Hope Emerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hope Emerson
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Studio publicity photo, 1950s
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| Born | October 29, 1897 Hawarden, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | April 24, 1960 (aged 62) Hollywood, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, vaudeville performer, strongwoman, nightclub performer |
| Years active | 1900–1960 |
Hope Emerson (born October 29, 1897 – died April 24, 1960) was a talented American performer. She was an actress, a vaudeville star, and even a strongwoman! Hope was quite tall, standing about 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). She was also known for her strong build.
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Hope Emerson's Acting Journey
Hope Emerson started her acting career on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. Her first big role was in a play called Lysistrata in 1930. She played a powerful character named Lamputo.
She also appeared in a movie called Smiling Faces in 1932. However, she soon returned to the theater, where she loved performing. A critic named Brooks Atkinson praised her in 1947 for her "vastly entertaining" role in the play Street Scene.
Voice Acting and Famous Roles
In the 1940s, Hope Emerson was the voice of "Elsie the Cow" for radio commercials. Elsie was a cartoon cow used to advertise Borden Milk.
Hope Emerson played many memorable characters in movies. For example, she was a circus strongwoman in the film Adam's Rib (1949). In this movie, she famously lifted the actor Spencer Tracy into the air! She also played a detective in Cry of the City (1948) and a mail-order bride in Westward the Women (1952). She even appeared as a prospector in an episode of Death Valley Days called "Big Liz" (1958).
Television Appearances
Hope Emerson also appeared on television shows. She was a guest star in "Housekeeper," the final episode of the series It's a Great Life. She played a bossy housekeeper who took over while the main character was away.
In 1957, she was in an episode of the CBS comedy show Mr. Adams and Eve called "The Inheritance."
Her most famous TV role was as Mother on the detective series Peter Gunn (1958–1961). She was even nominated for an Emmy Award for this role! After the first season, she left Peter Gunn to star in another show. Another actress, Minerva Urecal, took over her role. Minerva looked a lot like Hope but was much shorter.
Hope Emerson then starred in the CBS comedy show The Dennis O'Keefe Show (1959–60). She appeared in every episode of this show's single season. Sadly, she passed away just 16 days before the final episode aired.
See also
In Spanish: Hope Emerson para niños
