---
name: "Beulah Bondi"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/beulah-bondi"
fi1m_id: "beulah-bondi"
imdb_id: "nm0094135"
tmdb_id: 17755
wikidata_id: "Q466440"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 May 1888"
died: "11 January 1981"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-09-25T02:31:34.169832+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Beulah Bondi

## Identity

Beulah Bondi

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/beulah-bondi
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** beulah-bondi
- **IMDb ID:** nm0094135
- **TMDB ID:** 17755
- **Wikidata ID:** Q466440
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beulah_Bondi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466440, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17755

Actor. Born 3 May 1888 in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA. Died 11 January 1981.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 May 1888, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA
- **Died:** 11 January 1981
- **Active:** 1937–1948
- **Also known as:** Beulah Bondy
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 7 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Thomas Mitchell](https://film.one/person/thomas-mitchell.md), [Fay Bainter](https://film.one/person/fay-bainter.md), [Frank Capra](https://film.one/person/frank-capra.md), [James Stewart](https://film.one/person/james-stewart.md), [Martha Scott](https://film.one/person/martha-scott.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 82 (3), 1940s 77 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 89 to 83 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Romance 2, Comedy 1, Family 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $19m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beulah_Bondi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466440, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17755

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*It's a Wonderful Life*](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md) (91), [*Our Town*](https://film.one/film/our-town.md) (72)
- **Tubi:** [*Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Beulah Bondi

> Beulah Bondi makes familiar maternal parts worth watching, and her work with James Stewart is a good place to begin. We admire her conviction, though we wish she had been cast less predictably.

Beulah Bondi makes it easy to believe that James Stewart is her son. She played his mother four times, including Ma Smith in *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939) and Mrs. Bailey in *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946). Frank Capra asks a good deal of our faith in human decency, and credible mothers help. We rate Bondi for making those familiar parts emotionally persuasive, while regretting how often she was asked to play them.

Her screen career began with *Street Scene* (1931), repeating the role of Emma Jones from the stage. Supporting work through the 1930s and 1940s repeatedly put her in the older generation, sometimes playing women much older than herself. *Make Way for Tomorrow* (1937) gave her a leading role as Lucy Cooper, an elderly mother. It is a useful corrective to remembering her only as Stewart’s mother, and a chance to see that gift for playing older women given greater responsibility.

In *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, the comedy does much of the work: Stewart and Jean Arthur keep Capra’s belief in personal goodness lively. Bondi’s Ma Smith gives that belief a family connection, although the film asks for more indulgence than we always want to grant. *It's a Wonderful Life* takes the strain of being good more seriously. We were moved by Stewart’s exhaustion, because he makes doing right look like something a person might struggle to keep doing. Bondi’s Mrs. Bailey helps make the family credible, even when Capra presses the whimsy too hard.

She described preparing a role by imagining the woman’s past, a useful discipline when the part is another mother or grandmother. We can admire how convincingly she played older women without pretending that so much repetition was ideal. Her later television work included Martha Corinne in *The Waltons* (1972). After the Capra films, try *Make Way for Tomorrow* for the chance to see her carry a leading part.

## Biography

Beulah Bondi (born Beulah Bondy) was an American character actress whose career spanned stage, film and television from the late 19th century until the 1970s. She began performing as a child and made her Broadway debut in 1925. Her film debut came in 1931 with Street Scene, and she appeared in numerous supporting roles throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

Bondi was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) and Of Human Hearts (1938). She played the mother of James Stewart in four films, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946), and appeared in Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), Remember the Night (1940), Penny Serenade (1941), The Snake Pit (1948) and The Furies (1950). In 1976 she won an Emmy Award for a guest role on The Waltons.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (7) — the average rests on these

- *The Snake Pit* (1948), Fi1m 76, as Mrs. Greer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-snake-pit.md)
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), Fi1m 91, as Mrs. Bailey — [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *Watch on the Rhine* (1943), Fi1m 73, as Anise — [page](https://film.one/film/watch-on-the-rhine.md)
- *One Foot in Heaven* (1941), Fi1m 74, as Lydia Sandow — [page](https://film.one/film/one-foot-in-heaven.md)
- *Our Town* (1940), Fi1m 72, as Mrs Webb — [page](https://film.one/film/our-town.md)
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Ma Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Make Way for Tomorrow* (1937), Fi1m 91, as Lucy Cooper — [page](https://film.one/film/make-way-for-tomorrow.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Arrowsmith* (1931), Fi1m 70, as Mrs. Tozer (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/arrowsmith.md)

## Complete filmography (79)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Lincoln* (1974), series, as Sara Bush
- *The Waltons* (1972), series, as Martha Corinne
- *She Waits* (1972), as Mrs. Medina
- *Tammy and the Doctor* (1963), as Annie Rook Call
- *The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm* (1962), as The Gypsy (segment "The Dancing Princess")
- *Tammy Tell Me True* (1961), as Mrs. Annie Call
- *Harrigan and Son* (1960), series, as Tilly Cortland
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *A Summer Place* (1959), as Mrs. Emily Hamilton Hamble
- *Play of the Week* (1959), series, as Mother
- *The Big Fisherman* (1959), as Hannah
- *On Borrowed Time* (1957), as 'Granny' Northrup
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Sophia Stone
- *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Grandma Bates
- *The Unholy Wife* (1957), as Emma Hochen
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Ma Anderson
- *Back from Eternity* (1956), as Martha Spangler
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Mrs. Sutton
- *Track of the Cat* (1954), as Ma Bridges
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, Actor
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Aunt Caroline, Mrs. Jordan, Countess
- *Latin Lovers* (1953), as Analyst
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Annie
- *Lone Star* (1952), as Minniver Bryan
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Granny
- *The Furies* (1950), as Mrs. Anaheim
- *The Baron of Arizona* (1950), as Loma Morales
- *Reign of Terror* (1949), as Grandma Blanchard
- *Mr. Soft Touch* (1949), as Mrs. Hangale
- *The Life of Riley* (1949), as Martha Bogle
- *So Dear to My Heart* (1948), as Granny Kincaid
- *The Snake Pit* (1948), as Mrs. Greer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-snake-pit.md)
- *The Sainted Sisters* (1948), as Hester Rivercomb
- *High Conquest* (1947), as Clara Kingsley
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), as Mrs. Bailey — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *Sister Kenny* (1946), as Mary Kenny
- *Breakfast in Hollywood* (1946), as Mrs. Annie Reed
- *Back to Bataan* (1945), as Bertha Barnes
- *The Southerner* (1945), as Granny Tucker
- *And Now Tomorrow* (1944), as Aunt Em
- *Our Hearts Were Young and Gay* (1944), as Miss Abigail Horn
- *The Very Thought of You* (1944), as Mrs. Harriet Wheeler
- *I Love a Soldier* (1944), as Etta Lane
- *She's a Soldier Too* (1944), as Agatha Kittredge
- *Watch on the Rhine* (1943), as Anise — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/watch-on-the-rhine.md)
- *Tonight We Raid Calais* (1943), as Mme. Bonnard
- *One Foot in Heaven* (1941), as Lydia Sandow — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/one-foot-in-heaven.md)
- *The Shepherd of the Hills* (1941), as Aunt Mollie Matthews
- *Penny Serenade* (1941), as Miss Oliver
- *The Captain is a Lady* (1940), as Angie Peabody
- *Our Town* (1940), as Mrs Webb — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/our-town.md)
- *Remember the Night* (1940), as Mrs. Sargent
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Ma Smith — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *The Under-Pup* (1939), as Miss Delphine Thornton
- *On Borrowed Time* (1939), as Nellie Northrup aka Granny
- *Land of Liberty* (1939), as Mary Wilkins (edited from 'Of Human Hearts')
- *The Sisters* (1938), as Rose Elliott
- *Vivacious Lady* (1938), as Mrs. Morgan
- *Of Human Hearts* (1938), as Mary Wilkins
- *The Buccaneer* (1938), as Aunt Charlotte
- *Make Way for Tomorrow* (1937), as Lucy Cooper — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/make-way-for-tomorrow.md)
- *Maid of Salem* (1937), as Abigail
- *The Gorgeous Hussy* (1936), as Rachel Jackson
- *Hearts Divided* (1936), as Mother of Napoleon and Jerome
- *The Case Against Mrs. Ames* (1936), as Mrs. Livingston Ames
- *The Moon's Our Home* (1936), as Mrs. Boyce Medford
- *The Trail of the Lonesome Pine* (1936), as Melissa
- *The Invisible Ray* (1936), as Lady Arabella Stevens
- *Bad Boy* (1935), as Mrs. Larkin
- *The Good Fairy* (1935), as Doctor Schultz
- *Ready for Love* (1934), as Mrs. Burke
- *Finishing School* (1934), as Miss Van Alstyne
- *Registered Nurse* (1934), as Miss McKenna
- *Two Alone* (1934), as Mrs. Slag
- *Christopher Bean* (1933), as Mrs. Hannah Haggett
- *The Stranger's Return* (1933), as Beatrice
- *Rain* (1932), as Mrs. Davidson
- *Arrowsmith* (1931), as Mrs. Tozer (uncredited) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/arrowsmith.md)
- *Street Scene* (1931), as Emma Jones

## Gallery

- ![Photo of Beulah Bondi as Martha Corrine Walton from the television program The Waltons. Bondi had a recurring role on the show with this character between in 19 (1974)](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-c6287831fd89.jpg) Photo of Beulah Bondi as Martha Corrine Walton from the television program The Waltons. Bondi had a recurring role on the show with this character between in 19 (1974) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Beulah_Bondi_The_Waltons_1974.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Beulah Bondi](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-0832c1ee8cfa.jpg) Beulah Bondi — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Beulah_Bondi_Wagon_Train_1961.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![American actress Beulah Bondi (1944)](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-428d1c0dd23e.jpg) American actress Beulah Bondi (1944) — Fred Hendrickson (1894-1946), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Beulah_Bondi_by_Fred_Hendrickson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Lobby card for the 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy.](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-6c664acd9123.jpg) Lobby card for the 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy. — MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Gorgeous_Hussy2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Beulah Bondi](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-142e2963e574.jpg) Beulah Bondi — Image via TMDB
- ![Beulah Bondi](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-bacc8e415cc8.jpg) Beulah Bondi — Image via TMDB
- ![Theatrical release poster for the 1937 film Make Way for Tomorrow.](https://film.one/media/person/102338/gallery-4271f52d91ea.jpg) Theatrical release poster for the 1937 film Make Way for Tomorrow. — Illustrator unknown. "Copyright 1937 by Paramount Pictures Inc.", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Make_Way_for_Tomorrow_%281937_poster%29.jpg/1280px-Make_Way_for_Tomorrow_%281937_poster%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 1939: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Of Human Hearts*
- 1937: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Gorgeous Hussy*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1977: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Waltons*

### Other awards — 1 won

- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1960: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/beulah-bondi