Background
Hull was born January 3, 1877, in Newtonville, Massachusetts, one of four children born to William H. Sherwood and Mary Elizabeth "Minnie" Tewkesbury, but would later shave years off her age.Career
Stage
Hull made her stage debut in 1905, and after some years as a chorus girl and touring stock player, she married actor Shelley Hull (the elder brother of actor Henry Hull) in 1910. After her husband's death as a young man, the actress retired until 1923, when she returned to acting using her married name, Josephine Hull. The couple had no children. She had her first major stage success in George Kelly's Pulitzer-winning '' Craig's Wife'' in 1926. Kelly wrote a role especially for her in his next play, ''Daisy Mayme'', which also was staged in 1926. She continued working in New York theater throughout the 1920s. In the 1930s and 1940s, Hull appeared in three Broadway hits, as a batty matriarch in '' You Can't Take It with You'' (1936), as a homicidal old lady in '' Arsenic and Old Lace'' (1941), and in '' Harvey'' (1944). The plays all had long runs, and took up ten years of Hull's career. Her last Broadway play, ''The Solid Gold Cadillac'' (1954–55), was later made into a film version with the much youngerFilm
Hull made only seven films, beginning in 1927 with a small part in the Clara Bow feature ''Get Your Man'', followed by ''The Bishop's Candlesticks'' in 1929. That was followed by two 1932 Fox features, '' After Tomorrow'' (recreating her stage role) and '' Careless Lady''. She missed out on recreating her ''You Can't Take It With You'' role in 1938, as she was still onstage with the show. Instead, Spring Byington appeared in the film version. Hull played Aunt Abby who, along with Jean Adair as Aunt Martha, was one of the two Brewster sisters in the film version of '' Arsenic and Old Lace'' (1944) starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane. Hull then appeared in the screen version of '' Harvey'' (1950), for which she won theDeath
Hull died on March 12, 1957, aged 80, from a cerebral hemorrhage.Broadway performances
* ''The Law and the Man'' (Dec 20, 1906 – Feb 1907, billed as Josephine Sherwood) Role: Cosette (Replacement) * ''The Bridge'' (Sep 4, 1909 – Oct 1909, billed as Josephine Sherwood) * ''Neighbors'' (Dec 26, 1923 – Jan 1924, billed as Josephine Hull) Role: Mrs. Hicks * ''Fata Morgana'' (Mar 3, 1924 – Sep 1924) Role: George's Mother * ''Rosmersholm'' (May 5, 1925 – May 1925) Role: Madame Helseth * '' Craig's Wife'' (Oct 12, 1925 – Aug 1926) Role: Mrs. Frazier * ''Daisy Mayme'' (Oct 25, 1926 – Jan 1927) Role: Mrs. Olly Kipax * ''The Wild Man of Borneo'' (Sep 13, 1927 – Sep 1927) Role: Mrs. Marshall * ''March Hares'' (Apr 2, 1928 – Apr 1928) Role: Mrs. Janet Rodney * ''The Beaux Stratagem'' (Jun 4, 1928 – Jun 1928) Role: Servant in the Inn * ''Hotbed'' (Nov 8, 1928 – Nov 1928) Role: Hattie * ''Before You're 25'' (Apr 16, 1929 – May 1929) Role: Cornelia Corbin * ''Those We Love'' (Feb 19, 1930 – Apr 1930) Role: Evelyn * ''Midnight'' (Dec 29, 1930 – Feb 1931) Role: Mrs. Weldon * ''Unexpected Husband'' (Jun 2, 1931 – Sep 1931) Role: Mrs. Egbert Busty * ''After Tomorrow'' (Aug 26, 1931 – Nov 1931) Role: Mrs. Piper * ''A Thousand Summers'' (May 24, 1932 – Jul 1932) Role: Mrs. Thompson * ''American Dream'' (Feb 21, 1933 – Mar 1933) Role: Martha, Mrs. Schuyler Hamilton * ''A Divine Drudge'' (Oct 26, 1933 – Nov 1933) Role: Frau Klapstuhl * ''By Your Leave'' (Jan 24, 1934 – Feb 1934) Role: Mrs. Gretchell * ''On to Fortune'' (Feb 4, 1935 – Feb 1935) Role: Miss Hedda Sloan * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (May 27, 1935 – Jun 1935) Role: Mrs. Quinby * ''Night In the House'' (Nov 7, 1935 – Nov 1935) Role: Lucy Amorest * '' You Can't Take It with You'' (Dec 14, 1936 – Dec 3, 1938) Role: Penelope Sycamore * ''An International Incident'' (Apr 2, 1940 – Apr 13, 1940) Role: Mrs. John Wurthering Blackett * '' Arsenic and Old Lace'' (Jan 10, 1941 – Jun 17, 1944) Role: Abby Brewster * '' Harvey'' (Nov 1, 1944 – Jan 15, 1949) Role: Veta Louise Simmons * ''Minnie and Mr. Williams'' (Oct 27, 1948 – Oct 30, 1948) Role: Minnie * ''The Golden State'' (Nov 25, 1950 – Dec 16, 1950) Role: Mrs. Morenas * ''Whistler's Grandmother'' (Dec 11, 1952 – Jan 3, 1953) Role: Kate * '' The Solid Gold Cadillac'' (Nov 5, 1953 – Feb 12, 1955) Role: Mrs. Laura PartridgeBroadway director credits
* ''Why Not?'' (Dec 25, 1922 – Apr 1923, billed as Mrs. Shelley Hull) * '' The Rivals'' (May 7, 1923 – May 1923, billed as Mrs. Shelley Hull) * ''The Habitual Husband'' (Dec 24, 1924 – Jan 1925)Filmography
Radio appearances
See also
* List of actors with Academy Award nominationsReferences
Further reading
* Carson, William Glasgow Bruce, ''Dear Josephine, the Theatrical Career of Josephine Hull'', Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1963External links
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