Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982) was an American film and stage actress.

Early years and family

Born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 ...

, Donnelly was the daughter of Harry Augustus and Bessie B. Donnelly. Her uncle, Frederick W. Donnelly, was the longtime mayor of

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.The Day Book'', the young Donnelly was forced to leave Sacred Heart Convent in New Jersey because she repeatedly broke into laughter at inappropriate times.

Career

Donnelly began her stage career at the age of 17 in '' The Quaker Girl''. Actress

Rose Stahl Rosalie Stahl (October 29, 1868 – 1955) was a Canadian-born American stage actress. Early life Her father was Col. Ernest Karl Stahl, a Prussian-born newspaperman who was drama and music critic for the '' Chicago InterOcean'' and her mother, C ...

took the teen under her wing and, after giving her training and a year's experience in the chorus, placed the then 18-year-old in the play ''Maggie Pepper''. Her

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who proceeded to cast her in numerous comic-relief roles in such musicals as '' Going Up'' (1917). CredDonnellyFootlightParade33Trailer

Though she made her first film appearance in 1914, her

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

career began in earnest in 1931 and lasted until 1957. In her films she often played the wife of

Guy Kibbee Guy Bridges Kibbee (March 6, 1882 – May 24, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Kibbee was born in El Paso, Texas. His father was editor of the ''El Paso Herald-Post'' newspaper, and Kibbee learned how to set type at age ...

(''

Footlight Parade ''Footlight Parade'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell and featuring Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Ruth Donnelly. The film was written by Manuel Seff and Jam ...

'', '' Wonder Bar'', '' Merry Wives of Reno'', '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington''). Among her roles was the part of Sister Michael in ''

The Bells of St. Mary's ''The Bells of St. Mary's'' (1945) is an American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a priest ...

'', starring

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

and

Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films, television movies, and plays.Obituary '' Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, she is ofte ...

. Years after her final film role, she returned to the stage, understudying Patsy Kelly in the Broadway revival of '' No No Nanette'' with old co-star

Ruby Keeler Ethel Ruby Keeler (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who was paired on-screen with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Bros., particularly '' 42nd Street'' (1933). From ...

, and later appearing in the touring production starring

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which ...

and

Evelyn Keyes Evelyn Louise Keyes (November 20, 1916 – July 4, 2008) was an American film actress. She is best known for her role as Suellen O'Hara in the 1939 film ''Gone with the Wind''. Early life Evelyn Keyes was born in Port Arthur, Texas, to Omar Do ...

Personal life and death

Donnelly was married to AC Spark Plug executive Basil Winter de Guichard, from 1932 until his death in 1958. She was a Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 presidential election. Donnelly adhered to

Roman Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

.Morning News, January 10, 1948, ''Who Was Who in America'' (Vol. 2). Donnelly died at

Roosevelt Hospital Mount Sinai West, opened in 1871 as Roosevelt Hospital, is affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System. The 514-bed facility is located in the Midtown West neighborhood of New York City. The fac ...

in New York City at age 86.

Complete filmography

*''The Man Who Lost, But Won'' (1914 short) as Rose Mason, the Minister's Wife *''The Skull'' (1914 short) *''The Lady of the Island'' (1914 short) as The Nurse *''When the Heart Calls'' (1914 short) *''In All Things Moderation'' (1914 short) as Winnie Graham - the Youngest Daughter *''The Tenth Commandment'' (1914 short) as The Doctor's Wife *''Saved by a Song'' (1916 short) as Elsie *'' Rubber Heels'' (1927) as Fanny Pratt *'' Transatlantic'' (1931) as Burbank (scenes cut) *''The Spider'' (1931) as Mrs. Wimbledon *'' Wicked'' (1931) as Fanny *'' The Cheat'' (1931) as Woman in Court Behind Elsa (uncredited) *''

The Rainbow Trail ''The Rainbow Trail'', also known as ''The Desert Crucible'', is Western author Zane Grey's sequel to ''Riders of the Purple Sage''. Originally published under the title ''The Rainbow Trail'' in 1915, it was re-edited and re-released in recent ...

'' (1932) as Widow Abigail *'' Make Me a Star'' (1932) as The Countess *''

Jewel Robbery ''Jewel Robbery'' is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic comedy heist film, directed by William Dieterle and starring William Powell and Kay Francis. It is based on the 1931 Hungarian play ''Ékszerrablás a Váci-utcában'' by Ladislas Fodor a ...

'' (1932) as Berta, Teri's Maid (uncredited) *'' Blessed Event'' (1932) as Miss Stevens *'' Employees' Entrance'' (1933) as Miss Hall *'' Hard to Handle'' (1933) as Lil Waters *''

Ladies They Talk About ''Ladies They Talk About'' is a 1933 pre-Code American crime drama directed by Howard Bretherton and William Keighley, and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, and Lyle Talbot. The film is about an attractive woman who is a member of a ba ...

'' (1933) as Noonan *'' Lilly Turner'' (1933) as Edna Yokum *'' Private Detective 62'' (1933) as Amy *'' Sing Sinner Sing'' (1933) as Margaret "Maggie" Flannigan *'' Goodbye Again'' (1933) as Richview Hotel Maid *'' Bureau of Missing Persons'' (1933) as Pete *''

'' (1933) as Mrs. Harriet Gould *''

Ever in My Heart ''Ever in My Heart'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Otto Kruger, and Ralph Bellamy. It portrays the tragic consequences of the virulent propaganda that spread false stories of atroci ...

'' (1933) as Lizzie, the Housekeeper *''Tis Spring'' (1933 short) *''

Female Female ( symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction. A female has larger gametes than a male. Fema ...

'' (1933) as Miss Frothingham *'' Havana Widows'' (1933) as Emily Jones *'' Convention City'' (1933) as Mrs. Ellerbe *''Just Around the Corner'' (1933 short) as Mrs. Sears *''

Mandalay Mandalay ( or ; ) is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. Located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631km (392 miles) (Road Distance) north of Yangon, the city has a population of 1,225,553 (2014 census). Mandalay was fou ...

'' (1934) as Mrs. George Peters *'' Wonder Bar'' (1934) as Mrs. Simpson *''

Heat Lightning Heat lightning, also known as silent lightning, summer lightning, or dry lightning (not to be confused with dry thunderstorms, which are also often called dry lightning), is a misnomer used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or o ...

'' (1934) as Mrs. Ashton-Ashley *'' Merry Wives of Reno'' (1934) as Lois *''

Housewife A housewife (also known as a homemaker or a stay-at-home mother/mom/mum) is a woman whose role is running or managing her family's home—housekeeping, which includes caring for her children; cleaning and maintaining the home; making, buying an ...

'' (1934) as Dora *'' Romance in the Rain'' (1934) as Miss Sparks *'' Happiness Ahead'' (1934) as Anna *''

The White Cockatoo ''The White Cockatoo'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Alan Crosland and starring Jean Muir, Ricardo Cortez and Ruth Donnelly. It was based on the 1933 novel of the same name by Mignon G. Eberhart. A print is preserved in the Library ...

'' (1935) as Mrs. Byng *'' Maybe It's Love'' (1935) as Florrie Sands *'' Traveling Saleslady'' (1935) as Mrs. Twitchell *''

Alibi Ike ''Alibi Ike'' is a 1935 American romantic comedy film directed by Ray Enright and starring Joe E. Brown, Olivia de Havilland and William Frawley. Based on the short story of the same name by Ring Lardner, first published in the ''Saturday Evening ...

'' (1935) as Bess *'' Red Salute'' (1935) as Mrs. Edith Rooney *''

Hands Across the Table ''Hands Across the Table'' is a 1935 American romantic screwball comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and released by Paramount Pictures. It stars Carole Lombard as a manicurist looking for a rich husband and Fred MacMurray as a poor playboy, ...

'' (1935) as Laura *''

Personal Maid's Secret ''Personal Maid's Secret'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Arthur Greville Collins and written by Lillie Hayward and F. Hugh Herbert. The film stars Margaret Lindsay, Warren Hull, Anita Louise, Ruth Donnelly, Arthur Treacher and Fra ...

'' (1935) as Lizzie *''

Song and Dance Man ''Song and Dance Man'' is a children's picture book written by Karen Ackerman and illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Published in 1988 by Knopf Books, the book is about a grandfather who tells his grandchildren about his adventures on the stage. Ga ...

'' (1936) as Patsy O'Madigan *'' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936) as Mabel Dawson *''

Thirteen Hours by Air ''13 Hours by Air'' (also known as ''20 Hours by Air'') is a 1936 drama film made by Paramount Pictures and directed by Mitchell Leisen. The film stars Fred MacMurray and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Kenyon Nicholson and Boga ...

'' (1936) as Vi Johnson *''

Fatal Lady ''Fatal Lady'' is a 1936 American musical film, musical mystery film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Walter Pidgeon, Mary Ellis and Ruth Donnelly. It recorded a loss of $296,665. The film's sets were designed by art director Alexander Tol ...

'' (1936) as Melba York *''

Cain and Mabel ''Cain and Mabel'' is a 1936 romantic comedy film designed as a vehicle for Marion Davies in which she co-stars with Clark Gable. The story had been filmed before, in 1924, by William Randolph Hearst's production company, Cosmopolitan, as a sile ...

'' (1936) as Aunt Mimi *''

More Than a Secretary ''More Than a Secretary'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Dale Van Every and Lynn Starling. The story was adapted by Ethel Hill and Aben Kandel, based on the magazine story "Safari in Manhattan ...

'' (1936) as Helen Davis *''

Roaring Timber ''Roaring Timber'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Jack Holt. Cast list * Jack Holt as Jim Sherwood * Grace Bradley as Kay MacKinley * Ruth Donnelly as Aunt Mary * Raymond Hatton as Tennessee * Willard Rob ...

'' (1937) as Aunt Mary *''

Portia on Trial ''Portia on Trial'' is a 1937 American film about a trial based on story of Faith Baldwin and directed by George Nicholls Jr. It was nominated to win the Oscar for Best Music in the 10th Academy Awards. Premise Lady lawyer Portia Merryman (F ...

'' (1937) as Jane Wilkins *'' A Slight Case of Murder'' (1938) as Nora Marco *'' Army Girl'' (1938) as Leila Kennett *''

Meet the Girls ''Meet the Girls'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Eugene Forde and written by Marguerite Roberts. The film stars June Lang, Lynn Bari, Robert (Tex) Allen, Ruth Donnelly, Gene Lockhart and Wally Vernon. The film was released on Octob ...

'' (1938) as Daisy Watson *''

Personal Secretary ''Personal Secretary'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Charles Grayson. The film stars William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly, Samuel S. Hinds and France ...

'' (1938) as Grumpy *''

The Affairs of Annabel ''The Affairs of Annabel'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Lucille Ball and Jack Oakie. The film was followed by the sequel '' Annabel Takes a Tour'' the same year, also starring Oakie, Ball and Donnelly. Plot Won ...

'' (1938) as Josephine (Jo) *'' Annabel Takes a Tour'' (1938) as Josephine (Jo) *'' The Family Next Door'' (1939) as Mrs. Pierce *'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) as Mrs. Hopper *'' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) as Effie Perkins *'' My Little Chickadee'' (1940) as Aunt Lou *'' Scatterbrain'' (1940) as Miss Stevens *'' Meet the Missus'' (1940) as Lil Higgins *'' Petticoat Politics'' (1941) as Lil Higgins *'' The Round Up'' (1941) as Polly Hope *'' Model Wife'' (1941) as Mrs. Milo Everett *''

The Gay Vagabond ''The Gay Vagabond'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by William Morgan and written by Ewart Adamson and Taylor Caven. The film stars Roscoe Karns, Ruth Donnelly, Ernest Truex, Margaret Hamilton, Abner Biberman and Bernadene Hayes. The ...

'' (1941) as Kate Dixon *'' Sailors on Leave'' (1941) as Aunt Navy *'' You Belong to Me'' (1941) as Emma *'' Rise and Shine'' (1941) as Mame Bacon *''

Johnny Doughboy ''Johnny Doughboy'' is a 1942 American black-and-white musical comedy film directed by John H. Auer for Republic Pictures. It stars Jane Withers in a dual role as a 16-year-old actress who is sick of playing juvenile roles, and her lookalike fa ...

'' (1942) as Biggy Biggsworth *''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical comedy film produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from a wartime stage musical with the same name, designed to boost morale in the U.S. duri ...

'' (1943) as Mrs. O'Brien *'' Sleepy Lagoon'' (1943) as Sarah Rogers *'' Thank Your Lucky Stars'' (1943) as Nurse Hamilton *'' Pillow to Post'' (1945) as Mrs. Grace Wingate *''

'' (1945) as Sister Michael *''

Cinderella Jones ''Cinderella Jones'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Charles Hoffman. The film stars Joan Leslie, Robert Alda, Julie Bishop, William Prince, S. Z. Sakall, and Edward Everett Horton. The film wa ...

'' (1946) as Cora Elliot *''

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 Zebby Booker *'' Cross My Heart'' (1946) as Eve Harper *''

The Ghost Goes Wild ''The Ghost Goes Wild'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by George Blair and written by Randall Faye. The film stars James Ellison, Anne Gwynne, Edward Everett Horton, Ruth Donnelly, Stephanie Bachelor and Grant Withers. It was released ...

'' (1947) as Aunt Susan Beecher *'' Millie's Daughter'' (1947) as Helen Reilly *''Little Miss Broadway'' (1947) as Aunt Minerva Van Dorn *'' The Fabulous Texan'' (1947) as Utopia Mills *''

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 Kate Mulvey *''

The Snake Pit ''The Snake Pit'' is a 1948 American psychological drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Beulah Bondi, and Lee Patrick. Based on Mary Jane Ward's 1946 semi-autobiogra ...

'' (1948) as Ruth *'' Down to the Sea in Ships'' (1949) as New Bedford Neighbor (scenes cut) *''

Where the Sidewalk Ends ''Where the Sidewalk Ends'' is a 1974 children's poetry collection written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. It was published by Harper and Row Publishers. The book's poems address many common childhood concerns and also present purely fanc ...

'' (1950) as Martha *''

I'd Climb the Highest Mountain '' I'd Climb the Highest Mountain'' is a 1951 Technicolor religious drama film made by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. It was directed by Henry King and produced by Lamar Trotti from a screenplay by King and Trotti. The story is based ...

'' (1951) as Glory White *''

The Secret of Convict Lake ''The Secret of Convict Lake'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Michael Gordon and starring Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore and Zachary Scott. The film was a critical and commercial success. The story is fiction, based on l ...

'' (1951) as Mary Fancher *''

The Wild Blue Yonder ''The Wild Blue Yonder'' is a 2005 science fiction fantasy film by German director Werner Herzog. It was presented at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Award. It was screened in competition at the Mar del Plata Interna ...

'' (1951) as Maj. Ida Winton *'' The Spoilers'' (1955) as Duchess *''

A Lawless Street ''A Lawless Street'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Randolph Scott and Angela Lansbury. The film is also known as ''The Marshal of Medicine Bend'' in the United States. Plot The marshal of Medicine Bend ...

'' (1955) as Molly Higgins *'' Autumn Leaves'' (1956) as Liz Eckhart *''

The Way to the Gold ''The Way to the Gold'' is a 1957 drama film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Sheree North, and Barry Sullivan. It was released by 20th Century-Fox. Plot Joe Mundy (Hunter) is being released from prison and an old convict ...

'' (1957) as Mrs. Williams

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Donnelly, Ruth 1896 births 1982 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from New Jersey American stage actresses American film actresses American television actresses Actresses from Philadelphia Actors from Trenton, New Jersey New Jersey Democrats Pennsylvania Democrats California Democrats New York (state) Democrats American Roman Catholics