What's After the Movie
Jane Darwell
Jane Darwell, born Patti Woodard on October 15, 1879 in Palmyra, Missouri, was an American actress whose career spanned over five decades and more than 170 films. Her early ambitions to become a circus rider or opera singer were thwarted by her father, the president of the Louisville Southern Railroad, who insisted she pursue a more respectable vocation, leading her to adopt the stage name Darwell to preserve the family’s reputation. After studying voice culture, piano, and dramatics, she debuted on the Chicago stage and made her first film appearance in 1913, appearing in almost twenty silent pictures before retreating to the theatre for fifteen years. The 1930s marked her triumphant return to cinema with a role in Tom Sawyer, launching her as a reliable character actress who frequently portrayed mothers, grandmothers, and caretakers in both major studio productions and modest B‑movies. Her most celebrated performance came in 1940 as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, a role secured at Henry Fonda’s insistence, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and cemented her legacy as a touchstone of American film. Beyond the silver screen, Darwell appeared on numerous television series in the 1950s, including episodes of The Pepsi‑Cola Playhouse, Wagon Train, and The Real McCoys, demonstrating her adaptability to the emerging medium. In her later years she lived at the Motion Picture & Television Country House, where Walt Disney personally persuaded her to accept the role of the iconic Bird Woman in Mary Poppins, her final screen appearance. Jane Darwell passed away on August 13, 1967 at the age of 87, leaving behind a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a body of work that continues to illustrate the warmth and resilience of early Hollywood’s character actors.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Jane Darwell, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Jane Darwell rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Patti Woodard
Born: Palmyra, Missouri, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: October 15, 1879
Occupations: actress
Years Active: 1909-1964
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Awards and Nominations Received by Jane Darwell
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Jane Darwell has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Jane Darwell
3 Godfathers
The Grapes of Wrath
Hypocrites
The Scarlet Empress
Three Husbands
A Life at Stake
Bright Eyes
The Bigamist
Before Dawn
The Gilded Lily
Finishing School
It Happened in Flatbush
The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady
The Ox-Bow Incident
Caged
The Girl in 419
Blind Date
Stage Door Canteen
Young America
Ann Vickers
Wonder Bar
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
The Restless Sex
Roman Scandals
Affair with a Stranger
Chad Hanna
Red Canyon
Girls in Prison
I Live in Grosvenor Square
Back Street
The Battle of Midway
Surrender
The Rains Came
Ladies of the Big House
Brigham Young
Hound-Dog Man
Design for Living
Dangerously Yours
Love Is News
The Country Doctor
Thieves Fall Out
Nancy Steele Is Missing!
Bed of Roses
Happiness Ahead
Private Number
Journey Into Light
The Last Hurrah
Only Yesterday
Hot Saturday
Washington Merry-Go-Round
White Fang
There’s Always Tomorrow
Tender Comrade
Fashions of 1934
David Harum
One Night of Love
On the Sunny Side
Poor Little Rich Girl
Life Begins at Forty
Gentlemen Are Born
Music in Manhattan
The Lemon Drop Kid
Captain January
The Sun Shines Bright
Air Hostess
The Great Gildersleeve
Little Miss Broadway
Change of Heart
My Darling Clementine
One More Spring
Emergency Call
The Second Face
Jesse James
Once to Every Woman
Miracle on Main Street
Most Precious Thing in Life
The White Parade
Jennie Gerhardt
Metropolitan
Desirable
Gildersleeve’s Bad Day
One Sunday Afternoon
Tom Sawyer
It Happens Every Thursday
Huckleberry Finn
We’re Not Married!
All Through the Night
Craig’s Wife
Paddy O’Day
The Impatient Years
The Red Stallion
Hit the Deck
The Singing Marine
All That Money Can Buy
Three Wise Fools
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Jane Darwell, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1953
The Bigamist
Mrs. Connelley
Affair with a Stranger
Ma Stanton
The Sun Shines Bright
Aurora Ratchitt
It Happens Every Thursday
Mrs. Spatch
1950
Three Husbands
Mrs. Wurdeman
The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady
Mrs. Murphy
Caged
Isolation Matron
Surrender
Molly Hale
The Second Face
Mrs. Lockridge
1943
The Ox-Bow Incident
Ma Grier
Stage Door Canteen
Jane Darwell
Tender Comrade
Mrs. Henderson
Gildersleeve’s Bad Day
Aunt Emma Forrester
1942
It Happened in Flatbush
Mrs. Maguire
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
Mariah Clemm
The Battle of Midway
Narrator (voice)
On the Sunny Side
Annie
The Great Gildersleeve
Aunt Emma Forrester
All Through the Night
Mrs. Donahue
1939
The Rains Came
Aunt Phoebe Smiley
Jesse James
Mrs. Samuels - Jesse's mother
Miracle on Main Street
Mrs. Herman
1937
Dangerously Yours
Aunt Cynthia Barton
Love Is News
Mrs. Flaherty
Nancy Steele Is Missing!
Mrs. Mary Flaherty
The Singing Marine
Ma Marine
1936
The Country Doctor
Mrs. Graham
Private Number
Mrs. Frisby
White Fang
Maud Mahoney
Poor Little Rich Girl
Woodward
Captain January
Mrs. Eliza Croft
Craig’s Wife
Mrs. Harold
Paddy O’Day
Dora
1935
The Gilded Lily
Woman in Crowd at Southampton (uncredited)
Life Begins at Forty
Ida Harris
One More Spring
Mary Sweeney
Metropolitan
Grandma
1934
The Scarlet Empress
Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
Bright Eyes
Mrs. Higgins
Finishing School
Maude (uncredited)
Blind Date
Ma Taylor
Wonder Bar
Baroness (uncredited)
Happiness Ahead
Mrs. Davis - The Landlady
Fashions of 1934
Customer at Maison Elegance (uncredited)
David Harum
Mrs. Woolsey (uncredited)
One Night of Love
Mrs. Barrett - Mary's Mother
Gentlemen Are Born
Landlady
Change of Heart
Mrs. McGowan
Once to Every Woman
Mrs. Wood (uncredited)
Most Precious Thing in Life
Mrs. O'Day
The White Parade
Sailor
Desirable
Frederick's Mother
1933
Before Dawn
Mrs. Marble
The Girl in 419
Nurse Esmond
Ann Vickers
Mrs. Gage (uncredited)
Roman Scandals
Roman Spa Proprietress (uncredited)
Design for Living
Curtis' Housekeeper
Bed of Roses
Mrs. Webster -- Head Prison Matron (uncredited)
Only Yesterday
Mrs. Lane
Air Hostess
Ma Kearny
Emergency Call
Nurse Brown (uncredited)
Jennie Gerhardt
Boardinghouse Keeper (uncredited)
One Sunday Afternoon
Mrs. Lind
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