Esther Howard

Biography

Esther Howard was an American character actress who worked on stage and in films, known for supporting parts ranging from man-hungry spinsters to amoral criminals. Born in Montana, she began in stock theater in Lynn, Massachusetts, and made her Broadway debut in 1917 in Eve's Daughter. Over the next twelve years she appeared in eleven more Broadway comedies and musicals, including Wildflower and The New Moon. She moved to movies in 1930 and appeared in 108 films over a 23-year screen career. Her notable roles included the frowsy Jessie Florian in Murder, My Sweet (1944), diner waitress Holly in Detour (1945), bawdy Filthy Flora in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946), the determined Mrs. Kraft in Born to Kill (1947), and Kirk Douglas's mother in Champion (1949). From 1940 to 1949 she was part of Preston Sturges's unofficial stock company, appearing in seven of his films. Her last film was Caught on the Bounce (1952).

72years old at death

Born April 4, 1892Helena
Died March 8, 1965Hollywood
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 17 years1932 to 1949

Genres

Drama62%, 8 films
Comedy46%, 6 films
Crime46%, 6 films
Film-Noir23%, 3 films
Mystery23%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Beyond film
Esther Howard had a lovely singing voice, which was used to ghost sing for bigger-name stars who lacked singing talent. She never sang onscreen for herself.
First role
Howard started out in stock theater in Lynn, Massachusetts. She then made her Broadway debut in 1917 in Eve's Daughter, a play that was not a success.

Esther Howard movies on Netflix

Champion1949IMDb rating 7.3as Mrs. Kelly
The Velvet Touch1948IMDb rating 6.8as Pansy Dupont
Born to Kill1947IMDb rating 7.2as Mrs. Kraft
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball1946IMDb rating 5.9as Filthy Flora
Detour1945IMDb rating 7.3as Diner Waitress
The Great Flamarion1945IMDb rating 6.5as Cleo
Murder, My Sweet1944IMDb rating 7.5as Jesse Florian
The Big Noise1944IMDb rating 6.3as Aunt Sophie
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5as Sally
My Favorite Blonde1942IMDb rating 7.0as Mrs. Topley
Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9as Miz Zeffie
The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2as Madame Juliette La Jolla
Merrily We Go to Hell1932IMDb rating 6.9as Vi

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Detour1945 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Diner Waitress
IMDb rating 7.322K votes
Murder, My Sweet1944 Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Jesse Florian
IMDb rating 7.517K votes
Born to Kill1947as Mrs. Kraft
IMDb rating 7.26.8K votes
Merrily We Go to Hell1932as Vi
IMDb rating 6.92.4K votes
Sullivan's Travels1941as Miz Zeffie
IMDb rating 7.931K votes
The Great Flamarion1945as Cleo
IMDb rating 6.51.6K votes
Champion1949as Mrs. Kelly
IMDb rating 7.35.4K votes
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball1946as Filthy Flora
IMDb rating 5.91.6K votes

Most often with

Preston Sturges directed three of these films. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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William Demarest

Claire Trevor

Frank Moran

Byron Foulger

Ernie Adams

Brian DonlevyPreston SturgesDirector, 3 films

Films together

William Demarest3 films together, 1940 to 1944
William Demarest's page
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as SallyDemarest as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Howard as Miz ZeffieDemarest as Mr. Jones
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Howard as Madame Juliette La JollaDemarest as Skeeters - The Politician
Claire Trevor3 films together, 1944 to 1948
Claire Trevor's page
- The Velvet Touch1948IMDb rating 6.8Howard as Pansy DupontTrevor as Marian Webster
- Born to Kill1947IMDb rating 7.2Howard as Mrs. KraftTrevor as Helen Brent
- Murder, My Sweet1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as Jesse FlorianTrevor as Helen Grayle
Frank Moran3 films together, 1940 to 1944
Frank Moran's page
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as SallyMoran as Military Police Sergeant #1
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Howard as Miz ZeffieMoran as Tough Chauffeur
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Howard as Madame Juliette La JollaMoran as The Boss' Chauffeur
Byron Foulger2 films together, 1941 to 1946
Byron Foulger's page
- Dick Tracy vs. Cueball1946IMDb rating 5.9Howard as Filthy FloraFoulger as Simon Little
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Howard as Miz ZeffieFoulger as Mr. Valdelle
Ernie Adams2 films together, 1932 to 1944
Ernie Adams's page
- Murder, My Sweet1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as Jesse FlorianAdams as Bartender at "Florian's"
- Merrily We Go to Hell1932IMDb rating 6.9Howard as ViAdams as Reporter
Brian Donlevy2 films together, 1940 to 1944
Brian Donlevy's page
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as SallyDonlevy as Governor McGinty
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Howard as Madame Juliette La JollaDonlevy as Daniel 'Dan' McGinty
Preston SturgesDirector, 3 films, 1940 to 1944
All films by Preston Sturges
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Howard as Sally
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Howard as Miz Zeffie
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Howard as Madame Juliette La Jolla
Also two films together15 more actors
- Akim TamiroffThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and The Great McGinty (1940)
- Don BrodieChampion (1949) and Detour (1945)
- Porter HallThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and Sullivan's Travels (1941)
- Jimmy ConlinThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and The Great McGinty (1940)
- Harry HaydenThe Velvet Touch (1948) and The Big Noise (1944)
- Al BridgeThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and Sullivan's Travels (1941)
- Robert GreigSullivan's Travels (1941) and Merrily We Go to Hell (1932)
- Walter KingsfordThe Velvet Touch (1948) and My Favorite Blonde (1942)
- Douglas WaltonDick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) and Murder, My Sweet (1944)
- Milton ParsonsDick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) and My Favorite Blonde (1942)
- Sayre DearingChampion (1949) and Born to Kill (1947)
- Almira SessionsThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and Sullivan's Travels (1941)
- Eddie HallDetour (1945) and The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
- Victor PotelThe Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) and Sullivan's Travels (1941)
- Harry RosenthalSullivan's Travels (1941) and The Great McGinty (1940)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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