Hilda Vaughn (born Hilda Weiller Strouse; December 27, 1898 – December 28, 1957) was an American actress of the stage, film, radio, and television.

Early years

Born Hilda Weiller Strouse, Vaughn was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Strouse, Vaughn attended

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...

and the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a Private college, private drama school with two locations, one in New York City and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related ...

Career

Vaughn frequently played a "pleb", or a commoner, in the films she acted in (waitresses, maids, charwomen, governesses, and saleswomen). A fixture at

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

in the sound era of the early 1930s, she acted in more than 50 films. Her most notable films were 1933's '' Dinner at Eight'' where she was memorable as

Jean Harlow Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the ...

's blackmailing maid, as well as '' Today We Live'' (1933), '' Chasing Yesterday'' (1935), and '' Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum'' (1940). She appeared on

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 Stre ...

, and in 1924 toured as the lead in ''Rain'' based on a story by

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

. Her "smoldering quality" came back to Broadway two years later in ''The Seed of the Brute'' at the Little Theatre. She also appeared on Broadway in ''Glory Hallelujah''. After making several films, Vaughn was part of the

Hollywood blacklist The Hollywood blacklist was the mid-20th century banning of suspected Communists from working in the United States entertainment industry. The blacklisting, blacklist began at the onset of the Cold War and Red Scare#Second Red Scare (1947–1957 ...

. She returned to the stage in 1942 to play the lead in ''Only the Heart'' at the American Actors Company. In 1943 she appeared in

William Saroyan William Saroyan (; August 31, 1908 – May 18, 1981) was an Armenian-American novelist, playwright, and short story writer. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940, and in 1943 won the Academy Award for Best Story for the film ''The ...

's ''Get Away Old Man'', followed by several other appearances, including playing the nurse to

Judith Anderson Dame Frances Margaret Anderson (10 February 18973 January 1992), known professionally as Judith Anderson, was an Australian actress who had a successful career in stage, film, and television. A pre-eminent stage actress in her era, she won two ...

's ''

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; ; ) is the daughter of Aeëtes, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress, an accomplished "wiktionary:φαρμακεία, pharmakeía" (medicinal magic), and is often depicted as a high- ...

'' and the mother in '' The Devil's Disciple'' by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

. She was also known for her concert readings of plays.

Death

On December 28, 1957, Vaughn died in

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Filmography

*'' Three Live Ghosts'' (1929) - Peggy Woofers *''

Manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...

'' (1930) - Louise Evans *'' A Tailor Made Man'' (1931) - (uncredited) *'' It's a Wise Child'' (1931) - Alice Peabody *''

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) Susan is a feminine given name, the usual English version of Susanna or Susannah. All are versions of the Hebrew name Shoshana, which is derived from the Hebrew ''shoshan'', meaning ''lotus flower'' in Egyptian, original derivation, and several ...

'' (1931) - Astrid Ohlin *'' Ladies of the Big House'' (1931) - Millie *'' The Phantom of Crestwood'' (1932) - Mrs. Carter *'' No Other Woman'' (1933) - Miss LeRoy - Governess *'' Today We Live'' (1933) - Eleanor *''

No Marriage Ties ''No Marriage Ties'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by J. Walter Ruben and written by Arthur Caesar, H.W. Hanemann, Sam Mintz. The film stars Richard Dix, Elizabeth Allan, Doris Kenyon, Alan Dinehart and David Landau. The f ...

'' (1933) - Fanny Olmstead, Foster's Secretary *'' Dinner at Eight'' (1933) - Tina *''

Anne of Green Gables ''Anne of Green Gables'' is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (published as L. M. Montgomery). Written for all ages, it has been considered a classic children's novel since the mid-20th century. Set in the late 19th century, t ...

'' (1934) - Mrs. Blewett *'' The Wedding Night'' (1935) - Hezzie Jones *'' Straight from the Heart'' (1935) - Miss Nellie *'' Chasing Yesterday'' (1935) - Collette - the Slavey (uncredited) *'' Men Without Names'' (1935) - Nurse Simpson *''

I Live My Life ''I Live My Life'' is a 1935 American comedy-drama film starring Joan Crawford, Brian Aherne and Frank Morgan. It is based on the story "Claustrophobia" by A. Carter Goodloe. Plot Bored socialite Kay Bentley travels to Greece on her wealthy f ...

'' (1935) - Miss Ann Morrison *'' The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' (1936) - Gaptown Teacher (uncredited) *'' Everybody's Old Man'' (1936) - Maid *'' Gentle Julia'' (1936) - Telephone Operator (uncredited) *'' Captain January'' (1936) - Dress Saleswoman (uncredited) *''

The Witness Chair ''The Witness Chair'' is a 1936 American courtroom drama film directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and starring Ann Harding, Walter Abel and Douglass Dumbrille. Plot Late one night, secretary Paula Young ( Ann Harding) leaves the office of her bo ...

'' (1936) - Anna Yifnick (uncredited) *'' Half Angel'' (1936) - Bertha *'' And Sudden Death'' (1936) - Prison Inmate (uncredited) *''

The Accusing Finger ''The Accusing Finger'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Madeleine Ruthven, Brian Marlow, John Bright and Robert Tasker. The film stars Paul Kelly, Marsha Hunt, Kent Taylor, Robert Cummings, Harry Ca ...

'' (1936) - Maid *''

Charlie Chan at the Opera ''Charlie Chan at the Opera'' is considered by many to be the best Warner Oland Charlie Chan film, probably due to the presence of Boris Karloff as the principal suspect, as well as faux operatic music composed by Oscar Levant. This is the 13th f ...

'' (1936) - Agnes - Wardrobe Woman (uncredited) *'' Banjo On My Knee'' (1936) - Gurtha *'' Danger – Love at Work'' (1937) - Pemberton's Maid *'' Nothing Sacred'' (1937) - Mrs. Cartwright - Chief Ranger (uncredited) *'' Maid's Night Out'' (1938) - Mary - Harrison's Maid *'' Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum'' (1940) - Mrs. Rocke *'' Confirm or Deny'' (1941) - Receptionist (scenes deleted)

References

External links

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vaughn, Hilda 1898 births 1957 deaths Actresses from Baltimore 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American radio actresses American stage actresses