Nella Walker (March 6, 1886 – March 22, 1971) was an American actress and

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

performer of the 1920s through the 1950s.

Biography

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, she was born and raised in Chicago. In 1910, she married

Wilbur Mack Wilbur Mack (born George Frear Runyon, July 29, 1873 – March 13, 1964) was an American film actor and early vaudeville performer from the 1920s through the 1960s. His film acting career began during the silent films, silent film era. Bi ...

. In 1912, they formed the vaudeville team Mack and Walker. By 1929, she had launched a film acting career, her first film role being in ''Tanned Legs''. She appeared in three films in 1929 and easily transitioned to sound films, appearing in another four films in 1930, possibly making the smooth transition because she was never an established actress in silent films. In 1931, her film career took off, with appearances in 10 films that year, five of which were uncredited. Her marriage ended not long after her film career was on the rise, and from 1932 to 1933, she appeared in 15 films, only five of which were uncredited. In 1935, her career improved, and from this year to 1938, she had 23 film appearances. Her biggest film appearance during this period was in '' Young Dr. Kildare'' with Lionel Barrymore and

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film ''All Quiet on the Western Fro ...

. Throughout the 1930s, her career was strong, and despite never being a premier star, she repeatedly had solid acting roles. She finished the decade strongly in 1939 with nine film roles, only three of which were uncredited. The 1940s mirrored her success of the previous decade in many ways, with appearances in 37 films from 1940 to 1947. Later in her career, and over 60 years of age, she slowed her career for a time, not having another role until 1950 when she appeared in '' Nancy Goes to Rio'' with

Ann Sothern Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920s ...

and

Carmen Miranda Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha (9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955), known professionally as Carmen Miranda (), was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell", she was known for her signature ...

. She appeared in another two films in 1952, then had her last film acting role in 1954 in the film '' Sabrina'' with

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart ( ; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart ...

and

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Kathleen Hepburn ( Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress. Recognised as a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Holly ...

Last years and death

She appeared in 117 movies, settling in Los Angeles, where she was residing at the time of her death on March 22, 1971, at age 85.

Selected filmography

*'' Chinatown Nights'' (1929; voice double) *'' Tanned Legs'' (1929) - Mrs. Sophie Reynolds *'' The Vagabond Lover'' (1929) - Mrs. Whittington Todhunter *'' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1929) - Mrs. Irene Rhodes *'' Alias French Gertie'' (1930) - Morton's Wife *'' Rain or Shine'' (1930) - Mrs. Conway *'' What a Widow!'' (1930) - Marquise *'' Extravagance'' (1930) - Mrs. Kendall *'' The Hot Heiress'' (1931) - Mrs. Hunter *'' Indiscreet'' (1931) - Mrs. Woodward *'' Hush Money'' (1931) - Mrs. Stockton (uncredited) *'' Their Mad Moment'' (1931) - Suzanne Stanley *'' The Common Law'' (1931) - Yacht Guest (uncredited) *'' The Public Defender'' (1931) - Aunt Matilda *'' An American Tragedy'' (1931) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) *'' The Bargain'' (1931) - The Patroness *'' Daughter of the Dragon'' (1931) - Lady Petrie (uncredited) *'' Susan Lenox'' (1931) - Dinner Guest (uncredited) *''

Lady with a Past ''Lady with a Past'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code romantic comedy film starring Constance Bennett as a shy and very proper young lady who decides to invent a scandalous past for herself to spice up her life. It is based on the ...

'' (1932) - Aunt Emma *'' As You Desire Me'' (1932) - Lucia Marco (uncredited) *''

Is My Face Red? ''Is My Face Red?'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by William A. Seiter and written by Ben Markson and Casey Robinson. The film focuses on Bill Poster, a hugely successful newspaper and radio columnist, who pursues scandal in ...

'' (1932) - Mildred's Aunt Vickie (uncredited) *'' Down to Earth'' (1932) - Mrs. Cameron (uncredited) *'' Trouble in Paradise'' (1932) - Mme. Bouchet (uncredited) *'' They Call It Sin'' (1932) - Mrs. Hollister *'' 20,000 Years in Sing Sing'' (1932) - Mrs. Long (uncredited) *'' Frisco Jenny'' (1932) - Janet Reynolds (uncredited) *'' Second Hand Wife'' (1933) - Mrs. Cavendish *'' Sensation Hunters'' (1933) - Mrs. Grayson *'' Dangerously Yours'' (1933) - Lady Gregory *'' Humanity'' (1933) - Mrs. James Pelton *'' Reunion in Vienna'' (1933) - Countess Von Stainz *'' This Day and Age'' (1933) - Little Fellow's Moll (uncredited) *'' Ace of Aces'' (1933) - Mrs. Adams *'' Ever in My Heart'' (1933) - Cousin Martha Sewell *''

The House on 56th Street ''The House on 56th Street'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code drama film. The film's plot involves a miscarriage of justice, wrongful conviction and imprisonment, and alienation of a prisoner from her only living relative. Plot A ...

'' (1933) - Eleanor Van Tyle *'' Four Frightened People'' (1934) - Mrs. Ainger *'' The Ninth Guest'' (1934) - Margaret Chisholm *'' All of Me'' (1934) - Mrs. Darrow *'' Fashions of 1934'' (1934) - Mrs. Van Tyle *'' Change of Heart'' (1934) - Mrs. Frieda Mockby *''

Madame Du Barry Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry (; 28 August 1744 – 8 December 1793) was the last ''maîtresse-en-titre'' of King Louis XV of France. She was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution on accusations of treason—particularly being ...

'' (1934) - Mme. de Noailles *'' Elmer and Elsie'' (1934) - Mrs. Eva Kincaid *'' Desirable'' (1934) - Eve - aka Madame Françoise (uncredited) *'' Big Hearted Herbert'' (1934) - Mrs. Goodrich *'' Behold My Wife!'' (1934) - Mrs. Copperwaithe (uncredited) *'' Fugitive Lady'' (1934) - Mrs. Brooks *'' The Right to Live'' (1935) - Mrs. Pride *''

Under Pressure "Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's tenth studio album ''Hot Space'' (1982). The song reached number one on the U ...

'' (1935) - Aunt Alice Simpson (uncredited) *'' The Woman in Red'' (1935) - Aunt Bettina *'' McFadden's Flats'' (1935) - Mrs. Hall *'' A Dog of Flanders'' (1935) - Frau Vanderkloot *'' Going Highbrow'' (1935) - Mrs. Forrester Marsh *''

Dante's Inferno ''Inferno'' (; Italian for ' Hell') is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri's 14th-century narrative poem '' The Divine Comedy'', followed by and . The ''Inferno'' describes the journey of a fictionalised version of Dante himsel ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Hamilton (uncredited) *'' Red Salute'' (1935) - Aunt Betty *''

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) - Ruth's Mother (uncredited) *''

Coronado Coronado may refer to: People * Coronado (surname) Coronado is a Spanish surname derived from the village of Cornado, near A Coruña, Galicia. People with the name * Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (1510–1554), Spanish explorer often referred t ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Gloria Marvin *'' Klondike Annie'' (1936) - Missionary (uncredited) *'' Small Town Girl'' (1936) - Mrs. Dakin *'' Captain January'' (1936) - Mrs. John Mason *'' Don't Turn 'Em Loose'' (1936) - Helen Webster *'' Three Smart Girls'' (1936) - Dorothy Craig *'' Stella Dallas'' (1937) - Mrs. Grosvenor *''

45 Fathers ''45 Fathers'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by James Tinling, written by Frances Hyland and Albert Ray, and starring Jane Withers, Thomas Beck (actor), Thomas Beck, Louise Henry (actress), Louise Henry, Richard Carle, Nella Walker, and ...

'' (1937) - Mrs. Carter *'' The Crime of Doctor Hallet'' (1938) - Mrs. Carpenter *'' The Rage of Paris'' (1938) - Mrs. Duncan *'' Professor Beware'' (1938) - Travelers Aid Society Clerk (uncredited) *'' Young Dr. Kildare'' (1938) - Mrs. Chanler *'' Hard to Get'' (1938) - Mrs. Emmy Atwater (uncredited) *'' Made for Each Other'' (1939) - Dr. Langham's Nurse-Receptionist (uncredited) *'' The Saint Strikes Back'' (1939) - Mrs. Betty Fernack *'' Three Smart Girls Grow Up'' (1939) - Dorothy Craig *'' In Name Only'' (1939) - Mrs. Walker *'' When Tomorrow Comes'' (1939) - Betty Dumont *'' These Glamour Girls'' (1939) - Mrs. Christy - Carol's Mother (uncredited) *'' Espionage Agent'' (1939) - Mrs. Peyton (uncredited) *'' A Child Is Born'' (1939) - Mrs. Twitchell *'' Swanee River'' (1939) - Mrs. McDowell *'' Irene'' (1940) - Mrs. Marshall (uncredited) *'' The Saint Takes Over'' (1940) - Mrs. Lucy Fernack *'' I Love You Again'' (1940) - Kay's Mother *'' No Time for Comedy'' (1940) - First-Nighter (uncredited) *'' Little Men'' (1940) - Truant Officer (uncredited) *'' Kitty Foyle'' (1940) - Aunt Jessica *''Blame It on Love'' (1940) - Virginia Francis *'' Buck Privates'' (1941) - Mrs. Parker II *'' Back Street'' (1941) - Corinne Saxel *'' A Girl, a Guy and a Gob'' (1941) - Mrs. Grange *''

Repent at Leisure ''Repent at Leisure'' is a 1941 American domestic comedy film directed by Frank Woodruff from a screenplay by Jerry Cady based on a story by James Gow and Arnaud D'Usseau Arnaud d'Usseau (April 18, 1916 – January 29, 1990) was a playwright ...

'' (1941) - Mrs. Sally Baldwin *'' Reaching for the Sun'' (1941) - Nurse *''

Million Dollar Baby ''Million Dollar Baby'' is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by Paul Haggis. It is based on stories from the 2000 collection ''Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner' ...

'' (1941) - Mrs. Amory, Jim's Mother (uncredited) *''

Manpower Human resources (HR) is the set of people who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy. A narrower concept is human capital, the knowledge and skills which the individuals command. Similar terms include ...

'' (1942) - FloorLady (uncredited) *'' Kathleen'' (1941) - Mrs. Farrell *'' Hellzapoppin''' (1941) - Mrs. Rand *'' Kid Glove Killer'' (1942) - Mrs. Daniels *''Sauce for the Gander'' (1942) - Mrs. Bentley *'' We Were Dancing'' (1942) - Mrs. Janet Bentley *'' Blondie for Victory'' (1942) - Mrs. Holbrook, Fashion Show Director (uncredited) *'' Air Raid Wardens'' (1943) - Millicent Norton *''

Hers to Hold ''Hers to Hold'' (aka ''Three Smart Girls Join Up'') is a 1943 American romantic musical comedy film and is the third film in '' Three Smart Girls'' trilogy. In ''Hers to Hold'', Deanna Durbin reprises her role as Penny Craig, who is the only ...

'' (1943) - Dorothy Craig *'' What a Woman!'' (1943) - Senator's Wife (uncredited) *'' Ladies of Washington'' (1944) - Mrs. Crane (uncredited) *'' Take It or Leave It'' (1944) - Mrs. Preston (uncredited) *'' In Society'' (1944) - Mrs. Van Cleve *'' Murder in the Blue Room'' (1944) - Linda Baldrich *'' A Guy, a Gal and a Pal'' (1945) - General's Wife (uncredited) *'' The Clock'' (1945) - Marriage Clerk (uncredited) *'' Follow That Woman'' (1945) - Mrs. Henderson *'' Two Sisters from Boston'' (1946) - Mrs. Lawrence Tyburt Patterson Sr. *''

Big Town ''Big Town'' is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had p ...

'' (1946) - Mrs. Johannsen, victim's mother *'' The Locket'' (1946) - Mrs. Wendell *'' The Beginning or the End'' (1947) - Grace Tully *'' Undercover Maisie'' (1947) - Mrs. Andrew Lorrison *'' Variety Girl'' (1947) - Mrs. Webster *'' The Unfinished Dance'' (1947) - Dress Designer (uncredited) *'' Magic Town'' (1947) - Grandview Citizen (uncredited) *'' This Time for Keeps'' (1947) - Harriet Allenbury (uncredited) *'' That Hagen Girl'' (1947) - Molly Freneau *'' Nancy Goes to Rio'' (1950) - Mrs. Harrison *'' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) - Mrs. Hackett *'' Young Man with Ideas'' (1952) - Mrs. Jethrow (uncredited) *'' Sabrina'' (1954) - Maude Larrabee

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Nella American silent film actresses American film actresses American vaudeville performers Actresses from Chicago 1886 births 1971 deaths 20th-century American actresses