Beulah Bondi
Biography
Beulah Bondi was an American character actress who was often cast as oddball maternal figures and, in later years, as grandmothers and wives. She started on stage as a child in Valparaiso, Indiana, and by 1925 had become a Broadway actress, later recreating her stage role as Emma Jones in the film Street Scene (1931). Supporting parts followed in Rain (1932), and she was among the first five women nominated for the new Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for The Gorgeous Hussy. A second nomination came for Of Human Hearts (1938), and she played James Stewart's mother in Vivacious Lady (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). She was a lead in Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), appeared in The Southerner (1945), and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960. Her television work included Perry Mason in 1963, and in 1976 she won an Emmy for The Waltons at age 87.
92years old at death
- Born Valparaiso
- Died Hollywood
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as Beulah Bondy
Movie Career
- Films
- 32
- Career span
- 31 years1931 to 1962
Genres
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A role that slipped away
Bondi was tested for Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. Thinking she had won the part, she reportedly purchased an old jalopy and relocated to Bakersfield, California, living among migrant workers to research the role. She lost it to Jane Darwell.
A first
Bondi was among the first five women nominated for an Academy Award in the new Best Supporting Actress category, for The Gorgeous Hussy, but Gale Sondergaard won the award.
Beulah Bondi movies on Netflix
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimmas The Gypsy (segment "The Dancing Princess")
A Summer Placeas Mrs. Emily Hamilton Hamble
The Unholy Wifeas Emma Hochen
Back from Eternityas Martha Spangler
Track of the Catas Ma Bridges
Lone Staras Minniver Bryan
The Baron of Arizonaas Loma
The Furiesas Mrs. Anaheim
Mr. Soft Touchas Mrs. Hangale
Reign of Terroras Grandma Blanchard
So Dear to My Heartas Granny Kincaid
The Snake Pitas Mrs. Greer
Breakfast in Hollywoodas Mrs. Annie Reed
It's a Wonderful Lifeas Mrs. Bailey
Back to Bataanas Bertha Barnes
The Southerneras Granny Tucker
One Foot in Heavenas Lydia Sandow
Penny Serenadeas Miss Oliver
The Shepherd of the Hillsas Aunt Mollie Matthews
Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonas Ma Smith
On Borrowed Timeas Nellie - Granny
Remember the Nightas Mrs. Sargent
Of Human Heartsas Mary Wilkins
Vivacious Ladyas Mrs. Morgan
Make Way for Tomorrowas Lucy Cooper
The Invisible Rayas Lady Arabella Stevens
The Trail of the Lonesome Pineas Melissa
The Good Fairyas Doctor Schultz
The Stranger's Returnas Beatrice
Rainas Mrs. Davidson
Arrowsmithas Mrs. Tozer
Street Sceneas Emma Jones
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Capra directed two of these films, George Stevens two and Anthony Mann two. Five actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Ward Bond4 films together, 1931 to 1946
Ward Bond's page It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Bondi as Mrs. BaileyBond as Bert
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as Aunt Mollie MatthewsBond as Wash Gibbs
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Bondi as Mary WilkinsBond as Lout Laughing in Church
Arrowsmith1931IMDb rating 6.2Bondi as Mrs. TozerBond as Cop
James Stewart4 films together, 1938 to 1946
James Stewart's page It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Bondi as Mrs. BaileyStewart as George Bailey
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Bondi as Ma SmithStewart as Jefferson Smith
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Bondi as Mary WilkinsStewart as Jason Wilkins
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Bondi as Mrs. MorganStewart as Peter
Lionel Barrymore4 films together, 1933 to 1952
Lionel Barrymore's page Lone Star1952IMDb rating 6.2Bondi as Minniver BryanBarrymore as Andrew Jackson
It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Bondi as Mrs. BaileyBarrymore as Mr. Potter
On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7Bondi as Nellie - GrannyBarrymore as Julian Northrup - Gramps
The Stranger's Return1933IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as BeatriceBarrymore as Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
Grant Mitchell4 films together, 1933 to 1941
Grant Mitchell's page One Foot in Heaven1941IMDb rating 6.6Bondi as Lydia SandowMitchell as Clayton Potter
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Bondi as Ma SmithMitchell as Senator MacPherson
On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7Bondi as Nellie - GrannyMitchell as Mr. Pilbeam
The Stranger's Return1933IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as BeatriceMitchell as Allen
Dorothy Adams4 films together, 1939 to 1941
Dorothy Adams's page One Foot in Heaven1941IMDb rating 6.6Bondi as Lydia SandowAdams as Woman Behind Hope at Baptism
Penny Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Bondi as Miss OliverAdams as Mother in Stalled Car
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as Aunt Mollie MatthewsAdams as Elvy
On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7Bondi as Nellie - GrannyAdams as Florist
Ann Doran3 films together, 1941 to 1959
Ann Doran's page A Summer Place1959IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as Mrs. Emily Hamilton HambleDoran as Mrs. Talbert
The Snake Pit1948IMDb rating 7.5Bondi as Mrs. GreerDoran as Valerie
Penny Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Bondi as Miss OliverDoran as Dotty
Frank CapraDirector, 2 films, 1939 to 1946
All films by Frank Capra It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Bondi as Mrs. Bailey
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Bondi as Ma Smith
George StevensDirector, 2 films, 1938 to 1941
All films by George Stevens Penny Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Bondi as Miss Oliver
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Bondi as Mrs. Morgan
Anthony MannDirector, 2 films, 1949 to 1950
All films by Anthony Mann The Furies1950IMDb rating 7.2Bondi as Mrs. Anaheim
Reign of Terror1949IMDb rating 6.9Bondi as Grandma Blanchard
Also three films together7 more actors
- Thomas MitchellIt's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
- Samuel S. HindsIt's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Shepherd of the Hills (1941) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936)
- James BurkeThe Unholy Wife (1957), Lone Star (1952) and On Borrowed Time (1939)
- Erville AldersonBack to Bataan (1945), The Stranger's Return (1933) and Arrowsmith (1931)
- Guy KibbeeMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Of Human Hearts (1938) and Rain (1932)
- Walter HustonThe Furies (1950), Of Human Hearts (1938) and Rain (1932)
- Harry CareySo Dear to My Heart (1948), The Shepherd of the Hills (1941) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Two awards and honors from 1960 to 1977, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1977 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Waltons | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


