--- name: "Ellen Corby" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ellen-corby" fi1m_id: "ellen-corby" imdb_id: "nm0179289" tmdb_id: 5738 wikidata_id: "Q368794" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 June 1911" died: "14 April 1999" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 88 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-25T01:53:55.252522+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." --- # Ellen Corby ## Identity Ellen Corby - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ellen-corby - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ellen-corby - **IMDb ID:** nm0179289 - **TMDB ID:** 5738 - **Wikidata ID:** Q368794 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Corby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q368794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179289/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5738 Actor. Born 3 June 1911 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Died 14 April 1999. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 June 1911, Racine, Wisconsin, USA - **Died:** 14 April 1999 - **Active:** 1953–1958 - **Also known as:** Ellen Hansen, Ellen Hansen Corby - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 acting, 2 other - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 3 Emmys (3 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 88, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 85 (1), 1940s 91 (1), 1950s 88 (2) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Corby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q368794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179289/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5738 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Sons of the Desert*](https://film.one/film/sons-of-the-desert.md) (85) - **Apple TV:** [*Shane*](https://film.one/film/shane.md) (83) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Ellen Corby (born Ellen Hansen) was an American actress and screenwriter. She appeared in supporting roles in numerous films from the 1940s onwards, including *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), *Shane* (1953), *Sabrina* (1954) and *Vertigo* (1958), in which she played the manager of the McKittrick Hotel. She received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Aunt Trina in *I Remember Mama* (1948). Corby became best known for portraying Esther 'Grandma' Walton on the CBS series *The Waltons* (1972–1981), a role she originated in the 1971 television film *The Homecoming: A Christmas Story*. She won three Emmy Awards for the part. Corby suffered a stroke in 1976 that limited her later appearances, though she returned for several *Waltons* reunion films. She died on 14 April 1999. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these - *Vertigo* (1958), Fi1m 92, as Manager of McKittrick Hotel — [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md) - *Shane* (1953), Fi1m 83, as Liz Torrey — [page](https://film.one/film/shane.md) ### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), Fi1m 91, as Ms. Davis (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md) - *Sons of the Desert* (1933), Fi1m 85, as Partygoer at Table Next to Charley's (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/sons-of-the-desert.md) ## Complete filmography (202) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Mansfield 66/67* (2017), Actor - *A Walton Easter* (1997), as Grandma Walton - *A Walton Wedding* (1995), as Grandma Walton - *A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion* (1993), as Grandma Walton - *A Day for Thanks on Waltons Mountain* (1982), as Esther Walton - *A Wedding on Waltons Mountain* (1982), as Grandma Walton - *All the Way Home* (1981), as Great-Gandmaw - *The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons* (1980), Actor - *The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd* (1974), as Ma Floyd - *The Waltons* (1972), series, as Esther Walton · Story - *Napoleon and Samantha* (1972), as Gertrude - *The Homecoming: A Christmas Story* (1971), as Esther Walton - *A Tattered Web* (1971), as Mrs. Simmons - *The Partners* (1971), series, Actor - *Support Your Local Gunfighter* (1971), as Abigail - *Cannon* (1971), as Teacher - *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Miss Patience - *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Florence - *Dan August* (1970), series, as Agnes Oaks - *Nanny and the Professor* (1970), series, as Mrs. Kaufman - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as The Little Old Lady, Granny Gambler - *The Bill Cosby Show* (1969), series, as Mrs. Hilberman - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Mrs. Feathertree - *A Fine Pair* (1968), as Maddy Walker - *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor - *Adam-12* (1968), series, as Camille Gearhardt, Mrs. Cunningham - *The Outsider* (1968), series, Actor - *The Legend of Lylah Clare* (1968), as Script Girl - *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Mrs. Dilts - *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, as Molly Cobb - *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, as Prison matron - *The Gnome-Mobile* (1967), as Etta Pettibone (uncredited) - *Ironside* (1967), series, as Agnes Fairchild - *Rango* (1967), series, Actor - *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Aunt Sara - *Mr. Terrific* (1967), series, as Mrs. Walters - *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, Actor - *The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.* (1966), series, as Madame Bloor - *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor - *The Glass Bottom Boat* (1966), as Anna Miller - *The Night of the Grizzly* (1966), as Hazel Squires - *The Ghost and Mr. Chicken* (1966), as Neva Tremaine - *Batman* (1966), series, as Mrs. Green - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Mrs. Stone, Mary Carmichael, Elizabeth Page, Aunt Florrie Buell, Hannah Beecher, Mrs. Anderson - *Get Smart* (1965), series, as Agnes Davenport - *Honey West* (1965), series, as 'Nellie Peedy' - *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor - *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Emmie Pearson - *Please Don't Eat the Daisies* (1965), series, as Martha O'Reilly - *The Family Jewels* (1965), as Airline Passenger - *Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte* (1964), as Lily - *Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.* (1964), series, as Mother - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Hilda Brock - *The Baileys of Balboa* (1964), series, as Miss Engeldorf - *The Addams Family* (1964), series, as Mother Lurch - *The Strangler* (1964), as Mrs. Kroll - *4 for Texas* (1963), as Widow - *The Farmer's Daughter* (1963), series, Actor - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Mrs. Barlow, Mrs. Murdock — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Caretakers* (1963), as Irene - *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, Actor - *Going My Way* (1962), series, Actor - *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Miss Tanner, Woman in Park - *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, as Emma Poke - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as The Chief Nurse - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Mrs. Clancy - *Saints and Sinners* (1962), series, as Mrs. Healy - *Saintly Sinners* (1962), as Mrs. McKenzie - *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961), as Soho Sal - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Hazel* (1961), series, as Miss Minnie, Minerva Anderson - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Ainsley Hallie - *87th Precinct* (1961), series, as Mrs. Brodek - *The Asphalt Jungle* (1961), series, as Mrs. Peterson - *Surfside 6* (1960), series, as Addie Horton - *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Myrt 'Hubcaps' Lesh - *Thriller* (1960), series, as Mrs. Peele - *The Tall Man* (1960), series, as Hannah Blossom - *The Chevy Mystery Show* (1960), series, as Maria - *Visit to a Small Planet* (1960), as Mrs. Mabel Mayberry - *Tom, Dick and Harriet* (1960), as Aunt Emily - *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Sister Julia - *Dennis the Menace* (1959), series, as Miss Douglas - *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Carrie Blyden - *Lock-Up* (1959), series, Actor - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Mrs. Walters - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Lorna Doone Mayberry, Cora Milford - *Tightrope* (1959), series, as Hazel Mason - *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Martha Ward - *Macabre* (1958), as Miss Kushins - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Morgan - *The Texan* (1958), series, as Katy Clayton - *The Donna Reed Show* (1958), series, as Christine Moss - *Bronco* (1958), series, as Emma Hardin - *Peter Gunn* (1958), series, Actor - *As Young As We Are* (1958), as Nettie McPherson - *Vertigo* (1958), as Manager of McKittrick Hotel — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md) - *All Mine to Give* (1957), as Mrs. Raiden - *Rockabilly Baby* (1957), as Mrs. Wellington - *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Henrietta Porter, Henrietta - *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Elvira Moss - *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, as Ruth Purcell, Emma Birch, Mrs. Amy Morgan - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Old Lady Card Player - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Aunt Em - *Night Passage* (1957), as Mrs. Feeney - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Harriet Smith, Miss Carter - *God Is My Partner* (1957), as Mrs. Dalton - *The Seventh Sin* (1957), as Sister Saint Joseph - *Stagecoach To Fury* (1956), as Sarah Farrell - *The Adventures of Jim Bowie* (1956), series, Actor - *Slightly Scarlet* (1956), as Martha - June Lyons' Maid (uncredited) - *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, Actor - *Illegal* (1955), as Miss Hinkel - *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Minerva Comstock - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Maggie Ryan, Marie McGurk, Miss Samantha, Emma - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, as Hortense Durango - *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, as Mrs. Jane McGill - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Nancy Marlborough, Bedelia Buckley - *The Bob Cummings Show* (1955), series, as Nurse - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Woman at Burton Ridge Land Office - *The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin* (1954), series, as Sally Benton - *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor - *Lassie* (1954), series, as Pearlie Mae, Pearlie Mae Yochim, Bess Wright, Amy Baker - *Sabrina* (1954), as Miss McCardie - *Hey Mulligan* (1954), series, as Martha - *About Mrs. Leslie* (1954), as Mrs. Croffman - *Susan Slept Here* (1954), as Coffee Shop Waitress (uncredited) - *The Whistler* (1954), series, Actor - *The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters* (1954), as Amelia Gravesend - *Untamed Heiress* (1954), as Mrs. Flanny - *The Man Behind the Badge* (1953), series, Actor - *A Lion Is in the Streets* (1953), as Singing Woman - *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Jennie - *Revlon Mirror Theatre* (1953), series, as Mrs. Logan, Clara - *The Vanquished* (1953), as Mrs. Barbour - *Shane* (1953), as Liz Torrey — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/shane.md) - *Woman They Almost Lynched* (1953), as First Townswoman - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Frankie, Joan's maid, Ma Jericho, Gracie Jordan - *You Are There* (1953), series, Actor - *My Hero* (1952), series, as Henrietta Sullivan - *Monsoon* (1952), as Katie - *The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet* (1952), series, as Aunt Ellen - *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Mabel - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Elsie, Martha - Maid - *Fearless Fagan* (1952), as Mrs. Ardley - *The Big Trees* (1952), as Sister Blackburn - *Chevron Theatre* (1952), series, Actor - *Dragnet* (1951), series, as Thelma Keene - *The Barefoot Mailman* (1951), as Miss Della (uncredited) - *The Sea Hornet* (1951), as Mrs. Drinkwater - *Angels in the Outfield* (1951), as Sister Veronica - *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Miss Hanna - *Here Comes the Groom* (1951), as Mrs. McGonigle - *On Moonlight Bay* (1951), as Miss Mary Stevens - *Goodbye, My Fancy* (1951), as Miss Birdshaw - *The Mating Season* (1951), as Annie - *Harriet Craig* (1950), as Lottie - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Nurse, Norah, Aunt, Lavinia Penniman, Martha, Harriet - *Edge of Doom* (1950), as Jeanette Moore - *Peggy* (1950), as Mrs. Privet, the Librarian - *The Gunfighter* (1950), as Mrs. Devlin - *Caged* (1950), as Emma Barber - *Captain China* (1950), as Miss Endicott - *Madame Bovary* (1949), as Félicité - *Mighty Joe Young* (1949), as Orphanage matron (uncredited) - *Little Women* (1949), as Sophie - *Rusty Saves a Life* (1949), as Miss Simmons - *A Woman's Secret* (1949), as Nurse who reads paper to Susan - *The Dark Past* (1948), as Agnes (uncredited) - *Strike It Rich* (1948), as Annie Harkins - *Fighting Father Dunne* (1948), as Colpeck's Secretary - *The Noose Hangs High* (1948), as Hilda - Maid (uncredited) - *I Remember Mama* (1948), as Aunt Trina - *The Judge Steps Out* (1947), as Mother at Party (uncredited) - *Forever Amber* (1947), as Marge - *Railroaded!* (1947), as Mrs. Wills (uncredited) - *The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer* (1947), as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) - *The Fabulous Joe* (1947), as Cathy, the Maid - *Hoppy's Holiday* (1947), Story - *They Won't Believe Me* (1947), as Screaming Woman in Courtroom (uncredited) - *The Unfaithful* (1947), as Courtroom Spectator - *Living in a Big Way* (1947), as Broken Arms' Sailors Wife (uncredited) - *The Long Night* (1947), as Observer in Crowd (uncredited) - *Born to Kill* (1947), as Maid (uncredited) - *Beat the Band* (1947), as Gertrude's Mother - *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), as Ms. Davis (uncredited) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md) - *The Locket* (1946), as Ginny (uncredited) - *Sister Kenny* (1946), as Hospital Scrub Woman (uncredited) - *Crack-Up* (1946), as Reynold's Maid (Uncredited) - *Lover Come Back* (1946), as Rita - *Bedlam* (1946), as Betty, Queen of the Artichokes (uncredited) - *The Dark Corner* (1946), as Maid (uncredited) - *The Truth About Murder* (1946), as Betty - *From This Day Forward* (1946), as Mother - *The Spiral Staircase* (1946), as Neighbour (uncredited) - *Cornered* (1945), as Swiss Maid (uncredited) - *Twilight on the Trail* (1941), Screenplay - *The Broken Coin* (1936), as Bit Part (uncredited) · Story - *Speed Limited* (1935), as Secretary - *Babes in Toyland* (1934), as Townswoman at Tom-Tom's Trial (uncredited) - *Sons of the Desert* (1933), as Partygoer at Table Next to Charley's (uncredited) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/sons-of-the-desert.md) - *Rafter Romance* (1933), as Telemarketer (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Belair Drive-In theater advertisement for the American horror film Macabre (1958). From the 21 May 1958 San Bernardino Sun.](https://film.one/media/person/59159/gallery-faa9e2edd88f.jpg) Belair Drive-In theater advertisement for the American horror film Macabre (1958). From the 21 May 1958 San Bernardino Sun. — Allied Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Belair_Drive-in_Ad_-_21_May_1958%2C_Fontana%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Theater advertisement for the film, Caged. 8 June, 1950.](https://film.one/media/person/59159/gallery-8d2917702bf3.png) Theater advertisement for the film, Caged. 8 June, 1950. — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Caged_-_Theatre_ad_-_8_June%2C_1950.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Photo of Edgar Bergen and Ellen Corby from the made for television movie, The Homecoming. This movie was aired before the beginning of the television series, Th](https://film.one/media/person/59159/gallery-0f5ecad78574.jpg) Photo of Edgar Bergen and Ellen Corby from the made for television movie, The Homecoming. This movie was aired before the beginning of the television series, Th — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Edgar_Bergen_Ellen_Corby_The_Homecoming_Waltons_1974.JPG/1280px-Edgar_Bergen_Ellen_Corby_The_Homecoming_Waltons_1974.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ellen Corby](https://film.one/media/person/59159/gallery-d6c07de5ded2.jpg) Ellen Corby — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Edgar_Bergen_Ellen_Corby_The_Homecoming_Waltons_1974_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo of Will Geer and Ellen Corby as Grandpa and Grandma Walton from the television program The Waltons.](https://film.one/media/person/59159/gallery-0f8358722698.jpg) Publicity photo of Will Geer and Ellen Corby as Grandpa and Grandma Walton from the television program The Waltons. — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/The_Waltons_1974.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1949: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *I Remember Mama* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 3 won - 1976: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Waltons* - 1975: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Waltons* - 1973: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Waltons* *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/ellen-corby