--- name: "Claire McDowell" canonical: "https://film.one/person/claire-mcdowell" roles: [] born: "31 October 1877" died: "23 October 1966" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-19T23:55:20.101553+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." --- # Claire McDowell Actor. Born 31 October 1877 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 23 October 1966. ## Details - **Born:** 31 October 1877, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 23 October 1966 - **Also known as:** Claire MacDowell, Clare Mc Dowell, Doris Carlton - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 1 acting, 3 other - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 2, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $5m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_McDowell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q459580, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568282/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29974 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*The Big House*](https://film.one/film/the-big-house.md) (78) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Claire McDowell was an American actress who appeared in hundreds of films from 1908 to 1945. She began in silent shorts and progressed to supporting roles, often as mothers or character parts in major productions of the 1920s and 1930s. She is noted for appearances in *The Mark of Zorro* (1920), *The Big Parade* (1925) as Mrs. Apperson, *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ* (1925) as the Princess of Hur, and *The Big House* (1930) as Mrs. Marlowe. McDowell was also credited under names including Claire MacDowell and Doris Carlton. She was married to actor Charles Hill Mailes from 1906 until his death in 1937; the couple appeared together in several silent films. McDowell died in Hollywood, California, in 1966. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, catalog.afi.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (1) - *The Big House* (1930), Fi1m 78, as Mrs. Marlowe — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-house.md) ### Also credited (3) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Boys Town* (1938), Fi1m 65, as Nun (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/boys-town.md) - *Test Pilot* (1938), Fi1m 73, as Funeral Home Associate (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/test-pilot.md) - *It Happened One Night* (1934), Fi1m 88, as Mother on Bus (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/it-happened-one-night.md) ## Complete filmography (253) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Adventure* (1945), as Woman in Library (uncredited) - *Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble* (1944), as Dr. Standish's Servant (uncredited) - *Men on Her Mind* (1944), as Mother Goodwin - *Du Barry Was a Lady* (1943), as Subway Passenger (uncredited) - *This Land Is Mine* (1943), as Woman in Bathroom - *Presenting Lily Mars* (1943), as Dowager - *Hangmen Also Die!* (1943), as Counterwoman (uncredited) - *Keeper of the Flame* (1943), Actor - *Lady Scarface* (1941), as Mrs. Tuckerman - *Whispers* (1941), as Gossip (uncredited) - *Dr. Kildare Goes Home* (1940), as Nurse for Mr. Winslow (uncredited) - *The Golden Fleecing* (1940), as Pedestrian (uncredited) - *A Failure at Fifty* (1940), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Young Tom Edison* (1940), as Woman at Station - *Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President* (1939), as Gossiper - *Thunder Afloat* (1939), as Nurse (uncredited) - *One Against the World* (1939), as Jane Todd Crawford (uncredited) - *Miracles for Sale* (1939), as Jack of Diamonds Woman - *Angel of Mercy* (1939), as Mother (uncredited) - *Idiot's Delight* (1939), as Crying Mother - *Stand Up and Fight* (1939), as Woman - *Boys Town* (1938), as Nun (uncredited) — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/boys-town.md) - *The Man on the Rock* (1938), as Napoleon's Mother (uncredited) - *They're Always Caught* (1938), as Mrs. Fletcher (uncredited) - *Three Comrades* (1938), as Landlady Frau Zalewski (uncredited) - *Test Pilot* (1938), as Funeral Home Associate (uncredited) — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/test-pilot.md) - *A Night at the Movies* (1937), as Movie Patron (uncredited) - *Two-Fisted Sheriff* (1937), as Miss Herrick - Molly's Aunt - *Song of Revolt* (1937), as Artistocratic Dowager (uncredited) - *Small Town Girl* (1936), as Woman in Bed (uncredited) - *August Week End* (1936), as Alma Washburne - *Murder by Television* (1935), as Mrs. Houghland - *Imitation of Life* (1934), as Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited) - *Two Heads on a Pillow* (1934), as Mrs. Helen Gorman - *British Agent* (1934), as Woman Saying 'Lenin will Live' (uncredited) - *Dr. Monica* (1934), as Miss Bryerly (uncredited) - *Journal of a Crime* (1934), as Sister at Hospital (uncredited) - *It Happened One Night* (1934), as Mother on Bus (uncredited) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/it-happened-one-night.md) - *Bedside* (1934), as Nurse - *Wild Boys of the Road* (1933), as Mrs. Smith - *By Appointment Only* (1933), as Mrs. Mary Carroll - *The Working Man* (1933), as Benjamin's Secretary - *Central Airport* (1933), as Mrs. Blaine - *Lawyer Man* (1932), as Gilmurry's Secretary (uncredited) - *A Successful Calamity* (1932), as Struthers' Secretary (uncredited) - *The Phantom Express* (1932), as Ma Nolan - *Cornered* (1932), as Jane's Aunt - *The Strange Love of Molly Louvain* (1932), as Ann Marie's Caregiver Mrs. Schiller (uncredited) - *The Famous Ferguson Case* (1932), as Brooks' Landlady (uncredited) - *Union Depot* (1932), as Little Boy's Mother (uncredited) - *Under Eighteen* (1932), as Seamstress (uncredited) - *Manhattan Parade* (1931), as Nancy - the Maid - *An American Tragedy* (1931), as Mrs. Samuel Griffiths - *Mothers Cry* (1930), as Mary's Mother - *Brothers* (1930), as Bess Naughton - *Wild Company* (1930), as Mrs. Laura Grayson - *The Big House* (1930), as Mrs. Marlowe — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-house.md) - *Young Desire* (1930), as Mrs. Spencer - *The Second Floor Mystery* (1930), as Aunt Hattie - *Redemption* (1930), as Anna Pavlovna - *The Quitter* (1929), as Mrs. Abbott - *Silks and Saddles* (1929), as Mrs. Calhoun - *The Flying Fleet* (1929), as Mrs. Hastings (uncredited) - *When Dreams Come True* (1929), as Martha Shelby - *Marriage by Contract* (1928), as Mother - *The Viking* (1928), as Lady Editha (as Claire MacDowell) - *4 Devils* (1928), as Woman - *Don't Marry* (1928), as Aunt Abigail Bowen - *The Tragedy of Youth* (1928), as Mother - *Almost Human* (1927), as Mrs. Livingston - *The Shield of Honor* (1927), as Mrs. MacDowell - *Winds of the Pampas* (1927), as Doña Maria Casandos - *Tillie the Toiler* (1927), as Ma Jones - *The Black Diamond Express* (1927), as Martha Foster - *The Taxi Dancer* (1927), as Aunt Mary - *The Auctioneer* (1927), as Mrs. Tim Eagan - *A Little Journey* (1927), as Aunt Louise - *The Flaming Forest* (1926), as Mrs. McTavish - *The Show Off* (1926), as Mom Fisher - *The Unknown Soldier* (1926), as John Phillips' sister - *The Shamrock Handicap* (1926), as Molly O'Shea - *The Dixie Merchant* (1926), as Josephine Fippany - *The Devil's Circus* (1926), as Mrs. Peterson - *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ* (1925), as Princess of Hur - *The Midnight Flyer* (1925), as Liza Slater - *The Big Parade* (1925), as Mrs. Apperson - *The Tower of Lies* (1925), as Katrina - *Dollar Down* (1925), as Mrs. Meadows - *The End of the World* (1925), as Mrs. Joyce - *The End of the World* (1925), as Mrs. Joyce - *Waking Up the Town* (1925), as Mrs. Joyce - *The Reckless Sex* (1925), as Concha - *Those Who Dare* (1924), as Mrs. Rollins - *Secrets* (1924), as Elizabeth Channing - *Thy Name Is Woman* (1924), as Juan's Mother - *Judgment of the Storm* (1924), as Mrs. Heath - *Black Oxen* (1923), as Agnes Trevor - *Enemies of Children* (1923), as Godfrey sister - *Ponjola* (1923), as Mrs. Hope - *Ashes of Vengeance* (1923), as Margot's Aunt - *Circus Days* (1923), as Martha - *Human Wreckage* (1923), as Mrs. Brown - *Michael O'Halloran* (1923), as Nancy Harding - *The West~Bound Limited* (1923), as Mrs. Bill Buckley - *Quincy Adams Sawyer* (1922), as Mrs. Putnam - *Heart's Haven* (1922), as May Caroline - *Nice People* (1922), as Margaret Rainsford - *The Ragged Heiress* (1922), as Sylvia Moreton - *Penrod* (1922), as Mrs. Schofield - *Rent Free* (1922), as Countess de Mourney - *Love Never Dies* (1921), as Liz Trott - *Wealth* (1921), as Mrs. Dominick - *Mother o' Mine* (1921), as Mrs. Sheldon - *What Every Woman Knows* (1921), as Comtesse de la Brière - *Midsummer Madness* (1921), as Mrs. Osborne - *Prisoners of Love* (1921), as Her Mother - *The Mark of Zorro* (1920), as Dona Catalina Pulido - *Something to Think About* (1920), as Housekeeper - *The Jack-Knife Man* (1920), as Lize Merdin - *Through Eyes of Men* (1920), as Mrs. Virginia All - *The Gift Supreme* (1920), as Lalia Graun - *Blind Youth* (1920), as Elizabeth Monnier - *The Devil's Riddle* (1920), as Mrs. Potts - *The Woman in the Suitcase* (1920), as Mrs. James B. Moreland - *The Feud* (1919), as Mary Lynch - *Heart o' the Hills* (1919), as Martha Hawn - *Chasing Rainbows* (1919), as Mrs. Walters - *Prudence on Broadway* (1919), as Miss Grayson - *The Follies Girl* (1919), as Nina - *Rosalind at Redgate* (1919), Actor - *The Return of Mary* (1918), as Mrs. John Denby Sr. - *You Can't Believe Everything* (1918), as Grace Dardley - *Captain of His Soul* (1918), as Annette - *The Storm Woman* (1917), Actor - *The Empty Gun* (1917), as Mary - *The Clean-Up* (1917), as Vera Vincent - *The Bronze Bride* (1917), as A-Che-Chee - *The Gates of Doom* (1917), as Indore / Agatha - *Avarice* (1917), as The Miserly Old Woman - *The White Raven* (1917), as Daisy - *The Right to Be Happy* (1916), as Mrs. Cratchit - *Mixed Blood* (1916), as Nita Valyez - *A Stranger from Somewhere* (1916), as Olga - *Cupid Entangled* (1915), as The Actress - *As It Happened* (1915), as The Ranchman's Daughter - *Old Offenders* (1915), as Joe's Wife - *Her Convert* (1915), as The Old Inventor's Daughter - *The Way Out* (1915), as The Young School Teacher - *Her Dormant Love* (1915), as The Discontented Wife - *Truth Stranger Than Fiction* (1915), as Crook - *The Canceled Mortgage* (1915), as The Widowed Mother - *A Day's Adventure* (1915), as Hogan's Moll - *The Gambler's I.O.U.* (1915), as Nell - Daddy Wilson's Daughter - *The Miser's Legacy* (1915), as The Crook's Wife - *The Sheriff's Dilemma* (1915), as Molly - *The Heart of a Bandit* (1915), as Claire - *Men and Women* (1914), as Mrs. Stephen Rodman - *The Cracksman's Gratitude* (1914), Actor - *Her Hand* (1914), as Olga - *Her Father's Silent Partner* (1914), Actor - *A Nest Unfeathered* (1914), as Kate - *His Fireman's Conscience* (1914), as Mrs. Daily - *The Fatal Wedding* (1914), Actor - *Waifs* (1914), Actor - *Concentration* (1914), as The Mother - *The Abandoned Well* (1913), as The Widow - *For Her Government* (1913), Actor - *The House of Discord* (1913), as The Sister-in-Law - *All for Science* (1913), as Detective - *The Detective's Stratagem* (1913), as Kate, the Bank Clerk's Sweetheart - *The Stopped Clock* (1913), as The Antique Dealer's Daughter - *The Van Nostrand Tiara* (1913), as Kate - *A Tender-Hearted Crook* (1913), as Edith - *The Law and His Son* (1913), as Marguerite, Manning's Sister - *The Stolen Treaty* (1913), as Olga - *The Strong Man's Burden* (1913), as Ida Glynn, The Nurse - *The Crook and the Girl* (1913), as The Uncle's Adopted Daughter - *The Work Habit* (1913), as The Daughter in the City - *Under the Shadow of the Law* (1913), as John Haywood's Sister - *I Was Meant for You* (1913), as Lavina - *The Vengeance of Galora* (1913), as Galora - *A Misappropriated Turkey* (1913), as Mrs. Fallon / Widow Logan - *The Mirror* (1913), as Daisy - *A Gambler's Honor* (1913), as Beth - *A Gamble with Death* (1913), as Kate - *The Switchtower* (1913), as The Switchman's Wife - *The Well* (1913), as The Farmer's Wife - *The Enemy's Baby* (1913), as Miller's Wife - *The Ranchero's Revenge* (1913), as The Schemer's Associate - *Olaf—An Atom* (1913), as A Parent - *The House of Darkness* (1913), as The Doctor's Wife - *The Stolen Loaf* (1913), as The Rich Woman - *The Tenderfoot's Money* (1913), as The Prospector's Wife - *The Wanderer* (1913), as The Female Lover - *The Stolen Bride* (1913), as The Wife - *The Unwelcome Guest* (1913), as The Wife - *The Wrong Bottle* (1913), as The Blind Sister - *The Telephone Girl and the Lady* (1913), as The Lady - *The God Within* (1912), as The Woodsman's Wife - *A Cry for Help* (1912), as The Thief's Wife - the Charity Patient - *The Massacre* (1912), as Stephen's Belle - In Prologue - *The New York Hat* (1912), as The Main Gossip - *A Sailor’s Heart* (1912), as The Sailor's Third Sweetheart - *In the Aisles of the Wild* (1912), as The Elder Daughter - *So Near, Yet So Far* (1912), as Rich Woman in Other Town - *Two Daughters of Eve* (1912), as The Mother - *Man's Genesis* (1912), as Cave Woman - *The School Teacher and the Waif* (1912), as The Street Fakir's Sweetheart - *Lena and the Geese* (1912), as Lena's Mother - *A Temporary Truce* (1912), as Mexican Jim's Wife - *When the Fire-Bells Rang* (1912), as An Actress - *The Old Actor* (1912), as At Audition - *The Female of the Species* (1912), as The Miner's Wife - *A String of Pearls* (1912), as The Italian Shoemaker's Wife - *The Sunbeam* (1912), as The Spinster - *The Sands of Dee* (1912), as Artist's fiancee - *Under Burning Skies* (1912), as The Friend - *Billy's Stratagem* (1912), as Billy's Mother - *The Baby and the Stork* (1912), as The Mother, The Workman - *A Woman Scorned* (1911), as The Doctor's Wife - *The Long Road* (1911), as Ned's Wife - *The Adventures of Billy* (1911), as Rich Woman - *The Unveiling* (1911), Actor - *The Squaw's Love* (1911), as Silver Fawn - *Swords and Hearts* (1911), as Irene Lambert - *The Sorrowful Example* (1911), as The Wife - *A Country Cupid* (1911), as The Half-Wit's Mother - *The Primal Call* (1911), as The Woman - *The Manicure Lady* (1911), as Lunchroom Hostess - *The Broken Cross* (1911), as Kate's Mother - *The Spanish Gypsy* (1911), as Paula - *A Decree of Destiny* (1911), as A Nun - *Fisher Folks* (1911), as At Fair - *What Shall We Do with Our Old?* (1911), as The Old Carpenter's Wife - *Fate's Turning* (1911), as At Hotel/At Wedding - *His Trust Fulfilled* (1911), as Mrs. Frazier - *His Trust* (1911), as Col. Frazier's wife - *The Golden Supper* (1910), as Lady-in-Waiting - *His New Lid* (1910), Actor - *Waiter No. 5* (1910), as The Chief of Police's Wife - *The Message of the Violin* (1910), as The Other Woman's Servant - *The Iconoclast* (1910), Actor - *Rose o' Salem Town* (1910), Actor - *The Oath and the Man* (1910), as Rebel - *A Mohawk's Way* (1910), Actor - *Muggsy Becomes a Hero* (1910), as One of the Sisters Frost - *Wilful Peggy* (1910), as Housemaid - *The Usurer* (1910), as Despairing Mother / One of the Third Debtors - *A Flash of Light* (1910), as At First Party - *Love Among the Roses* (1910), Actor - *The Call of the Wild* (1908), as Party Guest - *The Planter's Wife* (1908), as Mrs. John Holland - *The Devil* (1908), Actor ## Gallery - ![Claire McDowell from the American drama film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925).](https://film.one/media/person/417285/gallery-09935753ff26.jpg) Claire McDowell from the American drama film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925). — unknown (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Claire_McDowell_in_Ben-Hur_%281925%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Portrait of actress Claire McDowell from Motion Picture Classic](https://film.one/media/person/417285/gallery-1c027ef83093.jpg) Portrait of actress Claire McDowell from Motion Picture Classic — Albert Witzel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Claire_McDowell_-_Motion_Picture_Classic%2C_February_1916.jpg/1280px-Claire_McDowell_-_Motion_Picture_Classic%2C_February_1916.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Claire McDowell, film actress Subjects: actresses (1922)](https://film.one/media/person/417285/gallery-fa3df24b1e21.jpg) Claire McDowell, film actress Subjects: actresses (1922) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Claire_McDowell%2C_film_actress_%28SAYRE_6954%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Claire McDowell as the Mother of Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur (1926)](https://film.one/media/person/417285/gallery-f0ae616f29db.jpg) Claire McDowell as the Mother of Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur (1926) — Keyes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Claire_McDowell_as_the_Mother_of_Ben-Hur.jpg/1280px-Claire_McDowell_as_the_Mother_of_Ben-Hur.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Claire McDowell](https://film.one/media/person/417285/gallery-cfa935cb9ead.jpg) Claire McDowell — Image via TMDB --- © 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/claire-mcdowell