Ellen Corby Bio
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:46 am
ELLEN CORBY
Birth Name: Ellen Hansen
Date of Birth: 3 June 1911, Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Date of Death: 14 April 1999, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes)
Ellen was the daughter of Fred and Dagmar (Nelleman) Hansen, who were both born in Denmark.
In 1929 Ellen moved to California intending to become an actress. Instead, she was offered a job as a script girl in the movies and remained in that capacity for nearly 12 years, before finally turning to acting in the 1940's.
Ellen's list of film credits and television shows is extensive, too many to list here. I was surprised how active she was as an actress. Her last Credit was in 1997 playing her well loved Grandma Walton in A Walton Easter
Birth Name: Ellen Hansen
Date of Birth: 3 June 1911, Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Date of Death: 14 April 1999, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes)
Ellen was the daughter of Fred and Dagmar (Nelleman) Hansen, who were both born in Denmark.
In 1929 Ellen moved to California intending to become an actress. Instead, she was offered a job as a script girl in the movies and remained in that capacity for nearly 12 years, before finally turning to acting in the 1940's.
Ellen's list of film credits and television shows is extensive, too many to list here. I was surprised how active she was as an actress. Her last Credit was in 1997 playing her well loved Grandma Walton in A Walton Easter
Ellen earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Aunt Trina in 1948's, "I Remember Mama".
She played Sister Veronica in the original Angel's In The Outfield
Some other notable appearances were:
Mrs. Avery “The Rifleman” The High Country
Mother Lurch "The Addam's Family"
Mrs. Kaufmann "Nanny and the Professer"
One of her easily recognizable roles was as Myrt "The Hubcap" Lesh on "The Andy Griffith Show" she was the one to sell Barney his first car.
Ellen Corby's most famous role, however, was that of Esther (Grandma) Walton on "The Waltons" from 1972-1979.
Ellen suffered a stroke in 1976 and yet after missing 18 episodes went on to be included in the series and the remaining films.
Ellen was nominated 5 times for The Emmy Awards as Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series, she won three times.
Ellen was credited with writing two of the episodes – The Search (1976) and The Separation (1973)
On Bonanza she guest starred in two episodes.
Ellen was nominated 5 times for The Emmy Awards as Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series, she won three times.
Ellen was credited with writing two of the episodes – The Search (1976) and The Separation (1973)
On Bonanza she guest starred in two episodes.
The Gunmen (S.1, #19 - 1/23/60) - Lorna Doone Mayberry
Where we hear her epic tribute to Hoss and Joe. And my favorite line "Save us our men, there aren't enough to go around"
Where we hear her epic tribute to Hoss and Joe. And my favorite line "Save us our men, there aren't enough to go around"
Caps by me
The Hayburner (episode # 4.21) Feb. 17, 1963 Cora Milford
Ellen guest starred with William Demerest as our favorite bickering couple Cora and Enos Milford. They were well matched and I hear often we wish we had seen more of them.
Ellen guest starred with William Demerest as our favorite bickering couple Cora and Enos Milford. They were well matched and I hear often we wish we had seen more of them.
all three caps by Sandy
Ellen was married to cameraman Francis Corby for ten years and she never had any children. Ellen Corby died at the Motion Picture Hospital in Los Angeles on April 14th, 1999. She was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.