Ellen Hansen Corby (June 3, 1911 – April 14, 1999) was an American actress and screenwriter. She played the role of Esther "Grandma" Walton on the CBS television series '' The Waltons'', for which she won three

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

Awards. She was also nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

and won a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

for her performance as Aunt Trina in '' I Remember Mama'' (1948).

Early life

Ellen Hansen was born in

Racine Jean-Baptiste Racine ( , ) (; 22 December 163921 April 1699) was a French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, along with Molière and Corneille as well as an important literary figure in the Western traditi ...

, Wisconsin, to immigrant parents from

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. She grew up in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

. An interest in amateur theater while in high school led her to

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

in 1932, where she briefly worked as a chorus girl. She moved to Hollywood that same year and got a job as a script girl at

RKO Studios RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheu ...

and

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and business partners Dan Linthicum and I.H. Nance as the Rolin Film Company on Ju ...

, where she often worked on '' Our Gang'' comedies, alongside her future husband, cinematographer Francis Corby. She held that position for the next 12 years and took acting lessons on the side.

Career

Although she had bit parts in more than 30 films in the 1930s and 1940s, including '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934) and '' It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946), her first credited acting role was in RKO's '' Cornered'' (1945) in which she played a maid, followed by an uncredited brief speaking role as a kitchen cook in '' The Locket'' (1946). Corby began her career as a writer at Paramount studios working on the western '' Twilight on the Trail'' (1941). She received an Academy Award nomination and a

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a lovelorn aunt in ''I Remember Mama'' (1948). Over the next four decades, she worked in film and television, typically portraying maids, secretaries, waitresses, or gossips, often in Westerns, and had a recurring role as Henrietta Porter, a newspaper publisher, in '' Trackdown'' (1957–1959), starring Robert Culp as

Texas Ranger Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by bo ...

Hoby Gilman. In the episode entitled "The Vote", Henrietta Porter advocates for

women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...

: "Women should have the right to vote. Women should be in politics. They can't do any worse than you men!" For her guest appearances in many Westerns, Corby in 1989 won a Golden Boot award. Corby appeared as the elderly Mrs. Lesh, the crooked car peddler, on CBS's ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom, situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in colo ...

''. She guest-starred, as well, on ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'', ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enr ...

'', '' The Guns of Will Sonnett'', '' Dragnet'' (several episodes), '' Rescue 8'', '' The Restless Gun'' (two episodes), ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The sho ...

'', ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before '' Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely ...

'', '' Fury'', '' The Donna Reed Show'', '' Frontier Circus'', '' Hazel'', '' I Love Lucy'', '' Dennis the Menace'', '' Tightrope'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', '' The Big Valley,

Meet McGraw Meet may refer to: People with the name * Janek Meet (born 1974), Estonian footballer * Meet Mukhi (born 2005), Indian child actor Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Meet'' (TV series), an early Australian television series which aired on ABC du ...

'', '' The Virginian'', '' Channing'', ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was r ...

'', ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939. I ...

'', '' Get Smart'', '' Gomer Pyle'', '' The Addams Family'' (as Lurch's Mother), '' The Beverly Hillbillies'', '' The Invaders'', ''

Lassie Lassie is a fictional female Rough Collie dog and is featured in a short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a full-length novel called '' Lassie Come-Home''. Knight's portrayal of Lassie bears some features in common with another ...

'', and '' Night Gallery''. From 1965 to 1967, she had a recurring role in the NBC television series ''

Please Don't Eat the Daisies ''Please Don't Eat the Daisies'' (New York: Doubleday, 1957) is a best-selling collection of humorous essays by American humorist and playwright Jean Kerr about suburban living and raising four boys. The essays do not have a plot or through-sto ...

'', based on an earlier

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...

film. Her best-known role came as Grandma Esther Walton on the made-for-TV film ''The Homecoming: A Christmas Story'' (1971), which served as the pilot for '' The Waltons''. Her husband, Zebulon Walton, was portrayed by actor

Edgar Bergen Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American ventriloquist, actor, comedian, vaudevillian and radio performer, best known for his proficiency in ventriloquism and his characters ...

in the film. Corby went on to resume her role on the weekly television series ''The Waltons''. (She was the only adult actor from the original ''Homecoming'' pilot to carry her role over to the series.) Actor

Will Geer Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and social activist, who was active in labor organizing and other movements in New York and Southern California in the 1930s and 1940s. In C ...

played her husband in the series from 1972 until his death in 1978, at which time the character of Zebulon Walton was also buried. The series ran from 1972 to 1981, and resulted in six sequel films. For her work in ''The Waltons'', she gained three Emmy Awards and three more nominations as Best Supporting Actress. She also won a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress in a TV series for ''The Waltons'', and was nominated another three times. She left the show November 10, 1976, owing to a massive stroke she had suffered at home, which impaired her speech and severely limited her mobility and function. She returned to the series during the final episode of the 1977–78 season, with her character depicted as also recovering from a stroke. She remained a regular on ''The Waltons'' through the end of the 1978–79 season, with Esther Walton struggling with her stroke deficits as Corby was in real life. Although Corby was able to communicate after her stroke, her character's lines were usually limited to one word or one-phrased dialogue. For example, upon receiving news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, she exhorted the family to "pray, pray, pray." Her role dropped to recurring during ''The Waltons final two seasons, though she later resumed her role as Grandma Walton in five of the six ''Waltons'' reunion movies between 1982 and 1997.

Personal life

Ellen Hansen married Francis Corby, a film director/cinematographer who was two decades her senior, in 1934; they divorced in 1944. The marriage produced no children. In 1954, Corby met Stella Luchetta, a friend for the rest of her life. In 1969 Corby was trained by

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (born Mahesh Prasad Varma, 12 January 1918

in Rishikesh, India, to become a teacher of

Transcendental Meditation Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent mantra meditation advocated by the Transcendental Meditation movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created the technique in India in the mid-1950s. Advocates of TM claim that the technique promotes ...

. She had been practising the technique for several years before. She had a stroke in November 1976 from which she recovered and returned to her role on ''The Waltons'' in March 1978. According to Michael Learned, who played Olivia Walton,

(Zebulon Walton, her husband in the series) may have saved her life. When she failed to show up for work, Geer immediately suspected something was wrong as Corby was a true professional who was never late. So Geer went with the show's producers to her home, where they found that she had suffered a stroke. Her final role was in ''A Walton Easter'' (1997). In 1999, following several years of declining health, Corby died at age 87 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Her memorial site is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park,

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...

Filmography

;1930s *'' Rafter Romance'' (1933) as Telemarketer (uncredited) *''

Sons of the Desert A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current ...

'' (1933) as Dress Person at Table Next to Chase's (uncredited) *'' Twisted Rails'' (1934) as Minor role (uncredited) *'' Babes in Toyland'' (1934) as Townswoman at Tom-Tom's Trial (uncredited) *'' Speed Limited'' (1935) as Secretary (uncredited) *'' The Broken Coin'' (1936) as Bit Part (uncredited) ;1940s *'' Cornered'' (1945) as Swiss Maid (uncredited) *'' The Scarlet Horseman'' (1946) as Mrs. Barnes (uncredited) *'' The Spiral Staircase'' (1946) as Neighbour (uncredited) *'' From This Day Forward'' (1946) as Mother (uncredited) *''

The Truth About Murder ''The Truth About Murder'' is a 1946 American mystery film directed by Lew Landers, written by Lawrence Kimble, Hilda Gordon and Eric Taylor, and starring Bonita Granville, Morgan Conway, Rita Corday, Don Douglas and June Clayworth. It was relea ...

'' (1946) as Betty - Ashton's Secretary (uncredited) *''

Bedlam Bedlam, a word for an environment of insanity, is a term that may refer to: Places * Bedlam, North Yorkshire, a village in England * Bedlam, Shropshire, a small hamlet in England * Bethlem Royal Hospital, a London psychiatric institution and the ...

'' (1946) as Queen of the Artichokes (uncredited) *'' The Dark Corner'' (1946) as Maid (uncredited) *''

In Old Sacramento ''In Old Sacramento'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Frances Hyland and Frank Gruber. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, Constance Moore, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Ruth Donnelly, Eugene Pallette and Jack La ...

'' (1946) as Scrubwoman (uncredited) *'' Cuban Pete'' (1946) as Screaming Patient (uncredited) *'' Lover Come Back'' (1946) as Rita, Kay's Secretary (uncredited) *'' Till the End of Time'' (1946) as Mrs. Sumpter (uncredited) *'' Crack-Up'' (1946) as Reynold's Maid (uncredited) *'' Sister Kenny'' (1946) as Hospital Scrub Woman (uncredited) *'' The Locket'' (1946) as Ginny, Kitchen Maid (uncredited) *'' It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946) as Ms. Davis (uncredited) *'' Beat the Band'' (1947) as Gertrude's Mother (uncredited) *''

Born to Kill Born to Kill may refer to: Film * ''Born to Kill'' (1947 film), a film noir directed by Robert Wise * ''Born to Kill'' (1967 film), a Spaghetti Western directed by Antonio Mollica * ''Born to Kill'' (1974 film) or ''Cockfighter'', a film direct ...

'' (1947) as 2nd Maid (uncredited) *'' The Long Night'' (1947) as Lady in Crowd (uncredited) *'' The Unfaithful'' (1947) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) *'' Living in a Big Way'' (1947) as Broken Arms' Sailors Wife (uncredited) *''

They Won't Believe Me ''They Won't Believe Me'' is a 1947 black-and-white film noir directed by Irving Pichel and starring Robert Young, Susan Hayward and Jane Greer. It was produced by Alfred Hitchcock's longtime assistant and collaborator, Joan Harrison. Plot Af ...

'' (1947) as Screaming Woman (uncredited) *'' Cry Wolf'' (1947) as Wedding Caterer (uncredited) *'' The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'' (1947) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) *''The Hal Roach Comedy Carnival'' (1947) as Cathy, the Maid, in 'Fabulous Joe' *''

The Fabulous Joe ''The Fabulous Joe'' is a 1947 American comedy film in the Hal Roach's Streamliners series. It was directed by Harve Foster and written by Arnold Belgard and Jack Jevne. The film stars Walter Abel, Margot Grahame, Marie Wilson, Donald Meek, Sh ...

'' (1947) as Cathy, the Maid (uncredited) *''

Driftwood __NOTOC__ Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and fo ...

'' (1947) as Excitable Woman (uncredited) *'' Railroaded!'' (1947) as Mrs. Wills (uncredited) *'' Forever Amber'' (1947) as Marge (uncredited) *''

The Judge Steps Out ''The Judge Steps Out'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Boris Ingster and written by Ingster and Alexander Knox. The film stars Knox and Ann Sothern, along with George Tobias, Sharyn Moffett, Florence Bates, Frieda Inescort and Myrna ...

'' (1947) as Mother at Party (uncredited) *''

If You Knew Susie "If You Knew Susie" is the title of a popular song written by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in 1925. In the largely comic song, a man sings that he knows a certain woman named Susie to be much wilde ...

'' (1948) *'' I Remember Mama'' (1948) as Aunt Trina *'' The Noose Hangs High'' (1948) as Hilda, the Maid (uncredited) *''

Fighting Father Dunne ''Fighting Father Dunne'' is a 1948 American biographical film about the life of Father Peter Dunne, and the creation of his News Boys Home in St. Louis, Missouri. Directed by Ted Tetzlaff, the screenplay was written by Martin Rackin and Frank ...

'' (1948) as Colpeck's Secretary (uncredited) *'' Strike It Rich'' (1948) as Mrs. Annie Harkins *'' The Dark Past'' (1948) as Agnes *''

A Woman's Secret ''A Woman's Secret'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Maureen O'Hara, Gloria Grahame and Melvyn Douglas. The film was based on the novel ''Mortgage on Life'' by Vicki Baum. Plot In a story told in a series of flashbacks, ...

'' (1949) as Nurse *''

Rusty Saves a Life ''Rusty Saves a Life'' is a 1949 American drama film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring Ted Donaldson, Gloria Henry and Ann Doran.Blottner p.285 It was part of the Rusty series of films produced by Columbia Pictures. Cast * Ted Donaldson ...

'' (1949) as Miss Simmons (uncredited) *''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the live ...

'' (1949) as Sophie *'' Mighty Joe Young'' (1949) as Nurse at Orphanage (uncredited) *'' Madame Bovary'' (1949) as Félicité ;1950s *''

Captain China ''Captain China'' is a 1950 American adventure film directed by Lewis R. Foster and written by Lewis R. Foster and Gwen Bagni. The film stars John Payne, Gail Russell, Jeffrey Lynn, Lon Chaney Jr., Edgar Bergen, Michael O'Shea and Ellen Corby. ...

'' (1950) as Miss Endicott *''

Caged In music, a barre chord (also spelled bar chord) is a type of chord on a guitar or other stringed instrument played by using one finger to press down multiple strings across a single fret of the fingerboard (like a bar pressing down the strin ...

'' (1950) as Emma Barber *''

The Gunfighter ''The Gunfighter'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Henry King and starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell and Karl Malden. It was written by screenwriters William Bowers and William Sellers, with an uncredited rewri ...

'' (1950) as Mrs. Devlin *'' Peggy'' (1950) as Mrs. Privet, the Librarian *''

Edge of Doom ''Edge of Doom'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir directed by Mark Robson and starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, and Joan Evans. Plot The story concerns a young mentally disturbed man, Martin Lynn (Farley Granger), who goes on a rampage ...

'' (1950) as Mrs. Jeanette Moore *''

Harriet Craig ''Harriet Craig'' is a 1950 American drama film starring Joan Crawford. The screenplay by Anne Froelick and James Gunn was based upon the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1925 play '' Craig's Wife'', by George Kelly. The film was directed by Vincent Sher ...

'' (1950) as Lottie *'' Stars over Hollywood'' (1950) as Rosa Peterson *'' The Mating Season'' (1951) as Annie *'' Stars over Hollywood'' (1951) as Rosa Peterson *''

Goodbye, My Fancy ''Goodbye, My Fancy'' is a 1948 play by Fay Kanin. A comedy in 3 Acts and 4 scenes, the work premiered at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario on October 21, 1948 for tryout performances before the production moved to Broadway in New York City. ...

'' (1951) as Miss Birdshaw *'' On Moonlight Bay'' (1951) as Miss Mary Stevens *'' Angels in the Outfield'' (1951) as Sister Veronica *'' Here Comes the Groom'' (1951) as Mrs. McGonigle *'' The Barefoot Mailman'' (1951) as Miss Della (uncredited) *'' The Sea Hornet'' (1951) as Mrs. Drinkwater *'' The Big Trees'' (1952) as Sister Blackburn *'' Fearless Fagan'' (1952) as Mrs. Ardley *''

Monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

'' (1952) as Katie *''

Your Jeweler's Showcase ''Your Jeweler's Showcase'' is an American television anthology drama series. At least 21 episodes aired on CBS from November 11, 1952 to August 30, 1953. From January 6, 1953 to May 26, 1953 it alternated weekly with ''Demi-Tasse Tales''. Amon ...

'' (1952) *''

The Story of Three Loves ''The Story of Three Loves'' (also known as ''Equilibrium'') is a 1953 American Technicolor romantic anthology film made by MGM. It consists of three stories, "The Jealous Lover", "Mademoiselle", and "Equilibrium". The film was produced by Sid ...

'' (1953) *''

Woman They Almost Lynched ''Woman They Almost Lynched'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Allan Dwan and written by Steve Fisher. The film stars John Lund, Brian Donlevy, Audrey Totter, Joan Leslie, Ben Cooper, James Brown and Nina Varela. The film was rele ...

'' (1953) as First Townswoman *''

Shane Shane may refer to: People * Shane (actress) (born 1969), American pornographic actress * Shane (New Zealand singer) (born 1946) * iamnotshane (born 1995), formerly known as Shane, American singer * Shane (name), a masculine given name and a su ...

'' (1953) as Mrs. Liz Torrey *''

The Vanquished ''The Vanquished'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Edward Ludwig, written by Lewis R. Foster, Winston Miller and Frank L. Moss, and starring John Payne, Jan Sterling, Coleen Gray, Lyle Bettger, Willard Parker, Roy Gordon and John ...

'' (1953) as Mrs. Barbour *'' You Are There'' (1953) as Mrs. Mary Surratt *'' Letter to Loretta'' (1953) as Jennie *'' Dragnet'' (1953) as Margaret Beckar *'' A Lion Is in the Streets'' (1953) as Singing Woman *'' Dragnet'' (1954) as Thelma Keene *'' Four Star Playhouse'' (1954) as Martha - Maid / Elsie *'' Untamed Heiress'' (1954) as Mrs. Flanny *'' The Ford Television Theatre'' (1954) as Mabel *''

The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters ''The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 6, 1954 by Allied Artists and is the thirty-fourth film in the series. Plot The front wi ...

'' (1954) as Amelia Gravesend *''

About Mrs. Leslie ''About Mrs. Leslie'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Daniel Mann and starring Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan. It was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1955. Plot Vivien Leslie, a Beverly Hills, California rooming house owner, reminisces i ...

'' (1954) as Mrs. Croffman *''

Susan Slept Here ''Susan Slept Here'' is a 1954 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin and starring Dick Powell (in his last film role) and Debbie Reynolds. Shot in Technicolor, the film is based on the play of the same name by Steve Fisher a ...

'' (1954) as Coffee Shop Waitress (uncredited) *''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vid ...

'' (1954, TV Series) as Lavinia Penniman / Aunt *'' Sabrina'' (1954) as Miss McCardle *''

Stage 7 ''Stage 7'' is a 30-minute American TV drama anthology series that was broadcast on CBS from December 12, 1954, through September 25, 1955. This program premiered in December 1954 with the title ''Your Favorite Playhouse'' with all episodes being ...

'' (1955) as Old Lady *'' General Electric Theater'' (1955) as Frankie, Joan's maid *''

'' (1955) as Maggie *'' Illegal'' (1955) as Miss Hinkel *'' The Millionaire'' (1955, TV Series) as Nancy Marlborough *'' Slightly Scarlet'' (1956) as Martha - June Lyons' Maid (uncredited) *'' The Millionaire'' (1956, TV Series) as Bedelia Buckley *'' Matinee Theater'' (1956) as Louise / Cissie *'' I Love Lucy'' (1956) as Miss Hanna *'' The Roy Rogers Show'' (1956) as Amity Bailey *''

'' (1956) as Harriet / Norah / Nurse / Martha *''

Stagecoach to Fury ''Stagecoach to Fury'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by William F. Claxton and starring Forrest Tucker and Mari Blanchard. It was the first film from Robert L. Lippert's Regal films; the B picture unit of 20th Century Fox set up to ...

'' (1956) as Sarah Farrell *''

'' (1956) as Marie McGurk * '' The Go-Getter'' (1956) as The Maid *''

'' (1957) as Mrs. Jane McGill *'' The People's Choice'' (2 episodes, 1956, 1958, TV Series) as Flora Jordan / Miss J. Hopkins / Lola *''

Mr. Adams and Eve ''Mr. Adams and Eve'' is an American situation comedy television series about a married couple who are both movie stars. It stars Howard Duff and Ida Lupino (who were actually married at the time) and aired on CBS from January 4, 1957, to July 8, ...

'' (1957) as Fan *'' The Joseph Cotten Show'', also known as ''On Trial'' (1957) as Martha *'' All Mine to Give'' (1957) as Mrs. Raiden *'' The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' (1957) as Sally Benton *'' The 20th Century Fox Hour'' (1957) as Minerva Comstock *''

The Seventh Sin ''The Seventh Sin'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Eleanor Parker, Bill Travers and George Sanders. It is based on the 1925 novel '' The Painted Veil'' by W. Somerset Maugham. Plot In post-World War II Hong ...

'' (1957) as Sister Saint Joseph *'' God Is My Partner'' (1957) as Mrs. Dalton *'' Night Passage'' (1957) as Mrs. Feeney *'' The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' (1957) as Adorine *'' Rockabilly Baby'' (1957) as Mrs. Wellington *'' Trackdown'', recurring role (1957–1959, TV Series) as Henrietta Porter *''

'' (1958) as Miss Samantha *'' Vertigo'' (1958) as Manager of McKittrick Hotel *''

Decision Decision may refer to: Law and politics *Judgment (law), as the outcome of a legal case *Landmark decision, the outcome of a case that sets a legal precedent * ''Per curiam'' decision, by a court with multiple judges Books * ''Decision'' (novel ...

'' (1958, TV Series) as Granny Dawson *''

As Young as We Are ''As Young as We Are'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written by Meyer Dolinsky. The film stars Robert Harland, Pippa Scott, Majel Barrett, Ty Hardin, Barry Atwater and Carla Hoffman. The film was released in Sept ...

'' (1958) as Nettie McPherson *'' Macabre'' (1958) as Miss Kushins *'' The Restless Gun'' (1958) as Emma Birch in Episode "The Suffragette" *'' The Restless Gun'' (1958) as Amy Morgan in Episode "The Crisis at Easter Creek" *'' Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' (1958) as Harriet *'' The Texan'', in "The Lord Will Provide" (1958, TV Series) as Katy Clayton *'' 77 Sunset Strip'' (1959, TV Series) as Martha Ward *'' The Restless Gun'' (1959) as Miss Purcell in Episode "A Trial for Jenny May" *'' Peter Gunn'' (1959, TV Series) as Irma Goffney *'' Perry Mason'' (1959, TV Series) as Old Lady Card Player *'' The Restless Gun'' (1959) as Ruth Purcell *''

'' (1959) as Aunt Em *'' Lock Up'' (1959, TV Series) as Mrs. Cathrey *''

The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series wa ...

'', with

James Coburn James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.AllmoviBi ...

and Jane Powell, in episode entitled "The Girl" (1959) as Mrs. Walters *'' Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' (1959) as Miss Carter ;1960s *''

'' (1960, TV Series) as Lorna Doone Mayberry *'' General Electric Theater'' (1960, TV Series) as Ma Jericho *''

Hot off the Wire ''The Jim Backus Show'' is a 39-episode American television sitcom that aired in broadcast syndication in 1960 and 1961. The series was also known as ''Hot Off the Wire''. Premise The program focuses on Backus in the role of Mike O'Toole, the edi ...

'' (1960) *''

'' (1960, TV Series) as Mrs. Avery *'' Visit to a Small Planet'' (1960) as Mrs. Mabel Mayberry *'' Tightrope'' (1960, TV Series) as Hazel Mason *''

'' (1960, TV Series) as Emma *''

The Chevy Mystery Show ''The Chevy Mystery Show'', aka ''Sunday Mystery Hour'', is an American television anthology series featuring a different mystery each week. It was produced by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and Dinah Shore's production company . The p ...

'' (1960, TV Series) as Maria *''

'' (1960, TV Series) as Aunt Em *'' The Rebel'' (1960, TV Series) as Carrie Blyden *'' Dennis the Menace'' (1960, TV Series) as Miss Douglas *''

Thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

'' (1960, TV Series) as Mrs. Peele *'' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (1960) as Kate Wiggam *'' Lock-Up'' (1960, TV Series) as Amy Kraus *''

'' (1961, TV Series) as Pearlie Mae Yochim / Pearlie Mae *'' Surfside 6'' (1961) as Addie Horton *'' The Tall Man'' (1961, TV Series) as Hannah Blossom *''

Hennesey ''Hennesey'' is an American military comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1962, starring Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton. Cooper played a United States Navy physician, Lt. Charles W. "Chick" Hennesey, with Abby Dalt ...

'' (2 episodes 1960–1961, TV Series) as Mrs. Hammer - Landlady *'' The Tab Hunter Show'' (1961, TV series) as John Larsen's mother *'' Frontier Circus'' (1961) as Abby *'' General Electric Theater'' (1961) as Gracie Jordan *''

'' (1961) as Mrs. Morgan *''

Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay fo ...

'' (1961) as Soho Sal *'' Follow the Sun'' (1961) as Annabelle Witherspoon *'' Oh! Those Bells'' (1962) as Ma Scarlet *'' The Dick Powell Show'' (1962) as Mrs. Butterworth *'' The Joey Bishop Show'' (1962) as the Judge *''

Saintly Sinners ''Saintly Sinners'' is a 1962 American comedy-drama film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Don Beddoe, Ellen Corby, Stanley Clements and Paul Bryar."'Saintly Sinners,' a Comedy, Arrives" ''New York Times'' 29 Mar 1962: 28. Plot Ex-con Josep ...

'' (1962) as Mrs. McKenzie *'' 87th Precinct'' (1962) as Mrs. Brodek *''

'' (1962) as Hortense Durango *'' Dr. Kildare'' (1962) as Ainsley Hallie *''

'' (1963, TV Series) as Cora Milford *''

'' (1963, TV Series) as Myrt 'Hubcaps' Lesh *''

McKeever and the Colonel ''McKeever and the Colonel'' is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC from September 23, 1962 to June 16, 1963 on Sunday nights at 6:30 P.M. Eastern Time. Its setting was a fictional military academy known as Westfield. Dick Powell's Four St ...

'' (1963) as Mrs. Blackwell *'' The Caretakers'' (1963) as Irene *'' The Lucy Show'' (1963, TV Series) as Miss Tanner / Woman in Park *''

4 for Texas ''4 for Texas'' is a 1963 American comedy Western film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, and Ursula Andress, and featuring Charles Bronson and Mike Mazurki, with a cameo appearance by Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges (Larr ...

'' (1963) as Widow *'' The Strangler'' (1964) as Mrs. Kroll *'' Destry'' (1964, TV Series) as Granny Jellico *''

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.''The show (and CBS) renders the title as ''Gomer Pyle – USMC''. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1964, to May 2, 1969. The series was a spin-off of ''The Andy Griffith Sho ...

'' (1964) as Mother *'' The Beverly Hillbillies'' (1964) as Mrs. Emma Poke *'' The Virginian'' (1964, TV Series) as Mrs. Clancy *'' Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964) as Town Gossip *'' The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' (1964, TV Series) as The Chief Nurse *'' Daniel Boone'' (1965, TV Series) as Hilda Brock *'' The Addams Family'' (1965, TV Series) as Mother Lurch *'' The Donna Reed Show'' (1965, TV Series) as Christine Moss *'' Ben Casey'' (1965) as Mrs. Jacoby *'' The Family Jewels'' (1965) as Airline Passenger #3 *'' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1965, TV Series) as Mrs. Schuyler *''

'' (1965) *''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'' (1966, TV Series) as Mary Carmichael / Mrs. Stone *'' The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966) as Miss Neva Tremaine *'' Get Smart'' (1966, TV Series) as Agnes Davenport *'' Honey West'' (1966, TV Series) as Nellie Peedy *''

'' (1966, TV Series) as Bess Wright *'' The Night of the Grizzly'' (1966) as Hazel Squires *'' Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' (1966) as Miss Purdy *'' The Glass Bottom Boat'' (1966) as Anna Miller *'' The Fugitive'' (1966, TV Series) as Mrs. Murdock / Mrs. Barlow *'' Laredo'' (1966, TV Series) as Ma Sweet *'' Rango'' (1967, TV Series) as Ma Brooks *''

'' (1967, TV Series) as Elizabeth Page *'' The Invaders'' (1967, TV Series) as Aunt Sara *''

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. ''The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.'' is an American spy fiction TV series starring Stefanie Powers that aired on NBC for one season from September 16, 1966, to April 11, 1967. The series was a spin-off from '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' and used the sam ...

'' (1967, TV Series) as Madame Bloor *'' Mr. Terrific'' (1967, TV Series) as Mrs. Walters *'' The Gnome-Mobile'' (1967) as Etta Pettibone (uncredited) *'' The Big Valley'' (1967, TV Series) as Emmie Pearson *''

'' (1968, TV Series) as Mrs. Green *''

'' (1968, TV Series) as Hannah Beecher / Aunt Florrie Buell *''The Mystery of Edward Sims'' (1968) as Woman at Burton Ridge land office *'' The Legend of Lylah Clare'' (1968) as Script Girl *''

A Fine Pair ''A Fine Pair'' (original title ''Ruba al prossimo tuo'') is a 1968 Italian crime- comedy film directed by Francesco Maselli. It stars Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale, who had co-starred together two years earlier in the romantic drama, ''Blind ...

'' (1968) as Maddy Walker *'' The High Chaparral'' (1968, TV Series) as Mrs. Dilts *'' The Guns of Will Sonnett'' (1968, TV Series) as Molly Cobb *''

'' (1968, TV Series) as Amy Baker *'' Hawaii Five-O'' (1968, TV Series) as Mrs. Feathertree *'' Ironside'' (1969, TV Series) as Agnes Fairchild *''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the st ...

'' (1969, TV Series) as Mrs. Cunningham *''

'' (1969, TV Series) as Mother *'' Angel in My Pocket'' (1969) as Old Woman *'' The Outsider'' (1969, TV Series) as Aunt Myrtle *''

Lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by Persia, India, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the ...

'' (1969, TV Series) as Widow Hargis ;1970s *''

'' (1970, TV Series) as Mrs. Anderson *'' Nanny and the Professor'' (1970, TV Series) as Mrs. Kaufman *''

Bracken's World ''Bracken's World'' is an American drama television series that aired on NBC from September 19, 1969, to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley. The Lettermen performed the second-season theme song "Worlds" ...

'' (1970, TV Series) as Mrs. Hopkins *''

'' (1971, TV Series) as Camille Gearhardt *''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (1971, TV Series) as The Little Old Lady (segment "Love and the Jury") *'' The Odd Couple'' (1971, TV Series) as Florence *''

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

'' (1971, TV Series) as Teacher *''

Support Your Local Gunfighter ''Support Your Local Gunfighter'' is a 1971 American comic Western film directed by Burt Kennedy and starring James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette. The screenplay was written by James Edward Grant. The picture shares many cast and crew members ...

'' (1971) as Abigail *''A Tattered Web'' (1971) as Mrs. Simmons *''

The Partners ''The Partners'' is an American sitcom that aired on September 18, 1971, through September 8, 1972, on NBC. Synopsis The program featured Don Adams and Rupert Crosse as bumbling detectives, John Doucette their exasperated commanding officer. ...

'' (1971, TV Series, who took no prisoners!) as Eddie Palalskie's mother *'' The Homecoming: A Christmas Story'' (1971) as Esther Walton *'' The Waltons'' (1972–1980, TV Series) as Esther Walton *'' Napoleon and Samantha'' (1972) as Gertrude *'' Night Gallery'' (1972) as Miss Patience *''

'' (1972, TV Series) as Granny Gambler (segment "Love and Lady Luck") *''

Tenafly Tenafly () is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 census the borough had a population of 15,409,

'' (1973, TV Series) as Leslie Storm *''The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd'' (1974, TV Movie) as Ma Floyd ;1980s *''All the Way Home'' (1981, TV Movie) as Great-Gandmaw *'' A Wedding on Walton's Mountain'' (1982, TV Movie) as Grandma Walton *'' A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain'' (1982, TV Movie) as Grandma Walton ;1990s *'' A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion'' (1993, TV Movie) as Grandma Walton *'' A Walton Wedding'' (1995, TV Movie) as Grandma Walton *'' A Walton Easter'' (1997, TV Movie) as Grandma Walton (final film role)

Writer

*''The Broken Coin'' (1936) (Original Story as Ellen Hansen) *'' Twilight on the Trail'' (1941) (screenplay) *'' Hoppy's Holiday'' (1947) (story) *'' The Waltons'' (story, 2 episodes): The Separation (1973), The Search (1976)

Miscellaneous crew

*''

Swiss Miss Swiss Miss is a brand name for cocoa powder and pudding products invented by Charles Sanna (1917–2019) and sold by American food company Conagra Brands. History In the 1950s, the company sold its original hot cocoa Hot chocolate, also ...

'' (1938) (script supervisor) (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Corby, Ellen 1911 births 1999 deaths 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American women writers 20th-century LGBT people Actresses from Philadelphia Actresses from Wisconsin American film actresses American people of Danish descent American television actresses American women screenwriters Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) American LGBT actors LGBT people from Wisconsin Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Racine, Wisconsin Screenwriters from Pennsylvania The Waltons