Full Name Mary Gilmour Children Mary Gordon Role Actress | Name Mary Gordon Years active 1925-1950 | |
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Born 16 May 1882 ( 1882-05-16 ) Glasgow, Scotland, UK Cause of death a long and unspecified illness Occupation actress, star of stage, radio and screen Known for portraying mother figures and housekeepers Notable work Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes's landlady on radio and film Died August 23, 1963, Pasadena, California, United States Parents Robert Gilmour, Mary Gilmour Movies Sherlock Holmes and the S, The Woman in Green, Dressed to Kill, The Adventures of Sherlo, Bride of Frankenstein Similar People Roy William Neill, Alfred L Werker, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mae Marsh, George Marshall | ||
Mary Gordon (born Mary Gilmour, 16 May 1882 in Glasgow, Scotland – 23 August 1963 in Pasadena, California) was a Scottish actress, long in the United States, who specialized in housekeepers and mothers, most notably the landlady Mrs. Hudson in the Sherlock Holmes series of movies of the 1940s starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. She would appear in nearly 300 films between 1925 and 1950.
Contents
Early life
She was born Mary Gilmour, the fifth of seven children of Glasgow wire weaver Robert Gilmour and his wife Mary. She worked as a dressmaker before finding work on the stage. Joining a company bound for an American tour, she came to the U.S. in her twenties, apparently making a few appearances on Broadway in small roles, but primarily touring in stock companies.
Career
With her mother and daughter (both also named Mary), she arrived in Los Angeles in the mid-1920s and began playing variations on the roles she would spend her career on. She became friends with John Ford while making Hangman's House in 1928 and made seven more films for him. In 1939, she took on her best-remembered role as Sherlock Holmes' landlady and played the role in ten films and numerous radio plays. She was a charter member of the Hollywood Canteen, entertaining servicemen throughout the Second World War. On the radio show Those We Love, she played the regular role of Mrs. Emmett.
She entered retirement just as television reshaped the entertainment industry, making only a single appearance in that medium. Very active in the Daughters of Scotia auxiliary of the Order of Scottish Clans, she lived out her final years in Pasadena, California with her daughter and grandson. She died at age 81 after a long illness on 23 August 1963.
Filmography
Actress
1950
The Cisco Kid (TV Series) as
Mary O'Toole
- False Marriage (1950) - Mary O'Toole
1950
West of Wyoming as
Nora Jones
1949
The File on Thelma Jordon as
Charwoman (uncredited)
1949
Challenge to Lassie as
Tenement Neighbor (uncredited)
1949
Deputy Marshal as
Mrs. Lance
1949
Haunted Trails as
Aunt Libby
1949
Mr. Soft Touch as
Slatternly Woman Tenant (uncredited)
1949
Mighty Joe Young as
Old Woman (unconfirmed)
1949
Tucson as
Housemother (uncredited)
1949
Shamrock Hill as
Grandma Rogan
1948
Highway 13 as
Aunt Myrt Lacy
1948
Kidnapped as
Scottish Woman (uncredited)
1948
Hills of Home as
Mrs. Burnbrae (uncredited)
1948
The Strange Mrs. Crane as
Nora
1948
The Vicious Circle as
Mrs. Hogan (revised version) (uncredited)
1948
Big Town Scandal as
Mary - Cleaning Woman (uncredited)
1948
Fort Apache as
Ma (barmaid)
1948
Angels' Alley as
Mrs. Mamie Mahoney
1948
The Judge Steps Out as
Annie, the Scrub Woman (uncredited)
1947
Roses Are Red as
Scrubwoman (uncredited)
1947
The Invisible Wall as
Mrs. Bledsoe
1947
Exposed as
Miss Keets
1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as
Mother Machree (uncredited)
1947
The Long Night as
Old Lady in Crowd (uncredited)
1947
Stallion Road as
Mrs. Ford, Purcell's Housekeeper (uncredited)
1946
Singin' in the Corn as
Mrs. O'Rourke
1946
Sister Kenny as
Mrs. Gordon (uncredited)
1946
Sing While You Dance as
Mom Henderson
1946
The Dark Horse as
Mrs. Mahoney (uncredited)
1946
Shadows Over Chinatown as
Mrs. Conover
1946
In Fast Company as
Mrs. Cassidy
1946
Dressed to Kill as
Mrs. Hudson
1946
The Hoodlum Saint as
Trina
1946
Sentimental Journey as
Agnes (uncredited)
1946
Little Giant as
Ma Miller
1945
Kitty as
Nanny
1945
Strange Confession as
Mrs. O'Connor
1945
Divorce as
Ellen
1945
Pride of the Marines as
Lady at Bus Stop (uncredited)
1945
Captain Eddie as
Mrs. Westrom
1945
The Woman in Green as
Mrs. Hudson
1945
Law of the Badlands (Short) as
Mrs. Curry (uncredited)
1945
See My Lawyer as
Mrs. Fillmore
1945
It's a Pleasure as
Tenement Woman (uncredited)
1945
The Body Snatcher as
Mrs. Mary McBride (uncredited)
1945
Eadie Was a Lady as
Old Lady (uncredited)
1944
Music for Millions as
Hotel Proprietress (uncredited)
1944
Hollywood Canteen as
Hostess (uncredited)
1944
Irish Eyes Are Smiling as
Irish Woman (uncredited)
1944
The Last Ride as
Mrs. Mary Kelly
1944
Bonnie Lassie (Short) as
Mrs. MacGregor
1944
National Barn Dance as
Mrs. Owen (uncredited)
1944
Ever Since Venus as
Mrs. Murphy (uncredited)
1944
The Pearl of Death as
Mrs. Hudson
1944
Secret Command as
Mrs. McKenzie (uncredited)
1944
Secrets of Scotland Yard as
Libby the Housekeeper (uncredited)
1944
Follow the Leader as
Mrs. McGinnis (uncredited)
1944
The Hour Before the Dawn as
Annie (uncredited)
1944
Hat Check Honey as
Jennie
1944
Million Dollar Kid as
Mrs. McGinnis
1944
Ladies Courageous as
Old Lady (uncredited)
1944
The Racket Man as
Ma Duffy (uncredited)
1943
Whispering Footsteps as
Ma Murphy
1943
Smart Guy as
Maggie
1943
The Spider Woman as
Mrs. Hudson
1943
You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith as
Irish Woman (uncredited)
1943
Sweet Rosie O'Grady as
Charwoman (uncredited)
1943
Here Comes Kelly as
Mrs. Kelly
1943
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death as
Mrs. Hudson (uncredited)
1943
Two Tickets to London as
Mrs. Tinkle
1943
Sarong Girl as
Mattie
1943
Keep 'Em Slugging as
Mrs. Banning
1943
Forever and a Day as
Woman in Air Raid Shelter (uncredited)
1943
Sherlock Holmes in Washington as
Mrs. Hudson (uncredited)
1942
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon as
Mrs. Hudson
1942
The Boss of Big Town as
Mrs. Lane
1942
Gentleman Jim as
Mrs. Casey (uncredited)
1942
Keeping Fit (Short) as
Mary - Irene's Friend
1942
The Mummy's Tomb as
Jane
1942
Halfway to Shanghai as
Mrs. McIntyre
1942
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror as
Mrs. Hudson (uncredited)
1942
The Pride of the Yankees as
Maid (uncredited)
1942
Powder Town as
Mrs. Douglas
1942
It Happened in Flatbush as
Mrs. Collins
1942
Meet the Stewarts as
Mrs. Stewart
1942
Dr. Broadway as
Broadway Carrie
1942
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx as
Mrs. Scott (uncredited)
1942
Fly-By-Night as
Ma Prescott
1942
Blue, White and Perfect as
Mrs. Flaherty - Mike's Landlady (uncredited)
1942
Sealed Lips as
Mrs. Ann Morton (Fred's mother)
1941
Riot Squad as
Mrs. McGonigle
1941
Borrowed Hero as
Mrs. Riley
1941
Appointment for Love as
Martha
1941
Bombay Clipper as
Abigail 'Mag' MacPherson
1941
How Green Was My Valley as
Gossiper (uncredited)
1941
It Started with Eve as
Mrs. O'Toole - Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
1941
Unexpected Uncle as
Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
1941
Unfinished Business as
Miss Brady (uncredited)
1941
Double Cross as
Mrs. Murray
1941
Pot o' Gold as
Ma McCorkle
1941
Flight from Destiny as
Martha
1940
Kitty Foyle as
First Charwoman (uncredited)
1940
The Invisible Woman as
Mrs. Bates
1940
No, No, Nanette as
Gertrude, the Cook
1940
Go West as
Train Passenger (uncredited)
1940
Nobody's Children as
Mary
1940
Public Deb No. 1 as
Landlady (uncredited)
1940
Young People as
Old Woman (uncredited)
1940
When the Daltons Rode as
Ma Dalton
1940
Queen of the Mob as
Tenement Landlady
1940
The Man Who Talked Too Much as
Mrs. Dunn (uncredited)
1940
The Last Alarm as
Mrs. Hadley
1940
Brother Orchid as
Mrs. Sweeney - Flo's Landlady (uncredited)
1940
I Take This Oath as
Mrs. Eileen Hanagan
1940
Tear Gas Squad as
Mrs. Sullivan
1940
Saps at Sea as
Mrs. O'Riley (uncredited)
1940
My Son, My Son! as
Mrs. Mulvaney
1940
Women Without Names as
Juror (uncredited)
1940
The Invisible Man Returns as
Cookie, the Cook (uncredited)
1939
My Son Is Guilty as
Mrs. Montabelli (uncredited)
1939
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President as
Mrs. O'Leary (uncredited)
1939
The Night of Nights as
1st Pencil Woman (uncredited)
1939
Day-Time Wife as
Scrubwoman (uncredited)
1939
Rulers of the Sea as
Mrs. Ogilvie (uncredited)
1939
The Marshal of Mesa City as
Mrs. Dudley
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as
Woman (uncredited)
1939
Three Sons as
Woman at Barn Fire (uncredited)
1939
The Escape as
Neighbor (uncredited)
1939
Parents on Trial as
Martha
1939
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as
Mrs. Hudson
1939
The Story That Couldn't Be Printed (Short) as
Woman Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
1939
She Married a Cop as
Ma Duffy
1939
The Jones Family in Hollywood as
Landlady (uncredited)
1939
Captain Fury as
Mrs. Bailey
1939
Racketeers of the Range as
Mary - Benson's Housekeeper (uncredited)
1939
Tell No Tales as
Mrs. Bryant (uncredited)
1939
Code of the Streets as
Mrs. Flaherty (uncredited)
1939
Broadway Serenade as
Annie (uncredited)
1939
The Hound of the Baskervilles as
Mrs. Hudson
1939
Tail Spin as
Mrs. Lee
1939
Wings of the Navy as
Irene's Housekeeper (uncredited)
1939
Off the Record as
Mrs. Finnegan (uncredited)
1938
Thanks for Everything as
Maggie, Irish Woman (uncredited)
1938
Angels with Dirty Faces as
Mrs. Patrick McGee (uncredited)
1938
Vacation from Love as
Maggie, the Cook (uncredited)
1938
Campus Confessions as
Mrs. Twill (uncredited)
1938
Gateway as
Scottish Mother (uncredited)
1938
City Streets as
Mrs. Devlin
1938
Blond Cheat as
Maggie - the Charwoman (uncredited)
1938
Kidnapped as
Mrs. MacDonald
1937
Friend Indeed (Short) as
Housekeeper
1937
Lady Behave! as
Cook
1937
Mannequin as
Mrs. O'Rourke (uncredited)
1937
You're Only Young Once as
Mary's Mother (uncredited)
1937
A Damsel in Distress as
Cook (uncredited)
1937
Double Wedding as
Mrs. Keough
1937
Souls at Sea as
Cook (uncredited)
1937
You Can't Have Everything as
Y.W.C.A. Scrub Woman (uncredited)
1937
The Toast of New York as
Mrs. Callahan - Charwoman (uncredited)
1937
Meet the Boy Friend as
Mrs. Grimes
1937
One Man Justice as
Bridget
1937
Married Before Breakfast as
Mrs. Nevins (uncredited)
1937
The Man in Blue as
Woman (uncredited)
1937
Pick a Star as
Mrs. Watts - Undertaker's Wife (uncredited)
1937
That I May Live as
Mrs. Healy (uncredited)
1937
Way Out West as
Cook (uncredited)
1937
Racketeers in Exile as
Irish Woman (uncredited)
1937
Her Husband Lies as
Mrs. Jenks (uncredited)
1937
Nancy Steele Is Missing! as
Mrs. Watson - Landlady (uncredited)
1937
The Great O'Malley as
Mrs. O'Malley
1936
The Plough and the Stars as
Woman at Barricades
1936
After the Thin Man as
Rose (uncredited)
1936
The Plot Thickens as
Woman with Bag (uncredited)
1936
Stage Struck as
Mrs. Cassidy
1936
Yellowstone as
Mrs. McDougall (uncredited)
1936
Great Guy as
Mrs. Ogilvie
1936
Mary of Scotland as
Nurse
1936
The White Angel as
Nursing Applicant (uncredited)
1936
Little Miss Nobody as
Mrs. Biddle (uncredited)
1936
Forgotten Faces as
Mrs. O'Leary
1936
Share the Wealth (Short) as
Ma MacClyde
1936
Laughing Irish Eyes as
Mrs. O'Keefe
1936
Little Lord Fauntleroy as
Farmer's Wife on Way to Church (uncredited)
1936
The Lady Consents as
Apple Lady (uncredited)
1935
Mutiny on the Bounty as
Peddler (uncredited)
1935
Metropolitan as
Mrs. Tolentino (uncredited)
1935
Waterfront Lady as
Mrs. O'Flaherty
1935
Bonnie Scotland as
Mrs. Bickerdike
1935
The Irish in Us as
Ma O'Hara
1935
Ginger as
Mrs. Monohan (uncredited)
1935
$10 Raise as
Landlady (uncredited)
1935
Vagabond Lady as
Myrtle - Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
1935
The Bride of Frankenstein as
Hans' Wife
1935
Vanessa, Her Love Story as
Mrs. Leathwaite
1935
I'm a Father (Short) as
Neighbor
1934
The Little Minister as
Nanny
1934
Flirtation as
Woman on a Window (uncredited)
1934
Charlie Chan in London as
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
1934
The Man from Hell as
Mrs. Frank McCarrol (uncredited)
1934
One More River as
Cook (uncredited)
1934
Our Daily Bread as
Community Woman in Cottage (uncredited)
1934
I Give My Love as
Marie (uncredited)
1934
The Defense Rests as
Scrub Woman (uncredited)
1934
Whom the Gods Destroy as
Newfoundlander (uncredited)
1934
Cross Streets as
Sonny's Mother
1934
Baby, Take a Bow as
Mrs. O'Brien (unconfirmed, uncredited)
1934
The World Moves On as
English Soldier's Mother (uncredited)
1934
A Man's Game as
Landlady (uncredited)
1934
Most Precious Thing in Life as
Washerwoman (uncredited)
1934
The Loudspeaker as
Landlady (uncredited)
1934
The Key as
Dublin Townswoman (uncredited)
1934
Murder at the Vanities as
Assistant Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)
1934
Change of Heart as
Woman in Street (uncredited)
1934
Manhattan Melodrama as
Boat Passenger (uncredited)
1934
Oil's Well (Short)
1934
Voice in the Night as
Woman on Phone in Montage (uncredited)
1934
The Woman Condemned as
Crying Woman at Night Court (uncredited)
1934
Beloved as
Mrs. O'Leary
1933
The World Changes as
Lady at Party (uncredited)
1933
Design for Living as
Theatre Chambermaid (uncredited)
1933
Broadway Thru a Keyhole as
Cleaning Woman (uncredited)
1933
The Invisible Man as
Screaming Woman (uncredited)
1933
Meet the Baron as
Washer Woman (uncredited)
1933
My Woman as
Woman at Ironing Board (uncredited)
1933
Footlight Parade as
Wardrobe Woman on Bus (uncredited)
1933
Brief Moment as
Cook (uncredited)
1933
Doctor Bull as
Townswoman at Meeting (uncredited)
1933
The Power and the Glory as
Nurse (uncredited)
1933
Pilgrimage as
Mrs. MacGregor (uncredited)
1933
The Kiss Before the Mirror as
Scrubwoman (uncredited)
1933
The Whirlwind as
Mrs. Curtis
1933
Sweepings as
Mrs. Patrick O'Leary (uncredited)
1933
Nature in the Wrong (Short) as
Mrs. Clancy (uncredited)
1933
Men Must Fight as
Pacifist Audience Member (uncredited)
1933
Ladies They Talk About as
Prisoner in Visiting Room (uncredited)
1933
Her Splendid Folly as
Mrs. Clancey
1933
She Done Him Wrong as
Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
1933
Laughter in Hell as
Townswoman (uncredited)
1932
Call Her Savage as
Lady in Tenement (uncredited)
1932
Wild Girl as
Washerwoman (uncredited)
1932
Pack Up Your Troubles as
Mrs. MacTavish (uncredited)
1932
Blonde Venus as
Landlady (uncredited)
1932
70,000 Witnesses as
Scrubwoman (uncredited)
1932
Skyscraper Souls as
Charwoman (uncredited)
1932
Almost Married as
Cook (uncredited)
1932
Beauty Parlor as
Landlady (uncredited)
1932
Radio Patrol as
Landlady (uncredited)
1932
The Trial of Vivienne Ware as
Court Matron (uncredited)
1932
Scandal for Sale as
Hotel Resident (uncredited)
1932
Devil's Lottery as
Inquest Onlooker (uncredited)
1932
Dancers in the Dark as
Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
1932
The Big Timer as
2nd Job Seeker (uncredited)
1932
The Expert as
Neighbor (uncredited)
1932
The Impatient Maiden as
Irish Neighbor (uncredited)
1932
Texas Cyclone as
Katie
1932
A Fool's Advice as
Woman at Rally (uncredited)
1931
Delicious as
Dancer (uncredited)
1931
Ladies of the Big House as
Inmate (uncredited)
1931
A House Divided as
Townswoman (uncredited)
1931
Models and Wives (Short)
1931
Possessed as
Woman at Political Rally (uncredited)
1931
24 Hours as
Nurse (uncredited)
1931
Waterloo Bridge as
Distraught Woman on Stairway (uncredited)
1931
The Brat as
Angry Wife in Night Court (uncredited)
1931
The Black Camel as
Mrs. MacMasters
1931
Always Goodbye as
Mrs. MacPherson - Moviegoer (uncredited)
1931
Subway Express as
Mrs. Delaney
1931
Unfaithful as
Bit (uncredited)
1930
Oh, for a Man! as
Stage Door Admirer with Violets (uncredited)
1930
Dance with Me (Short)
1930
Dangerous Youth (Short) as
Unbilled
1930
Anybody's Woman (uncredited)
1930
Song o' My Heart as
Irish Woman (uncredited)
1930
Manslaughter as
Cook (uncredited)
1930
Our Blushing Brides as
Mrs. Mannix - Tenement Woman (uncredited)
1930
Let Us Be Gay as
Mrs. McIntyre (uncredited)
1930
Roaring Ranch as
Mrs. O'Riley (uncredited)
1930
Las fantasmas (Short) as
Chubby's Mama
1930
When the Wind Blows (Short) as
Chubby's Mother (uncredited)
1930
His Honor the Mayor (Short) as
His Wife
1930
The Duke of Dublin (Short)
1930
Seven Days Leave as
Bit (uncredited)
1929
Dynamite as
Neighbor at Store (uncredited)
1929
Hell's Heroes as
Choir Member (uncredited)
1929
The Sky Hawk as
Mary- House Maid (uncredited)
1929
The Saturday Night Kid as
Reducing Customer (uncredited)
1929
Is Everybody Happy? as
Neighbor (uncredited)
1929
Sunny Side Up as
Grocery Shopper (uncredited)
1929
Madame X as
Nursemaid (uncredited)
1929
The Black Watch as
Sandy's Wife (uncredited)
1928
The Old Code as
Mary MacGregr
1928
The Ol' Gray Hoss (Short) as
First Taxi Passenger (uncredited)
1928
Our Dancing Daughters as
Scrubwoman (uncredited)
1928
Hangman's House as
The Woman at Hogan's Hideout (uncredited)
1928
The Matinee Idol as
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
1927
Little Mickey Grogan as
Kind Landlady (uncredited)
1927
Clancy's Kosher Wedding as
Molly Clancy
1927
The Claw as
Bit (uncredited)
1927
Annie Laurie as
First Midwife (uncredited)
1927
Naughty Nanette as
Mrs. Rooney
1926
The Dixie Flyer as
Mrs. Clancy
1926
Black Paradise as
Mrs. Murphy
1925
Lights of Old Broadway as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1925
The People vs. Nancy Preston as
Mrs. Tifft
1925
One of the Bravest as
Tenement Boy's Mother
1925
Tessie as
Aunt Maggie
1925
The Home Maker as
Mrs. Hennessy
1925
The Dome Doctor (Short) as
Woman with Long Hair (uncredited)
Miscellaneous
1934
The Little Minister (dialogue coach - uncredited)
Archive Footage
1999
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (Video documentary short) as
Jane Banning
1992
Gunfighters of the Old West (Video documentary) as
Mrs. Dalton (uncredited)
1986
The Laurel and Hardy Show (TV Series) as
Mrs. MacTavish / Cook / Miss O'Riley (1986)
1955
The Little Rascals (TV Series) as
Passenger (1955) / Chubby's Mother (1955)
1953
Kelly Finds a Fighter (Short) as
Landlady
1949
Clues to Adventure (Short) as
Woman Reading Newspaper (clip from 'The Story That Couldn't Be Printed') (uncredited)
References
Mary Gordon (actress) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA