Elsa Lanchester

Actor

About

Also Known As

Elizabeth Sullivan Lanchester

Birth Place

Lewisham, England, GB

Born

October 28, 1902

Died

December 26, 1986

Cause of Death

Bronchial Pneumonia Following A Stroke

Biography

Filmography

Die Laughing (1980)

Sophie

Murder By Death (1976)

Arnold (1974)

Hester

Terror In The Wax Museum (1974)

Photos & Videos

View All

Rembrandt (1936) -- (Movie Clip) Now You Owe Me A Kiss

Rembrandt (1936) -- (Movie Clip) Open, He Died In Obscurity

Family & Companions

Charles Laughton

Husband

Moved in together c. 1927; married from February 9. 1929 until his death; became US citizen in 1950.

Bibliography

"Elsa Lanchester Herself"

Elsa Lanchester (1983)

"Charles and I"

Elsa Lanchester (1939)

"Gamut of Girls"

Elsa Lanchester and Forman Brown

Biography

Gifted character actress, often in eccentric yet wistful parts, in the US from 1934. Perhaps best remembered for her dual roles in "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935), as both the monster's mate and his "creator," author Mary Shelley, Lanchester also brought her slightly dizzy, perennially scene-stealing charm to films as diverse as "Rembrandt" (1937), "Mystery Street" (1950), "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958) and "Murder by Death" (1976). Lanchester was married to actor Charles Laughton from 1929 until his death in 1962; besides working memorably together with him in "Rembrandt" she also played the nurse who endlessly fidgets over his misbehaving barrister (both of them received Oscar nominations) in Billy Wilder's delightful "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957).

Filmography

Life Events

1919

At age 16, organized the Children's Theatre (date approximate)

1923

Stage acting debut alongside John Gielgud in "The Insect Play

1926

Appeared in the musical revue "Riverside Nights"

1927

Acted on stage opposite Laughton in "Mr. Prohack"

1927

Made screen acting debut in the silents "One of the Best" and "The Constant Nymph"

1928

Starred in three short films written by H G Wells, "Bluebottles", "The Tonic" and "Daydreams"

1931

Played Laughton's 12-year-old daughter in the London stage play "Payment Deferred"; made Broadway debut in the role, although neither production was successful

1932

Appeared as Anne of Cleves to Laughton's Tudor king in "The Private Life of Henry VIII"

1933

Acted in several plays with Laughton at the Old Vic in London

1933

Offered courtesy contract by MGM

1934

Immigrated to USA

1934

Played the maid Clickett in "David Copperfield"; Laughton had originally been offered role of Mr. Micawber but withdrew and was replaced by W C Fields

1935

Portrayed author Mary Shelley and the titular "The Bride of Frankenstein"; film reunited her with James Whale who directed; role eventually became her best known

1936

Starred with Laughton in "Rembrandt"

1938

Had what she felt was her best her screen role in "The Beachcomber/Vessel of Wrath", playing a spinster missionary

1941

Acted on Broadway in "They Walk Alone"

1944

Played leading role in the RKO film "Passport to Destiny"

1946

Appeared as a spinster secretary opposite Tyrone Power in "The Razor's Edge"

1946

Cast the cook in the thriller "The Spiral Staircase"

1947

Played a maid in "The Bishop's Wife", starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven

1949

Received first Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for "Come to the Stable"; played an artista who allows a group of nuns to use her stable as a dispensary