virgin Queen · as Lady-In-Waiting - 2nd Group |
| 1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular · as Cast |
| 1955 | Wichita · as Saloon Madam (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Ain't Misbehavin' · as Dowager At Meeting |
| 1955 | Daddy Long Legs · as Art Gallery Patron (uncredited) |
| 1955 | High Society · as Piano Recital Guest |
| 1955 | Untamed · as Ball Guest |
| 1954 | Deep in My Heart · as Dorothy's Nurse (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Athena · as Party Guest |
| 1954 | A Star Is Born · as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Paris Playboys · as Party Guest |
| 1953 | The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms · as Screaming Woman |
| 1953 | Loose in London · as Lady Hightower |
| 1953 | Scared Stiff · as Man With Spaghetti's Wife (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Angel Face · as Matron (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (TV Series) · as Matron |
| 1952 | The Merry Widow · as Reception Guest (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Rose Bowl Story · as Minor Role |
| 1952 | Paula · as Mrs. Brown (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Hoodlum Empire · as Courtroom Spectator |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Townswoman |
| 1952 | Fort Osage · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Scandal Sheet · as Neighbor (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Old West · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1951 | The Barefoot Mailman · as Townswoman |
| 1951 | Elopement · as Mother |
| 1951 | Crazy Over Horses · as Elderly Woman |
| 1951 | A Place in the Sun · as Bit Part (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Thunder on the Hill · as Village Woman (uncredited) |
| 1951 | When Worlds Collide · as Traveler (uncredited) |
| 1951 | I Love Lucy (TV Series) · as Showgirl #4 |
| 1951 | The Redhead and the Cowboy · as Goldie |
| 1951 | Apache Drums · as Townswoman |
| 1950 | Racket Squad (TV Series) · as Mrs. Payson |
| 1950 | Sierra Passage · as Show Spectator |
| 1950 | Harvey · as Party Guest |
| 1950 | Blues Busters · as Nightclub Patron |
| 1950 | All About Eve · as Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Member Of The Jury |
| 1950 | Bunco Squad · as Club Patron (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Sunset Boulevard · as Courtier (uncredited) |
| 1950 | |
| 1950 | Montana · as Townswoman |
| 1950 | Woman in Hiding · as Woman In Drugstore (uncredited) |
| 1949 | The Story of Seabiscuit · as Oscar's Wife |
| 1949 | The File on Thelma Jordon · as Juror (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Mary Ryan, Detective · as Party Guest |
| 1949 | Down Dakota Way · as Bus Passenger |
| 1949 | Jolson Sings Again · as Cast |
| 1949 | The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend · as Townswoman |
| 1949 | The Doolins of Oklahoma · as Saloon Girl (uncredited) |
| 1949 | |
| 1949 | Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture · as Tourist |
| 1948 | 3 Godfathers · as Saloon Girl (uncredited) |
| 1948 | My Dear Secretary · as Miss Gee (uncredited) |
| 1948 | |
| 1948 | Jinx Money · as Bank Customer |
| 1948 | The Return of the Whistler · as Hotel Guest |
| 1948 | Here Comes Trouble · as Woman With Dog (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Sitting Pretty · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Monsieur Verdoux · as Garden Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer · as Courtoom Spectator |
| 1947 | Fun on a Weekend · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1946 | The Best Years of Our Lives · as Wedding Guest (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Calcutta · as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Sister Kenny · as Doctor (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Crack-Up · as Nagging Wife On Train (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Dragonwyck · as Nurse (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Leave Her to Heaven · as Prison Matron (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Dick Tracy · as Woman (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Man Alive · as Madam Zorada |
| 1945 | Allotment Wives · as Marilyn |
| 1945 | Rhapsody in Blue · as Concert Spectator |
| 1945 | Guest Wife · as Outraged Woman In Night Club |
| 1945 | Wonder Man · as Assistant District Attorney's Wife |
| 1944 | Can't Help Singing · as Pioneer Woman - Warren's Mother |
| 1944 | Lights of Old Santa Fe · as Medley Market Show Spectator |
| 1944 | The Climax · as Woman In Audience Behind Franz (uncredited) |
| 1944 | |
| 1944 | Weird Woman · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Woman of the Town · as Townswoman |
| 1943 | The Kansan · as Blonde Townswoman |
| 1943 | Petticoat Larceny · as Woman On Street |
| 1943 | The Avenging Rider · as Martha |
| 1943 | |
| 1942 | Lost Canyon · as Mrs. Anson |
| 1942 | Red River Robin Hood · as Paul's Wife |
| 1942 | Rough on Rents · as Miss Finch, Landlady |
| 1942 | Reap the Wild Wind · as Ball Guest (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Moontide · as Woman |
| 1942 | Rings on Her Fingers · as Tall Woman Exiting Ladies Lounge |
| 1942 | Lady for a Night · as Woman |
| 1941 | The Wolf Man · as Townswoman (uncredited) |
| 1941 | How Green Was My Valley · as Bit Part |
| 1941 | Hold Back the Dawn · as Young Woman In Bar (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Misbehaving Husbands · as Gossiping Friend |
| 1940 | Cherokee Strip · as Party Guest |
| 1940 | The Doctor Takes a Wife · as Extra (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Young Tom Edison · as Train Passenger |
| 1939 | $1000 a Touchdown · as Mcglen Wife (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Dust Be My Destiny · as Dame (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Women · as Mud Bath Nurse (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Tassels in the Air · as Louella Pindell (uncredited) |
| 1938 | The Big Broadcast of 1938 · as Woman (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Wells Fargo · as Pioneer Woman |
| 1937 | All Over Town · as Mamie |
| 1937 | Souls at Sea · as Barmaid |
| 1937 | The Man Who Cried Wolf · as Landlady |
| 1937 | Easy Living · as Saleswoman (uncredited) |
| 1937 | |
| 1936 | Empty Saddles · as Eloise Hayes |
| 1936 | |
| 1936 | Our Relations · as Pirate's Club Customer |
| 1936 | The Magnificent Brute · as Townswoman |
| 1936 | Wives Never Know · as Mrs. Merchant (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Straight from the Shoulder · as Cast |
| 1936 | Postal Inspector · as Woman With Drumsticks (uncredited) |
| 1936 | His Brother's Wife · as Minor Role |
| 1936 | San Francisco · as Drunk's Girl (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Great Ziegfeld · as Sassy Blonde Anna Held Audience Member |
| 1936 | The Milky Way · as Party Guest |
| 1935 | |
| 1935 | It's in the Air · as (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Broadway Melody of 1936 · as Actress In Bob Gordon's Waiting Room |
| 1935 | Here Comes the Band · as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Dante's Inferno · as Concessionaire's Wife |
| 1935 | Honeymoon Limited · as Lady Devonshire |
| 1935 | No More Ladies · as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Border Brigands · as Big Six -Saloon Girl |
| 1935 | Four Hours to Kill! · as Little Girl's Mother |
| 1935 | Northern Frontier · as Mae |
| 1934 | Sweet Adeline · as Minor Role |
| 1934 | The Mighty Barnum · as Woman In Museum |
| 1934 | Tailspin Tommy · as Fake Office Nurse |
| 1934 | Now I'll Tell · as Freddie's Wife |
| 1934 | Guilty Parents · as Marie |
| 1933 | Carnival Lady · as Zandra, Fortune Teller |
| 1932 | Frisco Jenny · as Miss Beulah |
| 1932 | Flaming Gold · as Escort Service Madam |
| 1932 | They Never Come Back · as Kate |
| 1932 | |
| 1931 | Come Clean · as Mrs. Hardy |
| 1930 | Over the Radio · as Cast |
| 1930 | Be Yourself! · as Lillian |
| 1930 | The Doctor's Wife · as The Vampire |
| 1929 | Untamed · as Mrs. Mason |
| 1929 | Synthetic Sin · as Sheila Kelly |
| 1928 | A Woman of Affairs · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1928 | The Butter and Egg Man · as Fanny Lehman |
| 1928 | Rose-Marie · as Wanda |
| 1928 | The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris · as Paulette |
| 1927 | The Small Bachelor · as Fanny |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin · as Mrs. St. Clare (uncredited) |
| 1927 | The Irresistible Lover · as Dolly Carleton |
| 1927 | The Cat and the Canary · as Cecily |
| 1927 | The Taxi Dancer · as Kitty Lane |
| 1926 | The Strong Man · as Lily De Broadway |
| 1926 | Kiki · as Paulette Mascar |
| 1926 | Behind the Front · as French Barmaid |
| 1925 | Stage Struck · as Lillian Lyons |
| 1925 | Kentucky Pride · as Mrs. Beaumont |
| 1924 | The Torrent · as The Cast-Off |
| 1924 | Secrets · as Mrs. Manwaring |
| 1923 | Flaming Youth · as Annie |
| 1923 | The Ne'er-Do-Well · as Edith Cortlandt |
| 1922 | Lorna Doone · as Countess Of Brandir (uncredited) |
| 1922 | Beyond the Rocks · as Morella Winmarleigh |
| 1921 | Through the Back Door · as Louise Reeves |
| 1919 | Destiny · as Loraine Haswell |
| 1919 | The Delicious Little Devil · as Chorus Girl |
| 1919 | The Wicked Darling · as Adele Hoyt |
| 1918 | The Girl Who Wouldn't Quit · as Stella Carter |
| 1917 | Bucking Broadway · as Gladys (uncredited) |