Esther Howard (April 4, 1892 – March 8, 1965) was an American stage and film character actress who played a wide range of supporting roles, from man-hungry spinsters to amoral criminals, appearing in 108 films in her 23-year screen career.

Early life

Howard was born in

Butte, Montana Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the 2 ...

on April 4, 1892 to Martha Esther Howard (''née'' Boggs) and James Howard Jr., a music teacher who was employed as the conductor of the Butte Opera House. Her paternal grandfather, James Howard Sr., was a prominent physician from California who had established a medical practice in Butte and

Dillon, Montana Dillon is a city in and the county seat of Beaverhead County, Montana, Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,880 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city was named for Sidney Dillon (1812–1892), preside ...

, and at one time served as the

coroner A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death. The official may also investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within th ...

of Silver Bow County. When Howard was five years old, her family relocated to

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, where her father had lived prior to relocating to Montana. In Boston, Howard attended the Girls' Latin School.

Career

Howard began her stage career performing in stock theater in

Lynn, Massachusetts Lynn is the eighth-largest List of municipalities in Massachusetts, municipality in Massachusetts, United States, and the largest city in Essex County, Massachusetts, Essex County. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Boston city line ...

, before making her Broadway debut in 1917 in a play called ''Eve's Daughter'', which was not a success. Over the next twelve years she performed on Broadway in eleven more comedies and musicals, including the hit shows ''

Wildflower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, rather than being intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is any different from the native plant, eve ...

'' (1923) and '' The New Moon'' (1929), which was her final Broadway production. In 1930, Miss Howard was still slender and beautiful when she changed her focus to making movies, appearing in a

Vitaphone Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects made by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National Pictures, First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphone is the last major analog sound-on-disc sys ...

comedy short, ''The Victim'' (1930). From that point until her retirement in 1952, she worked regularly – at least one film she appeared in was released every year. She was often cast as an oversexed dowager, a decrepit old hag, and occasionally, a glamorous society dame. Known for her versatility and expressive face,Erickson, Ha
Biography (Allmovie
/ref> notable among her many roles were the gorgeous Miss Prescott in '' Meet the Mayor'' (1932), frowsy Jessie Florian in

Raymond Chandler Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...

's '' Murder My Sweet'' (1944), an aunt who has a crush on

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his ...

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

's '' The Big Noise'' (1944), diner waitress Holly in ''

Detour __NOTOC__ A detour or (British English: diversion) is a (normally temporary) route taking traffic around an area of prohibited or reduced access, such as a construction site. Standard operating procedure for many roads departments is to route an ...

'' (1945), bawdy Filthy Flora in '' Dick Tracy vs. Cueball'' (1946), the determined Mrs. Kraft out to solve a murder in '' Born to Kill'' (1947), and as

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in '' The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. ...

' mother in ''

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...

'' (1949). Miss Howard's lovely singing voice was used to ghost sing (dub in) for bigger-name stars who had no singing talent, but she never sang onscreen for herself. From 1940 to 1949, Howard was part of

Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He is credited as being the first screenwriter to find success as a director. Prior to Sturges, other ...

' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges. From 1937, Howard was a regular player in short-subjects produced at

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, where she was frequently cast opposite comedian

Andy Clyde Andrew Allan Clyde (March 25, 1892 – May 18, 1967), was a Scottish-born American film and television actor whose career spanned some 45 years. In 1921 he broke into silent films as a Mack Sennett comic, debuting in ''On a Summer Day''. H ...

. Her last film was a Columbia comedy short, ''Caught on the Bounce'' (1952), in which she played

Joe Besser Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser, August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor and comedian known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subject ...

's aunt.

Death

Howard died of a heart attack in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, California, on March 8, 1965, aged 72. She is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Selected filmography

* '' The Vice Squad'' (1931) – Josie * '' Wicked'' (1931) – Minor Role (uncredited) * '' The Yellow Ticket'' (1931) – Prisoner (uncredited) * '' Ladies of the Big House'' (1931) – Clara Newman * '' A Fool's Advice'' (1932) – Mrs. Prescott * ''

The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood ''The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by Howard J. Green. The film stars George Sidney, Charles Murray, June Clyde, Norman Foster, Esther Howard, and Emma ...

'' (1932) – Mrs. Maggie Kelly * '' Merrily We Go to Hell'' (1932) – Vi * '' Winner Take All'' (1932) – Ann – Joan's Friend * '' Life Begins'' (1932) – Mrs. Tubby's Friend (uncredited) * '' Rackety Rax'' (1932) – 'Sister' Carrie * '' Second Hand Wife'' (1933) – Mrs. Trumbull (uncredited) * '' The Iron Master'' (1933) – Mrs. Stillman * '' Grand Slam'' (1933) – Mary (uncredited) * '' Sweepings'' (1933) – Violet's Madame (uncredited) * '' Below the Sea'' (1933) – Lily * '' Cockeyed Cavaliers'' (1934) – Robert's Serving Girl (uncredited) * '' Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round'' (1934) – Passenger Needing 'Hooking' (uncredited) * '' Ready for Love'' (1934) – Aunt Ida * '' The Best Man Wins'' (1935) – Mamie (uncredited) * '' Death Flies East'' (1935) – Mitzi (uncredited) * '' Straight from the Heart'' (1935) – Tired Mother (uncredited) * '' The Farmer Takes a Wife'' (1935) – Klore's New Cook (uncredited) * '' Stars Over Broadway'' (1935) – Mary Sporesgate (uncredited) * ''

Klondike Annie ''Klondike Annie'' is a 1936 American Western film starring Mae West and Victor McLaglen. The film was co-written by West from her play ''Frisco Kate'', which she wrote in 1921 and a story written by the duo Marion Morgan and George Brendan Do ...

'' (1936) – Fanny Radler * '' Florida Special'' (1936) – Flirtatious Dowager (uncredited) * '' M'Liss'' (1936) – Rose * '' Swing High, Swing Low'' (1937) – Beauty Salon Customer (uncredited) * '' Rhythm in the Clouds'' (1937) – Mrs. Madigan * '' Dead End'' (1937) – Neighbor with Coarse Voice (uncredited) * '' Partners in Crime'' (1937) – Mrs. Wagon * ''

Stand-In A stand-in, sometimes a lighting double, for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting and camera setup. Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of film and tele ...

'' (1937) – Mrs. Mack (uncredited) * '' Scandal Street'' (1938) – Birdie Brown * '' Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' (1938) – Mother (uncredited) * ''

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...

'' (1938) – Streetwalker (uncredited) * '' The Texans'' (1938) – Madame (uncredited) * '' Five of a Kind'' (1938) – Thelma – Mother in Hoax (uncredited) * '' Swing, Sister, Swing'' (1938) – Miss Fredericks * '' Broadway Serenade'' (1939) – Mrs. Fellows * '' Missing Daughters'' (1939) – Mother Hawks (uncredited) * '' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' (1939) – Florist (uncredited) * '' The Great McGinty'' (1940) – Madame Juliette La Jolla * '' The San Francisco Docks'' (1940) – Jean (uncredited) * '' The Lady from Cheyenne'' (1941) – Landlady (uncredited) * '' Sullivan's Travels'' (1941) – Miz Zeffie * '' Sappy Birthday'' (1942, Short) – Mrs. Andy 'Martha' Clyde * ''

My Favorite Blonde ''My Favorite Blonde'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll. Based on a story by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film is about a vaudeville performer who gets mixed up with Br ...

'' (1942) – Mrs. Topley * '' Jackass Mail'' (1942) – Dancehall Girl (uncredited) * '' Tales of Manhattan'' (1942) – Woman Bumming Cigarette from Joe (Robinson sequence) (uncredited) * '' The Palm Beach Story'' (1942) – Wife of Wienie King * '' I Married a Witch'' (1942) – Extra (uncredited) * ''

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek ''The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'' is a 1944 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton, and featuring Diana Lynn, William Demarest and Porter Hall. Brian Donlevy and A ...

'' (1943) – Sally (uncredited) * '' True to Life'' (1943) – Bit Role (uncredited) * ''

Once Upon a Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 in storytelling in the English language and has started many narrative ...

'' (1944) – Clerk (uncredited) * '' The Great Moment'' (1944) – Dr. Wells' Patient (uncredited) * ''

Hail the Conquering Hero ''Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) is a satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson, ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Everett J. Noble (uncredited) * '' The Big Noise'' (1944) – Aunt Sophie (uncredited) * ''

San Diego, I Love You ''San Diego, I Love You'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Jon Hall, Louise Allbritton and Edward Everett Horton. The screenwriters for the film included Ruth McKenney, author of '' My Sister Eileen'' ...

'' (1944) – Mother (uncredited) * ''

Murder, My Sweet ''Murder, My Sweet'' (released as ''Farewell, My Lovely'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1944 American film noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne Shirley (in her final film before retirement). The fi ...

'' (1944) – Jessie Florian * '' The Great Flamarion'' (1945) – Cleo * ''

'' (1945) – Diner Waitress * ''

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

'' (1945) – Blister (uncredited) * '' A Letter for Evie'' (1946) – Mrs. Edgewaters * '' The Hoodlum Saint'' (1946) – Elderly Spectator (uncredited) * '' The Falcon's Alibi'' (1946) – Gloria Peabody * '' The Virginian'' (1946) – Mother of Student (uncredited) * ''

Without Reservations ''Without Reservations'' is a 1946 RKO Radio Pictures American comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Claudette Colbert, John Wayne and Don DeFore. The film was adapted by Andrew P. Solt, Andrew Solt from the novel ''Thanks, God! I'l ...

'' (1946) – Sarah (uncredited) * '' Dick Tracy vs. Cueball'' (1946) – Filthy Flora * '' Mr. District Attorney'' (1947) – Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Born to Kill'' (1947) – Mrs. Kraft * '' The Trouble with Women'' (1947) – Mrs. Fogarty (uncredited) * '' Song of the Thin Man'' (1947) – Sadie – Counterwoman (uncredited) * '' The Velvet Touch'' (1948) – Pansy Dupont * '' June Bride'' (1948) – Mrs. Mitchell (uncredited) * ''

Homicide Homicide is an act in which a person causes the death of another person. A homicide requires only a Volition (psychology), volitional act, or an omission, that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from Accident, accidenta ...

'' (1949) – Mrs. Brucker -Landlady * ''

'' (1949) – Mrs. Kelly * ''

The Crooked Way ''The Crooked Way'' is a 1949 American film noir starring John Payne (actor), John Payne, Sonny Tufts and Ellen Drew. Directed by Robert Florey and shot by John Alton, the film has a similar plot (a war hero loses his memory from a combat wound) ...

'' (1949) – Hotel Proprietess (uncredited) * '' The Lady Gambles'' (1949) – Gross Lady * '' The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend'' (1949) – Mrs. Smidlap * '' Hellfire'' (1949) – Birdie * '' Look for the Silver Lining'' (1949) – Mrs. Moffitt (uncredited) * '' No Man of Her Own'' (1950) – Boarding House Owner (uncredited) * '' Caged'' (1950) – Grace (uncredited) * ''All That I Have'' (1951) – Mrs. Dalton * '' Rose of Cimarron'' (1952) – Ma Bruce (uncredited) * '' Lady in the Iron Mask'' (1952) – Madame Duprez (uncredited)

References

Other sources * *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Esther 1892 births 1965 deaths Actresses from Boston Actresses from Montana American film actresses American stage actresses Actresses from Butte, Montana 20th-century American actresses