Jessie Ralph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessie Ralph
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Trailer for The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)
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| Born |
Jessie Ralph Chambers
November 5, 1864 |
| Died | May 30, 1944 (aged 79) Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1880–1941 |
| Spouse(s) | William Patton (?–?; his death) |
Jessie Ralph Patton (born Chambers; November 5, 1864 – May 30, 1944), known as Jessie Ralph, was an American actress. She was famous for playing older, motherly characters in many classic movies.
Early Life
Jessie Ralph Chambers was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1864. She was the 13th child in her family! Her father was a sailing captain. She started acting when she was just 16 years old in 1880. She performed in "stock theater," which means she acted in many different plays with the same group of actors.
Career in Acting
Jessie Ralph first appeared on Broadway (a famous theater district in New York City) in 1906. Her last show on Broadway was in 1932.
She started acting in short films in New York in 1915. Then, in 1933, she moved to Hollywood to become a full-time movie actress. She was almost 70 years old at the time! Because of her age, she often played older, motherly characters. She was very good at these roles and often "stole the scene," meaning she was very memorable.
Jessie Ralph starred in 55 movies. Most of these (52 films) were made between 1933 and 1941. Some of her most famous roles include:
- Playing Greta Garbo's maid in the movie Camille.
- Acting as W.C. Fields's mother-in-law in The Bank Dick.
- Being Myrna Loy's Aunt Katherine in After the Thin Man.
- Playing Nurse Peggotty in David Copperfield.
Personal Life
Jessie Ralph was married to an actor named William Patton. They stayed married until he passed away. They did not have any children.
Later Years and Death
Jessie Ralph stopped acting in Hollywood in 1941. She had to retire after having a leg amputated. She passed away in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on May 30, 1944, when she was 79 years old. She is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gloucester.
See also
In Spanish: Jessie Ralph para niños
