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Eleanor Audley
Eleanor Audley (1905-1991) portrait.jpg
Audley c. 1930
Born
Eleanor Zellman

(1905-11-19)November 19, 1905
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died November 25, 1991(1991-11-25) (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Other names Elinor Audley
Occupation Actress
Years active 1926–1970
Known for Voice of Lady Tremaine in Disney's Cinderella (1950)
Voice of Maleficent in Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Television Green Acres (1965–1969)

Eleanor Audley (born Eleanor Zellman; November 19, 1905 – November 25, 1991) was a talented American actress. She was famous for her unique voice. You might know her best as the voice of two very famous Disney villains: Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's evil stepmother in Cinderella (1950), and Maleficent, the wicked fairy from Sleeping Beauty (1959). She also played Oliver Douglas's mom, Eunice Douglas, on the TV show Green Acres. Eleanor Audley had a long career in radio, movies, and television.

Eleanor Audley's Early Life

Eleanor Zellman was born in Newark, New Jersey, on November 19, 1905. Her family later moved to Manhattan, New York City. She started using the stage name "Eleanor Audley" before 1940.

Her Amazing Acting Career

Eleanor Audley's career began on stage. She later became a very busy actress in radio, movies, and television.

Starting on Stage and Radio

Audley first performed on Broadway when she was 21 years old in 1926. She appeared in several plays over the years.

She worked a lot in radio during the 1940s and 1950s. She was known for playing Mrs. Cooper, an aristocratic mother-in-law, on My Favorite Husband. She also played Mrs. Smith, the Anderson family's neighbor, on Father Knows Best. Audley was a regular on many other radio shows like Romance, Escape, and Suspense.

Becoming Iconic Disney Villains

Eleanor Audley is most famous for her voice work in animated films. She gave her distinct voice to two of Disney's most memorable villains.

For both of these roles, the Disney animators, Frank Thomas and Marc Davis, even designed the characters' faces to look like Audley's! She also acted out the scenes for the animators to use as a guide.

Audley also provided the voice for Madame Leota, a psychic medium, in Haunted Mansion attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Other Film and TV Roles

Eleanor Audley appeared in many live-action films, often in smaller roles. Some of her films include Pretty Baby (1950) and The Second Time Around (1961).

She was also a familiar face on television from 1954 to 1970. She appeared in episodes of popular shows like I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone, and The Beverly Hillbillies. She had recurring roles on:

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show as Mrs. Billings
  • Mister Ed as Wilbur Post's Aunt Martha
  • Hazel as different characters
  • The Beverly Hillbillies as Mrs. Millicent Schuyler-Potts
  • Pistols 'n' Petticoats as Mrs. Teaseley
  • My Three Sons as Mrs. Vincent
  • Green Acres as Oliver Douglas's mother, Eunice Douglas. It's interesting that she was only five months older than the actor who played her son!

Later Life and Legacy

Eleanor Audley passed away in 1991, shortly after her 86th birthday. She is buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Her powerful voice and memorable characters continue to entertain audiences today, especially her iconic Disney villains.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Eleanor Audley appeared in many television shows. Here are some of the notable ones:

Radio Roles

Eleanor Audley was a very active radio actress. Some of her key roles and shows included:

  • My Favorite Husband (1949–1951) as Mrs. Leticia Cooper
  • Father Knows Best (1949–1954) as Mrs. Elizabeth Smith
  • Lux Radio Theatre (1948–1954)
  • Suspense (1940s)
  • Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1955–1960)

Theme Parks

  • Haunted Mansion as Madame Leota (voice)

Discography

  • Walt Disney's Cinderella: Little Nipper Series (1949, RCA/Camden) as Lady Tremaine
  • The Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion (1969, Disneyland Records) as Madame Leota
  • Disney Songs and Story: Sleeping Beauty (2012, Walt Disney Records) as Maleficent

Stage Roles

Eleanor Audley performed in several plays on Broadway:

  • Howdy, King (1926–1927)
  • On Call (1928–1929)
  • Susan and God (1937–1938, 1943)

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