Biography
Esther Dale (10 November 1885 – 23 July 1961) was an American actress and former concert singer. Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, she studied music in Berlin and performed as a lieder singer before turning to the stage. She made her Broadway debut in Another Language (1932) and starred as the title character in Carrie Nation (1933).
Dale’s first film role was an uncredited part in Crime Without Passion (1934). She appeared in dozens of films over the following decades, often in supporting roles as stern or authoritative women, including Mrs. Leeson in The Awful Truth (1937), Mrs. Fenner in Dead End (1937), Ingrid in The Women (1939), and Mrs. Krausheimer in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941). She also featured in the Ma and Pa Kettle series as Birdie Hicks and made television appearances, notably on The Donna Reed Show and Maverick.
