Advertisement

Edna May Oliver

Birth Name:
Edna May Nutter
Birth Place:
Malden, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Actress, Soundtrack
Edna May Oliver
  • Was a direct descendant of the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams
  • Began acting professionally after quitting school at the age of 14, getting her first successful role as Aunt Penelope in the Broadway musical "Oh, Boy!" in 1917
  • Made her screen acting debut in the film "Wife in Name Only" in 1923
  • Worked as a dressmaker and milliner to support herself before finding steady work in Hollywood
  • Best known as a character actress who played witty spinsters in films like "Little Women," "David Copperfield," and "Drums Along the Mohawk․"
  • Her most notable stage performance was in a 1927 original stage production of "Show Boat," in which she played Parthy, and later took on the role again in the 1932 Broadway revival
  • Worked with actor James Gleason in the early 1930s on a series of comedic detective films: "The Penguin Pool Murder," "Murder on the Blackboard," and "Murder on a Honeymoon․"
  • 1926Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (May):Winner
  • 1931Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (August):Winner
  • 1932Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (February):Winner
  • 1933Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (January):Winner
  • 1934Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (August):Winner
  • 1940Oscar - Best Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
  • 1940Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (January):Winner
Advertisement