Gale Sondergaard
Biography
Gale Sondergaard was an American actress who began in theater and moved to films in 1936. Born in Litchfield, Minnesota, she trained at the Minneapolis School of Dramatic Arts, joined the John Keller Shakespeare Company, and toured North America in Shakespeare productions before performing on the New York stage with the Theatre Guild. Her film debut, Anthony Adverse (1936), made her the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became known for supporting parts in the late 1930s and 1940s, appearing in The Life of Emile Zola (1937), The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Mark of Zorro (1940), and The Letter (1940). Anna and the King of Siam (1946) earned her a second Academy Award nomination. After 1949, her screen work stopped for two decades, though she worked in theater, and she returned to film and television around 1969, continuing into the early 1980s.
86years old at death
- Born Litchfield
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Edith Holm Sondergaard (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 20
- Career span
- 39 years1937 to 1976
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A first
For her first film role, in Anthony Adverse, Gale Sondergaard became the first actress to receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
A role that slipped away
Sondergaard was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz and shot two wardrobe tests, but withdrew over the disfiguring makeup, and Margaret Hamilton took the part.
Gale Sondergaard movies on Netflix
The Return of a Man Called Horseas Elk Woman
The Cat Creatureas Hester Black
Hollywood Horror Houseas Leslie
East Side, West Sideas Nora Kernan
Road to Rioas Catherine Vail
Anna and the King of Siamas Lady Thiang
The Time of Their Livesas Emily
Christmas Holidayas Mrs. Manette
The Climaxas Luise
The Invisible Man's Revengeas Irene - Lady Herrick
Isle of Forgotten Sinsas Marge
The Spider Womanas Adrea Spedding
My Favorite Blondeas Madame Stephanie Runick
The Black Catas Abigail Doone
The Blue Birdas Tylette
The Letteras Mrs. Hammond
The Mark of Zorroas Inez Quintero
Juarezas Empress Eugenie
The Cat and the Canaryas Miss Lu
The Life of Emile Zolaas Lucie Dreyfus
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Dieterle directed two of these films. Seven 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.







Films together
John Carradine3 films together, 1943 to 1973
John Carradine's page The Cat Creature1973IMDb rating 5.7Sondergaard as Hester BlackCarradine as The Hotel Clerk
The Invisible Man's Revenge1944IMDb rating 5.7Sondergaard as Irene - Lady HerrickCarradine as Doctor Peter Drury
Isle of Forgotten Sins1943IMDb rating 4.7Sondergaard as MargeCarradine as Mike
Basil Rathbone3 films together, 1940 to 1943
Basil Rathbone's page The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Sondergaard as Adrea SpeddingRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
The Black Cat1941IMDb rating 6.1Sondergaard as Abigail DooneRathbone as Montague Hartley
The Mark of Zorro1940IMDb rating 7.5Sondergaard as Inez QuinteroRathbone as Capt. Esteban Pasquale
Robert Barrat3 films together, 1937 to 1947
Robert Barrat's page Road to Rio1947IMDb rating 6.9Sondergaard as Catherine VailBarrat as Johnson
The Time of Their Lives1946IMDb rating 7.5Sondergaard as EmilyBarrat as Maj. Putnam
The Life of Emile Zola1937IMDb rating 7.1Sondergaard as Lucie DreyfusBarrat as Major Walsin-Esterhazy
Stanley Andrews3 films together, 1940 to 1947
Stanley Andrews's page Road to Rio1947IMDb rating 6.9Sondergaard as Catherine VailAndrews as Captain Harmon
The Blue Bird1940IMDb rating 6.2Sondergaard as TyletteAndrews as Wilhelm
The Mark of Zorro1940IMDb rating 7.5Sondergaard as Inez QuinteroAndrews as Commanding Officer
Bob Hope3 films together, 1939 to 1947
Bob Hope's page Road to Rio1947IMDb rating 6.9Sondergaard as Catherine VailHope as Hot Lips Barton
My Favorite Blonde1942IMDb rating 7.0Sondergaard as Madame Stephanie RunickHope as Larry Haines
The Cat and the Canary1939IMDb rating 7.1Sondergaard as Miss LuHope as Wally Campbell
Jimmy Aubrey3 films together, 1943 to 1944
Jimmy Aubrey's page The Invisible Man's Revenge1944IMDb rating 5.7Sondergaard as Irene - Lady HerrickAubrey as Wedderburn, the Innkeeper
Isle of Forgotten Sins1943IMDb rating 4.7Sondergaard as MargeAubrey as Club Patron
The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Sondergaard as Adrea SpeddingAubrey as News Vendor
William DieterleDirector, 2 films, 1937 to 1939
All films by William Dieterle Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8Sondergaard as Empress Eugenie
The Life of Emile Zola1937IMDb rating 7.1Sondergaard as Lucie Dreyfus
Also three films together1 more actor
- Walter KingsfordMy Favorite Blonde (1942), Juarez (1939) and The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1937 | Best Supporting Actress | Anthony Adverse | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


