Judith Wood
Biography
Judith Wood was an American film actress who moved from New York City to Hollywood in the late 1920s to pursue acting. Born Helen Johnson, she studied art at Skidmore College and then in Paris for two years. Back in New York she modeled for magazine illustrations and advertisements and designed for theatrical productions. Her first role was in Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929), and through 1930 she was still billed under her birth name. Her first 1931 film, It Pays to Advertise, starred Carole Lombard and was the last on which she was billed as Helen Johnson; from The Vice Squad (1931) onward she appeared as Judith Wood. She starred in six films that year and was named one of 13 WAMPAS Baby Stars, after which her career slowed. She played Kitty Packard in the Broadway production of Dinner at Eight. Her last film role, uncredited, was in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). She died in 2002.
95years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Helen Johnson (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 19 years1930 to 1949
Every film, newest first
- 1949Beyond the ForestIMDb rating 6.8
- 1930Children of PleasureIMDb rating 5.5
- 1930Sin Takes a HolidayIMDb rating 6.1
- 1930The DivorceeIMDb rating 6.6
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
Wood played Kitty Packard in the original Broadway staging of Dinner at Eight, yet Jean Harlow took the part in the film adaptation.
A first
In 1931, Wood was chosen as one of 13 WAMPAS Baby Stars. Other actresses in that group were Marian Marsh, Karen Morley, Marion Shilling, and Barbara Weeks.
First role
Wood made her first appearance in Gold Diggers of Broadway, a 1929 film. She used her birth name in the credits for that movie and for the four she starred in during 1930.
About the name
She adopted the professional name Judith Wood, and The Vice Squad, released in 1931, was the first film in which she received credit under that name.
A change of course
After she went back to New York, Wood worked as a model for magazine illustrations and advertisements, and she also designed for theatrical productions.
Judith Wood movies on Netflix
Worked with
Judith Wood shares two films with William H. O'Brien, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
William H. O'Brien's page
Bess Flowers's page
Bette Davis's page
Basil Rathbone's page
Gino Corrado's page
Joseph Cotten's page
Robert Z. LeonardDirector, 1 film, 1930
All films by Robert Z. Leonard
King VidorDirector, 1 film, 1949
All films by King Vidor
Paul L. SteinDirector, 1 film, 1930
All films by Paul L. Stein
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.