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Jane Darwell
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Jane Darwell (born Patti Woodard; October 15, 1879 – August 13, 1967) was an American actress of stage, film, and television.[1] With appearances in more than 100 major movies spanning half a century, Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her poignant portrayal of the matriarch and leader of the Joad family in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Born to William Robert Woodard, president of the Louisville Southern Railroad, and Ellen Booth Woodard in Palmyra, Missouri, Darwell originally intended to become a circus rider, then later an opera singer. Her father, however, objected to those career plans, so she compromised by becoming an actress, changing her name to Darwell to avoid sullying the family name.[2]
The Jane Darwell Birthplace was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[3]
Some sources give Darwell's birth name as Patti Woodward.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
Career
[edit]
Darwell studied voice culture and the piano, followed by dramatics. At one point, she decided to enter a convent, then changed her mind and became an actress. She began acting in theater productions in Chicago and made her first film appearance in 1913. She appeared in almost 20 films over the next two years, then returned to the stage. After a 15-year absence from films, she appeared in Tom Sawyer (1930), and her career as a Hollywood character actress began. Short, stout and plain, she was quickly cast in a succession of films, usually as the mother of one of the main characters. She also appeared in five Shirley Temple films, usually as the housekeeper or grandmother.[2]

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), a role she was given at the insistence of Henry Fonda, the film's star. A contract player with 20th Century Fox, Darwell was memorably cast in The Ox-Bow Incident, and occasionally starred in B movies and played featured parts in scores of major films.
Darwell had noted appearances on the stage as well; in 1944, she was popular in the stage comedy Suds in Your Eye, in which she played an Irishwoman who had inherited a junkyard.[2]
By the end of her career, she had appeared in more than 170 films, including Huckleberry Finn (1931), Jesse James (1939), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), and My Darling Clementine (1946).[10]
On the television front, Darwell was among the guest stars on an episode of Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town, a variety series that aired on CBS from 1951 to 1952 in which hostess Faye Emerson visits a different city each week to accent the local music. In 1954, Darwell appeared with Andy Clyde in the episode "Santa's Old Suit" of the series The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse. This same episode was re-run the following Christmas 1955 on Studio 57. In 1959, she appeared with child actor Roger Mobley in the episode "Mr. Rush's Secretary" on Buckskin, starring Tom Nolan and Sally Brophy. That same year she appeared in the TV Western series Wagon Train as “Mrs. Anderson” in the S2E23 episode “The Vivian Carter Story”. She guest starred on John Bromfield's crime drama Sheriff of Cochise.
On July 27, 1961, Darwell appeared as Grandmother McCoy in an episode of the sitcom The Real McCoys. In the story, the series characters played by Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan return to fictitious Smokey Corners, West Virginia for Grandmother McCoy's 100th birthday gathering. Darwell was 15 years older than "son" Walter Brennan. Pat Buttram and Henry Jones appeared in this episode as Cousin Carl and Jed McCoy, respectively.
On February 8, 1960, Darwell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the motion-picture industry; it is located at 6735 Hollywood Boulevard.[11][12]
In her mid-eighties, Darwell was semi-retired from acting, other than a rare television guest appearance. She had recently moved into the Motion Picture Country Home because of her advanced age and feebleness. When Disney offered her the role of the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins (1964), Darwell declined the role. Walt Disney, still insistent, personally drove to the retirement home to plead with her and she agreed to take the part. But it was her last acting role. In this pivotal scene in the movie, the Bird Woman at the steps of St Paul's Cathedral Square sells bags of bread crumbs to passers-by to feed the pigeons. The "poignant"[13] song "Feed the Birds" was sung by Julie Andrews, as a hymn-like lullaby.[14]
Death
[edit]Darwell died on August 13, 1967, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, of a heart attack at the age of 87.[15]
Partial filmography
[edit]- Brewster's Millions (1914) as Mrs. Dan De Mille
- The Master Mind (1914) as Milwaukee Sadie
- The Only Son (1914) as Mrs. Brainerd
- The Man on the Box (1914) as Mrs. Chadwick
- Ready Money (1914) as Mrs. Tyler
- Rose of the Rancho (1914) as Senora Castro Kenton / Juanita's Mother
- The Hypocrites (1915) as Madam (uncredited)
- The Goose Girl (1915) as Irma
- After Five (1915) as Mrs. Russell - Aunt Diddy
- The Rug Maker's Daughter (1915) as Mrs. Van Buren
- The Reform Candidate (1915) as Mrs. Haggerty
- Little Church Around the Corner (1923) as Anxious Woman at Mine Disaster (uncredited)
- Tom Sawyer (1930) as Widow Douglas
- Fighting Caravans (1931) as Pioneer Woman (uncredited)
- Huckleberry Finn (1931) as Widow Douglas
- Ladies of the Big House (1931) as Mrs. Turner
- No One Man (1932) as Patient (uncredited)
- Young America (1932) as Schoolteacher (uncredited)
- The Strange Case of Clara Deane (1932) as Mortimer's Wife (uncredited)
- Back Street (1932) as Mrs. Adolph Schmidt
- Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) as Alice's Aunt (uncredited)
- Hot Saturday (1932) as Mrs Ida Brock
- Women Won't Tell (1932) as Mrs. Walter Robinson
- Air Hostess (1933) as Ma Kearns
- The Past of Mary Holmes (1933)
- Child of Manhattan (1933) as Mrs. McGonegle
- Murders in the Zoo (1933) as Banquet Guest (uncredited)
- Bondage (1933) as Mrs. Elizabeth Wharton
- The Girl in 419 (1933) as Nurse Esmond (uncredited)
- Emergency Call (1933) as Head Nurse Brown (uncredited)
- Jennie Gerhardt (1933) as Boardinghouse Keeper (uncredited)
- Bed of Roses (1933) as Mrs. Webster - Head Prison Matron (uncredited)
- Before Dawn (1933) as Mrs. Marble
- He Couldn't Take It (1933) as Mrs. Case
- One Sunday Afternoon (1933) as Mrs. Lind
- Ann Vickers (1933) as Mrs. Gage (uncredited)
- Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933) as Mrs. Spence - Landlady (uncredited)
- Only Yesterday (1933) as Mrs. Lane
- Design for Living (1933) as Curtis' Housekeeper
- Roman Scandals (1933) as Roman Spa Proprietress (uncredited)
- King for a Night (1933) as Mrs. Williams (uncredited)
- Cross Country Cruise (1934) as Mrs. O'Hara (uncredited)
- Fashions of 1934 (1934) as Customer at Maison Elegance (uncredited)
- Wonder Bar (1934) as Baroness (uncredited)
- Heat Lightning (1934) as Gladys
- David Harum (1934) as Mrs. Woolsey (uncredited)
- Journal of a Crime (1934) as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
- Once to Every Woman (1934) as Mrs. Wood
- Finishing School (1934) as Maude - interns' Receptionist (uncredited)
- The Scarlet Empress (1934) as Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
- Change of Heart (1934) as Mrs. McGowan
- Let's Talk It Over (1934) as Mrs. O'Keefe
- The Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) as Mrs. O'Day
- Blind Date (1934) as Ma Taylor
- Million Dollar Ransom (1934) as Ma McGarry (uncredited)
- Embarrassing Moments (1934) as Mrs. Stuckelberger
- One Night of Love (1934) as Mrs. Barrett - Mary's Mother (uncredited)
- Desirable (1934) as Frederick's Mother (uncredited)
- Wake Up and Dream (1934) as Landlady
- Happiness Ahead (1934) as Mrs. Davis - the Landlady
- Tomorrow's Youth (1934) as Mary O'Brien
- The Firebird (1934) as Mrs. Miller - Apartment House Tenant (uncredited)
- The White Parade (1934) as Miss 'Sailor' Roberts
- Gentlemen Are Born (1934) as Landlady (uncredited)
- Bright Eyes (1934) as Elizabeth Higgins
- One More Spring (1935) as Mrs. Mary Sweeney
- McFadden's Flats (1935) as Nora McFadden
- Life Begins at 40 (1935) as Ida Harris
- Curly Top (1935) as Mrs. Henrietta Denham
- Navy Wife (1935) as Mrs. Louise Keats
- Metropolitan (1935) as Grandma (uncredited)
- We're Only Human (1935) as Mrs. Walsh
- Paddy O'Day (1936) as Dora
- The Country Doctor (1936) as Mrs. Graham
- The First Baby (1936) as Mrs. Ellis
- Captain January (1936) as Mrs. Eliza Croft
- Private Number (1936) as Mrs. Meecham
- Little Miss Nobody (1936) as Martha Bradley
- The Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) as Woodward
- White Fang (1936) as Maud Mahoney
- Star for a Night (1936) as Mrs. Martha Lind
- Ramona (1936) as Aunt Ri Hyar
- Craig's Wife (1936) as Mrs. Harold
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Glory Bradford
- Love Is News (1937) as Mrs. Flaherty
- Nancy Steele Is Missing! (1937) as Mrs. Mary Flaherty
- The Great Hospital Mystery (1937) as Miss Sarah Keats
- Fifty Roads to Town (1937) as Mrs. Henry
- Slave Ship (1937) as Mrs. Marlowe
- The Singing Marine (1937) as "Ma" Marine
- Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937) Mrs. Krueger
- Dangerously Yours (1937) as Aunt Cynthia Barton
- Change of Heart (1938) as Mrs. Thompson
- The Jury's Secret (1938) as Mrs. Sheldon
- Battle of Broadway (1938) as Mrs. Rogers
- Three Blind Mice (1938) as Mrs. Killan
- Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Miss Hutchins
- Time Out for Murder (1938) as Polly - Helen's Supervisor
- Five of a Kind (1938) as Mrs. Waldron
- Up the River (1938) as Mrs. Graham
- Jesse James (1939) as Mrs. Samuels
- Inside Story (1939) as Aunt Mary Perkins
- The Zero Hour (1939) as Sophie
- Unexpected Father (1939) as Mrs. Callahan
- Grand Jury Secrets (1939) as Mrs. Keefe
- The Rains Came (1939) as Aunt Phoebe - Mrs. Smiley
- 20,000 Men a Year (1939) as Mrs. Allen
- Gone with the Wind (1939) as Mrs. Merriwether
- Miracle on Main Street (1939) as Mrs. Herman
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Ma Joad
- Untamed (1940) as Mrs. Maggie Moriarty
- Brigham Young (1940) as Eliza Kent
- Youth Will Be Served (1940) as Supervisor Stormer
- Chad Hanna (1940) as Mrs. Huguenine
- Thieves Fall Out (1941) as Grandma Allen
- Private Nurse (1941) as Miss Adams
- The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) as Ma Stone
- All Through the Night (1942) as Mrs. 'Ma' Donahue
- Young America (1942) as Grandmother Nora Campbell
- On the Sunny Side (1942) as Annie
- Small Town Deb (1942) as Katie
- It Happened in Flatbush (1942) as Mrs. Maguire
- Men of Texas (1942) as Mrs.Scott aka Aunt Hattie
- The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe (1942) as Mrs. Mariah Clemm
- Highways by Night (1942) as Grandma Fogarty
- The Great Gildersleeve (1942) as Aunt Emma Forrester
- Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943) as Aunt Emma Forrester
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as Ma Grier
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as herself
- Government Girl (1943) as Miss Trask (uncredited)
- Tender Comrade (1943) as Mrs. Henderson
- Reckless Age (1944) as Mrs. Connors
- The Impatient Years (1944) as Minister's Wife
- Music in Manhattan (1944) as Mrs. Pearson
- She's a Sweetheart (1944) as Mom
- Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944) as Mrs. Helen Dobson
- I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) as Mrs. Patterson
- Captain Tugboat Annie (1945) as Tugboat Annie
- The Dark Horse (1946) as Aunt Hattie
- Three Wise Fools (1946) as Sister Mary Brigid
- My Darling Clementine (1946) as Kate Nelson
- Keeper of the Bees (1947) as Mrs. Ferris
- The Red Stallion (1947) as Mrs. Aggie Curtis
- Train to Alcatraz (1948) as Aunt Ella
- 3 Godfathers (1948) as Miss Florie
- Red Canyon (1949) as Aunt Jane
- The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950) as Mrs. Murphy
- Wagon Master (1950) as Sister Ledyard
- Caged (1950) as Isolation Matron
- Surrender (1950) as Molly Hale
- Redwood Forest Trail (1950) as Hattie Hickory
- Three Husbands (1950) as Mrs. Wurdeman
- The Second Face (1950) as Mrs. Lockridge
- Father's Wild Game (1950) as Minverva Bobbin
- The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) as Nellie Thursday
- Excuse My Dust (1951) as Mrs. Belden
- Journey into Light (1951) as Mack
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Mrs. Bush
- The Sun Shines Bright (1953) as Mrs. Aurora Ratchitt
- It Happens Every Thursday (1953) as Mrs. Eva Spatch
- Affair with a Stranger (1953) as Ma Stanton
- The Bigamist (1953) as Mrs. Connelley
- Hit the Deck (1955) as Jenny
- There's Always Tomorrow (1955) as Mrs. Rogers
- A Life at Stake (1955) as Landlady
- Girls in Prison (1956) as Matron Jamieson
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Delia Boylan
- Hound-Dog Man (1959) as Grandma Wilson
- New Comedy Showcase (1960) (Season 1 Episode 1: "You're Only Young Twice") as Olga
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964) (Season 2 Episode 17: "The Jar") as Granny Carnation
- Mary Poppins (1964) as The Bird Woman (final film role)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Obituaries: Jane Darwell". Variety. August 16, 1967. p. 63. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Jane Darwell, 87, Actress, Is Dead" (PDF). The New York Times. Associated Press. August 15, 1967. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Morgan, Barbara. "Darwell, Jane (1879–1967)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Acors: From the silent era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 174–75. ISBN 978-1-5578-3551-2. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Onofrio, Jan (2001). Missouri Biographical Dictionary. Somerset Publishers, Inc. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-4030-9598-8. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Willis, John (1968). Screen World 1968. Biblo & Tannen Publishers. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-8196-0309-8. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Thomson, David (2014). The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. Alfred A Knopf. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-3757-1184-8. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer, Gary (1999). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. University of Missouri Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-8262-6016-1. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "Jane Darwell, Award Winner". MovieActors.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "Jane Darwell". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ "Jane Darwell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ McIntosh, Steven (December 19, 2018). "Mary Poppins Returns cast defend 'forgettable' songs". BBC News. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ "Feed The Birds by Julie Andrews". SongFacts. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ Matheson, Sue (2019). The John Ford Encyclopedia. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-1-5381-0381-4.
Further reading
[edit]- Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Jane Darwell". The Name Below the Title: 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 84–87. ISBN 978-1-7200-3837-5.
External links
[edit]Jane Darwell
View on GrokipediaEarly Life
Family Background
Jane Darwell was born Patti Woodard on October 15, 1879, in Palmyra, Missouri, though some historical records and accounts list her birth name as Patti Woodward, reflecting a common spelling variation in family documentation.[1][3] The family's childhood home in Palmyra, known as the Walker-Woodward-Schaffer House and designated as her birthplace, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1984, recognizing its architectural and historical significance.[4] She was the daughter of William Robert Woodard, a prominent railroad executive who served as president of the Louisville Southern Railroad, and Ellen Booth Woodard.[1][5] The family enjoyed a comfortable middle-class existence, bolstered by her father's successful career in the transportation industry, which provided financial stability and opportunities for relocation tied to business interests.[5] She attended Douglas Public School and Miss Loring’s private school in Chicago, Miss Annie Nell’s school in Louisville, and graduated from Dana Hall in Boston.[1][5] Darwell had two older brothers, and the family frequently moved during her early years due to her father's professional commitments.[1] Shortly after her birth in Palmyra, they relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, before moving to Chicago when she was four years old; subsequent moves took them to St. Louis, Missouri, and eventually to a family ranch near Iron Mountain in southeast Missouri.[1][5] This peripatetic lifestyle exposed her to both urban business environments in major cities and rural ranch life, shaping a childhood that blended sophistication with hands-on experiences in nature and commerce.[5]Entry into Performing Arts
Born Patti Woodard in 1879 to a prominent Missouri family, Jane Darwell initially aspired to a career as a circus rider before shifting her ambitions to opera singing, studying voice and piano at Dana Hall to pursue the latter.[2][1] Her parents, particularly her father, a railroad executive, strongly discouraged these unconventional paths due to their perceived risks and social stigma, instead encouraging a more respectable pursuit in light opera as a compromise.[5][2] This familial pressure steered her toward acting, which she viewed as a balanced alternative, allowing her to channel her performative talents while adhering to expectations of propriety.[5] To shield her family's reputation from the era's theatrical prejudices, Darwell adopted the stage name "Jane Darwell" in the early 1900s, drawing from personal connections while distancing herself from her birth name.[2][1] She began her professional training by apprenticing for two years at the Chicago Opera House around 1906, where she joined a stock company and honed her skills in minor roles.[5][1] Her early stage work extended to theaters in St. Louis, reflecting her Midwestern roots, before she relocated to New York to seek broader opportunities in the burgeoning theater scene.[2][5] Darwell's transition to film occurred in 1913, when she debuted in silent shorts such as The Capture of Aguinaldo (1913), directed by Francis Ford. She later joined the pioneering Lasky Film Company (1913–1915), appearing in nearly 20 silent films and collaborating with director Cecil B. DeMille, though she briefly returned to stage work before recommitting to motion pictures.[2][5][6]Career
Stage Beginnings
Darwell entered legitimate theater around 1906, joining a stock company at the Chicago Opera House where she apprenticed for two years, performing in various productions that honed her acting skills.[5][1] Following this engagement, she continued working with stock companies across the Midwest and East Coast, including touring ensembles that took her to cities like New York.[1] These experiences in repertory theater allowed her to tackle diverse character parts, building versatility in comedic and maternal roles that defined her early persona.[5] In 1909, Darwell made her Broadway debut in Jessie Trimble's The Wedding Day, a short-lived comedy that ran for one performance at the Hackett Theatre.[7] Though the production closed quickly, it marked her entry into New York theater circles under producer William A. Brady, alongside cast members like Jessie Bonstelle and Sheldon Lewis.[8] Her involvement in such legitimate stage work during the 1910s, often in ensemble settings, emphasized expressive physicality and vocal projection essential for live audiences.[5] By the mid-1910s, Darwell's theater career extended to West Coast touring with companies like Henry Duffy's, performing at venues such as the Alcazar Theatre in San Francisco in plays including The Only Son.[1][5] This period of stock and road work solidified her reputation for robust, relatable character portrayals, preparing her distinctive style—marked by a hearty voice and warm expressiveness—for broader applications.[5]Film Career
Jane Darwell's film career spanned over five decades, encompassing more than 170 appearances from her debut in the silent era to her final role in 1964. She entered cinema in 1913 with the short The Capture of Aguinaldo, followed by other early silents such as At Shiloh and Brewster's Millions (1914) as Mrs. Dan DeMille, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel.[6] Her sporadic silent film work continued with titles like The Goose Girl (1915) and Rose of the Rancho (1916). After a hiatus focused on stage acting, Darwell returned to films in 1930 with Tom Sawyer, transitioning seamlessly into the sound era where her robust presence and versatile characterizations found a natural fit in Hollywood's burgeoning talkies. Her early sound roles often cast her as no-nonsense maternal figures or comic relief, drawing from her theatrical background to infuse authenticity into these portrayals.[9][1][10] Darwell achieved her breakthrough in the late 1930s and 1940s, becoming a sought-after character actress in major productions. In 1939, she portrayed Mrs. Samuels, the resilient mother of outlaws Jesse and Frank James, in Henry King's Jesse James, a Technicolor Western starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda that highlighted her ability to convey quiet strength amid family turmoil. That same year, she appeared as the gossipy Mrs. Merriweather in Victor Fleming's epic Gone with the Wind, delivering memorable lines during the Atlanta barbecue scene that underscored the social hypocrisies of the Old South. Her career peaked with William A. Wellman's The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), where she played the tough saloon owner Ma Grier, adding gritty depth to the film's exploration of mob justice, and John Ford's My Darling Clementine (1946), in which she embodied the wise matriarch Kate Nelson in the director's seminal Wyatt Earp Western. These roles solidified her reputation for embodying steadfast, worldly women in dramas and Westerns.[1][11] Perhaps Darwell's most iconic film performance was as Ma Joad in John Ford's adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1940), where she depicted the unyielding maternal anchor guiding her family through the hardships of Dust Bowl migration and economic despair. Her portrayal of the resourceful, Bible-quoting widow emphasized themes of endurance and familial bonds, earning widespread acclaim for its emotional authenticity. Darwell's frequent collaborations with Ford—spanning at least seven films, including 3 Godfathers (1948) and Wagon Master (1950)—often typecast her as warm, wise matrons who provided moral grounding in his Westerns and historical dramas, a niche she dominated through the 1950s with appearances in pictures like The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), Girls in Prison (1956) as Matron Jamieson, and There's Always Tomorrow (1956) as Mrs. Rogers. This consistent archetype, honed from her stage roots, made her an indispensable supporting player in Hollywood's golden age, contributing to the era's most enduring narratives of American resilience.[1][12][13]Television and Later Work
In the 1950s, Jane Darwell transitioned to television, appearing in guest roles on various anthology series and family-oriented programs that capitalized on her established screen persona as a warm, authoritative matriarch. She featured in episodes of Screen Directors Playhouse, including the 1956 installment "Prima Donna," where she portrayed Lena, a supportive figure in a story about a young singer's discovery.[14] Her television work often echoed the maternal roles from her film career, providing continuity for audiences adapting to the new medium. She also guested on Lassie in the 1961 episode "Lassie's Wild Baby," embodying Mrs. Brenner, a kindly neighbor serving as a guardian-like presence for young Timmy Martin.[15] Darwell's final film role came in 1964 as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins, a brief but memorable cameo in Walt Disney's musical fantasy, where she sells birdseed to passersby on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral, reinforcing her image as an endearing elder.[16] By this time in her eighties, her output had diminished due to advancing age, limiting her to selective engagements that honored her veteran status rather than demanding physical roles.Personal Life
Marriage and Relationships
Jane Darwell entered into her only marriage on June 23, 1924, when she wed Harold Guy Cooley.[17][18] The union was brief, ending in divorce in 1927 with no children born of the marriage.[17] Few details about the relationship or its dissolution are publicly available, consistent with Darwell's preference for maintaining privacy in her personal affairs amid her rising stage and film career.[17] No other marriages or romantic partnerships are documented in Darwell's life, underscoring her focus on professional commitments rather than expanding a family.[18] Her adoption of the stage name "Jane Darwell" from her real name Patti Woodward further contributed to separating her public persona from private matters, helping her avoid romantic scandals typical of some Hollywood figures during the era.[17]Residences and Interests
Following her success in the 1920s, Jane Darwell established a long-term residence in Hollywood, California, where she lived for much of her adult life amid the burgeoning film industry. In the 1930s, she owned a ranch-style house in the San Fernando Valley, a setting reminiscent of her childhood on the family ranch near Iron Mountain, Missouri.[19][20] In later years, after retiring from acting in 1959, Darwell took up residence at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, a charitable facility providing care and housing for retirees from the entertainment industry.[21][3] Darwell maintained a private personal life, shunning publicity beyond her professional endeavors and expressing occasional nostalgia for the rural ranch lifestyle of her Missouri upbringing.[20]Awards and Recognition
Academy Award Win
Jane Darwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Academy Awards for her performance as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940).[22] She defeated nominees including Judith Anderson for Rebecca, Ruth Hussey for The Philadelphia Story, Marjorie Rambeau for Primrose Path, and Peggy Land for The Invisible Man Returns.[22] The awards ceremony took place on February 27, 1941, at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.[23] Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne presented the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, congratulating Darwell and fellow winner Walter Brennan afterward.[24] Darwell's portrayal of Ma Joad, the resilient matriarch guiding her family through the hardships of the Dust Bowl migration, drew from her established screen persona as a hearty, nurturing figure in numerous maternal roles.[25] This performance contributed to The Grapes of Wrath's five Academy Award nominations, including wins for Best Director (John Ford) and Best Supporting Actress.Other Honors
In recognition of her extensive contributions to cinema, Jane Darwell was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960, located at 6735 Hollywood Boulevard in the category of motion pictures.[2][20] The National Board of Review honored Darwell with Best Performances of the Month awards on two occasions: in April 1940 for her role in The Grapes of Wrath, and in October 1936 for her performance in Star for a Night.[26] Following her death, Darwell received posthumous tributes that underscored her lasting significance. In 2021, the Missouri Encyclopedia published a dedicated entry detailing her life and career as a pioneering actress from Palmyra, Missouri.[1] Additionally, her birthplace, the Walker-Woodward-Schaffer House in Palmyra, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, preserving the site where she was born Patti Woodward on October 15, 1879.[27] Darwell has also been featured in occasional film festival tributes celebrating her work as a character actress, including programming by Turner Classic Movies.[28]Death and Legacy
Final Years and Death
Jane Darwell, who had retired in the late 1950s due to declining health and was residing at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, made a final screen appearance as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins (1964) at the personal request of Walt Disney, who visited her at the home to offer the role.[20][29][3] In the 1960s, Darwell's health deteriorated, marked by increasing frailty that restricted her public appearances, though no extended illness was reported prior to her death.[30] Darwell died on August 13, 1967, at the age of 87 from a myocardial infarction at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.[5][30] She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[3]Cultural Impact and Legacy
Jane Darwell established herself as the quintessential maternal figure in American cinema, embodying the resilient, nurturing archetype that defined family dynamics during the Great Depression. Her portrayal of Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) captured the unyielding strength of a mother guiding her family through economic hardship, influencing subsequent depictions of maternal fortitude in Depression-era films.[1] This role, along with others as housekeepers and grandmothers—often opposite Henry Fonda—solidified her as a symbol of domestic stability amid adversity.[1] Darwell's contributions extended to Western genres, where her warm, authoritative presence provided emotional grounding in tales of frontier life, as seen in Jesse James (1939) and The Ox-Bow Incident (1943).[1] Over her six-decade career spanning more than 200 films, she pioneered character acting that prioritized depth over glamour, inspiring later performers in maternal and supporting roles within Hollywood's golden age.[1] Her work, particularly as Ma Joad, receives frequent scholarly attention in film studies for its role in amplifying themes of endurance and social commentary, as explored in analyses of the film's visual style and narrative impact.[31] Darwell is profiled in key texts on character actors, such as More Character People (1982), which highlights her enduring influence on the craft.[1] Darwell's legacy persists in modern tributes, including her recognition in Missouri history, where her Palmyra birthplace, the Walker-Woodward-Schaffer House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[4] Her films enjoy ongoing popularity at classic film festivals, with The Grapes of Wrath screened at events like the West Orange Classic Film Festival, celebrating her pivotal performance.[32] Online retrospectives, including YouTube tribute videos that have amassed thousands of views, further sustain interest in her career among contemporary audiences.[33]Filmography
Notable Film Roles
One of Jane Darwell's early standout roles was as Mrs. Merriwether in Gone with the Wind (1939), where she portrayed a gossipy Atlanta matron known for her sharp tongue and social commentary amid the Civil War backdrop. Her performance added colorful depth to the ensemble of Southern society figures.[34] Darwell's career-defining performance came as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), the resilient matriarch who holds her displaced Oklahoma family together during their arduous migration to California amid the Great Depression.[35] As the authoritative family head, she embodies unyielding strength and emotional core, delivering lines with authentic grit that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.[36][37] In Jesse James (1939), Darwell played Mrs. Samuels, the steadfast mother of the outlaw brothers, providing maternal warmth and fortitude in the face of frontier violence and family tragedy. She later took on Mrs. Kilian in the comedy Three Blind Mice (1938), a supportive maternal figure in a tale of romantic mix-ups among British aristocrats.[38] Darwell delivered a poignant turn as Ma Grier in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), the desperate mother pleading for justice in a tense Western drama about mob vengeance and moral ambiguity. Her role underscored themes of human frailty and injustice, contributing to the film's enduring reputation as a critique of lynching. Darwell's final film appearance was as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins (1964), a whimsical elderly street vendor selling birdseed at St. Paul's Cathedral, central to the poignant "Feed the Birds" sequence. At age 84 and semi-retired, she brought gentle eccentricity to the Disney musical, marking a serene capstone to her screen career.Television Credits
In the later stages of her career, Jane Darwell adapted to the burgeoning medium of television, making her debut in the early 1950s with guest roles that capitalized on her established persona as a comforting, matronly figure. Her television work, totaling around 10-15 appearances primarily in the 1950s and early 1960s, often featured her in supporting maternal or comedic parts within anthology series, family dramas, and westerns, allowing her to bring warmth and humor to episodic storytelling.[39] Darwell's notable television roles highlighted her ability to convey nurturing authority in diverse settings. In the family adventure series Lassie, she portrayed Mrs. Brenner in the 1961 installment "Lassie's Wild Baby," where her character interacts with the young boy Timmy and the iconic collie amid a plot involving a lost animal cub.[15] She also appeared in anthology formats, such as Screen Directors Playhouse, playing Lena in the 1956 episode "Prima Donna," a lighthearted story of talent discovery that showcased her comedic timing.[40] Other credits included recurring maternal archetypes in popular shows of the era. For instance, she guest-starred as Mother in The Red Skelton Show (1952), contributing to the variety program's sketch comedy with her folksy charm.[41] In Wagon Train (1959), Darwell played Mrs. Anderson in "The Vivian Carter Story," offering sage advice to pioneers on the trail.[42] She played Grandma McCoy in The Real McCoys episode "Back to West Virginny" (1961), fitting seamlessly into the rural family comedy. Additional appearances encompassed Mrs. Leah Mulligan in Burke's Law (1963), a detective series where her role added domestic levity, and Granny Carnation in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour's "The Jar" (1964), a suspenseful tale of superstition that marked one of her final performances.[43]| Year | Show | Role | Episode/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Red Skelton Show | Mother | "Let's Talk About Mother" – Comedic sketch supporting the host's routines |
| 1956 | Screen Directors Playhouse | Lena | "Prima Donna" – Anthology drama on talent and ambition |
| 1959 | Wagon Train | Mrs. Anderson | "The Vivian Carter Story" – Western family saga |
| 1961 | Lassie | Mrs. Brenner | "Lassie's Wild Baby" – Matronly neighbor aiding Timmy and Lassie |
| 1961 | The Real McCoys | Grandma McCoy | "Back to West Virginny" – Rural comedy guest spot |
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Mrs. Leah Mulligan | "Who Killed Eleanora Davis?" – Mystery series episode with humorous undertones |
| 1964 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Granny Carnation | "The Jar" – Thriller featuring eccentric elder |
References
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Best_supporting_actor_and_actress_1940.jpg