Ruth Donnelly

Biography

Ruth Donnelly was an American actress of stage and screen. She got her start in theater at 17 in The Quaker Girl. Rose Stahl mentored her, giving her a year in the chorus before putting her in Maggie Pepper. After her Broadway debut, George M. Cohan took notice and cast her in comic supporting roles in musicals, including Going Up (1917). She first appeared on film in 1914, but her Hollywood career began in 1931 and continued until 1957. In many of her pictures she played Guy Kibbee's wife, as in Footlight Parade (1933), Wonder Bar (1934), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Her screen roles also included Sister Michael in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), alongside Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Afterward she returned to the stage, understudying Patsy Kelly in a Broadway revival of No No Nanette and later touring in that production with Don Ameche and Evelyn Keyes.

86years old at death

Born May 17, 1896Trenton
Died November 17, 1982New York City
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20

Movie Career

Films: 21
Career span: 24 years1932 to 1956

Genres

Drama57%, 12 films
Comedy48%, 10 films
Romance33%, 7 films
Crime24%, 5 films
Western14%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
George M. Cohan noticed Donnelly after her Broadway debut and went on to give her many comic-relief parts in musicals, among them Going Up in 1917.
Beyond film
Donnelly took an understudy job with Patsy Kelly in the Broadway revival of No No Nanette, years after she last appeared in a film. She went on to tour with the production, joined by Don Ameche and Evelyn Keyes.

Ruth Donnelly movies on Netflix

Autumn Leaves1956IMDb rating 6.9as Liz Eckhart
The Secret of Convict Lake1951IMDb rating 6.9as Mary Fancher
Where the Sidewalk Ends1950IMDb rating 7.5as Martha
The Snake Pit1948IMDb rating 7.5as Ruth
The Bells of St. Mary's1945IMDb rating 7.2as Sister Michael
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7as Nurse Hamilton
This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8as Mrs. O'Brien
You Belong to Me1941IMDb rating 5.8as Emma
My Little Chickadee1940IMDb rating 6.8as Aunt Lou
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1as Mrs. Hopper
A Slight Case of Murder1938IMDb rating 7.0as Nora Marko
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8as Mabel Dawson
Hands Across the Table1935IMDb rating 6.9as Laura
Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4as Emma Simpson
Employees' Entrance1933IMDb rating 7.2as Miss Hall, Anderson's secretary
Female1933IMDb rating 6.7as Miss Frothingham
Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5as Mrs. Gould
Ladies They Talk About1933IMDb rating 6.6as Noonan
Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7as Amy Moran
Jewel Robbery1932IMDb rating 7.2as Berta, Teri's Maid
The Rainbow Trail1932IMDb rating 6.4as Widow Abigail

Best known for

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

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939 Comedy, Dramaas Mrs. Hopper
IMDb rating 8.1130K votes
The Bells of St. Mary's1945 Dramaas Sister Michael
IMDb rating 7.211K votes
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936as Mabel Dawson
IMDb rating 7.825K votes
Where the Sidewalk Ends1950as Martha
IMDb rating 7.511K votes
Footlight Parade1933as Mrs. Gould
IMDb rating 7.56.7K votes
Autumn Leaves1956as Liz Eckhart
IMDb rating 6.93.7K votes
A Slight Case of Murder1938as Nora Marko
IMDb rating 7.02.8K votes
My Little Chickadee1940as Aunt Lou
IMDb rating 6.83.4K votes

Most often with

Lloyd Bacon directed three of these films, Michael Curtiz three and Frank Capra two. Two 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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Spencer Charters

Guy Kibbee

Irving Bacon

Barbara Stanwyck

Charles Lane

Alan Hale

Lloyd BaconDirector, 3 films Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films

Frank CapraDirector, 2 films

Films together

Spencer Charters3 films together, 1932 to 1936
Spencer Charters's page
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Donnelly as Mabel DawsonCharters as Mal
- Female1933IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Miss FrothinghamCharters as Tom
- Jewel Robbery1932IMDb rating 7.2Donnelly as Berta, Teri's MaidCharters as Johann Christian Lenz
Guy Kibbee3 films together, 1933 to 1939
Guy Kibbee's page
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Donnelly as Mrs. HopperKibbee as Governor Hopper
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Donnelly as Emma SimpsonKibbee as Henry Simpson
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Donnelly as Mrs. GouldKibbee as Gould
Irving Bacon2 films together, 1933 to 1936
Irving Bacon's page
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Donnelly as Mabel DawsonBacon as Frank
- Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Amy MoranBacon as Cab Driver
Barbara Stanwyck2 films together, 1933 to 1941
Barbara Stanwyck's page
- You Belong to Me1941IMDb rating 5.8Donnelly as EmmaStanwyck as Helen Hunt
- Ladies They Talk About1933IMDb rating 6.6Donnelly as NoonanStanwyck as Nan Taylor
Charles Lane2 films together, 1933 to 1939
Charles Lane's page
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Donnelly as Mrs. HopperLane as Nosey
- Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Amy MoranLane as Process Server
Alan Hale2 films together, 1943
Alan Hale's page
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Nurse HamiltonHale as Alan Hale
- This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Donnelly as Mrs. O'BrienHale as Sergeant McGee
Lloyd BaconDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1938
All films by Lloyd Bacon
- A Slight Case of Murder1938IMDb rating 7.0Donnelly as Nora Marko
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Donnelly as Emma Simpson
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Donnelly as Mrs. Gould
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1943
All films by Michael Curtiz
- This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Donnelly as Mrs. O'Brien
- Female1933IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Miss Frothingham
- Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7Donnelly as Amy Moran
Frank CapraDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1939
All films by Frank Capra
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Donnelly as Mrs. Hopper
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Donnelly as Mabel Dawson
Also two films together26 more actors
- William DemarestMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Hands Across the Table (1935)
- Allen JenkinsA Slight Case of Murder (1938) and Employees' Entrance (1933)
- Douglass DumbrilleMr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and Female (1933)
- Paul HarveyYou Belong to Me (1941) and A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
- Olivia de HavillandThe Snake Pit (1948) and Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
- Beulah BondiThe Snake Pit (1948) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
- William PowellPrivate Detective 62 (1933) and Jewel Robbery (1932)
- Hank BellMy Little Chickadee (1940) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
- George TobiasThank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and This Is the Army (1943)
- Margaret HamiltonMy Little Chickadee (1940) and A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
- Gene TierneyThe Secret of Convict Lake (1951) and Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
- Arthur HohlFootlight Parade (1933) and Private Detective 62 (1933)
- Cecil CunninghamMr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and Ladies They Talk About (1933)
- Dick PowellWonder Bar (1934) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- H.B. WarnerMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
- Henry KolkerWonder Bar (1934) and Jewel Robbery (1932)
- Jean ArthurMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
- Harold HuberA Slight Case of Murder (1938) and Ladies They Talk About (1933)
- Herman BingHands Across the Table (1935) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Hugh HerbertWonder Bar (1934) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Maude EburneYou Belong to Me (1941) and Ladies They Talk About (1933)
- Minna GombellThe Snake Pit (1948) and The Rainbow Trail (1932)
- Joan LeslieThank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and This Is the Army (1943)
- Kay FrancisWonder Bar (1934) and Jewel Robbery (1932)
- Astrid AllwynMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Hands Across the Table (1935)
- Gordon WestcottFootlight Parade (1933) and Private Detective 62 (1933)
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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