---
name: "Esther Howard"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/esther-howard"
fi1m_id: "esther-howard"
imdb_id: "nm0397284"
tmdb_id: 85997
wikidata_id: "Q5401196"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 April 1892"
died: "8 March 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-25T03:42:56.248164+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."
---

# Esther Howard

## Identity

Esther Howard

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/esther-howard
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** esther-howard
- **IMDb ID:** nm0397284
- **TMDB ID:** 85997
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5401196
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Howard, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5401196, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397284/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/85997

Actor. Born 2 April 1892 in Butte, Montana, USA. Died 8 March 1965.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 April 1892, Butte, Montana, USA
- **Died:** 8 March 1965
- **Active:** 1941–1945
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 73 (1), 1940s 83 (3)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Romance 2, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Drama 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Howard, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5401196, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397284/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/85997

## Biography

Esther Howard (4 April 1892 – 8 March 1965) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career in stock theatre and made her Broadway debut in 1917, appearing in a dozen productions through 1929, including the musicals *Wildflower* (1923) and *The New Moon* (1929). She moved to films in the early 1930s and worked regularly until 1952.

Howard played supporting roles in more than 100 films. She is noted for appearances in *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), *The Palm Beach Story* (1942), *Murder, My Sweet* (1944) as Jesse Florian, *Detour* (1945), *Born to Kill* (1947) and *Champion* (1949). She was a member of Preston Sturges' informal stock company of actors and appeared frequently in Columbia short subjects, often opposite Andy Clyde. Her final screen work was the 1952 short *Caught on the Bounce*.

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

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these

- *Murder, My Sweet* (1944), Fi1m 82, as Jesse Florian — [page](https://film.one/film/murder-my-sweet.md)
- *The Palm Beach Story* (1942), Fi1m 80, as Wife of Wienie King — [page](https://film.one/film/the-palm-beach-story.md)
- *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), Fi1m 88, as Miz Zeffie — [page](https://film.one/film/sullivans-travels.md)

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

- *Dead End* (1937), Fi1m 73, as Neighbor with Coarse Voice (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/dead-end.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

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

- *Caught on the Bounce* (1952), as Aunt Tildy
- *All That I Have* (1951), as Mrs. Dalton
- *Caged* (1950), as Grace (uncredited)
- *No Man of Her Own* (1950), as Frowsy Woman in boardinghouse (uncredited)
- *Hellfire* (1949), as Birdie
- *The Lady Gambles* (1949), as Gross Lady
- *The Crooked Way* (1949), as Hotel Proprietess (uncredited)
- *Champion* (1949), as Mrs. Kelly
- *Homicide* (1949), as Mrs. Brucker, Landlady
- *June Bride* (1948), as Mrs. Mitchell
- *The Velvet Touch* (1948), as Pansy Dupont
- *Wedlock Deadlock* (1947), as Lydia - Betty's Mother
- *Song of the Thin Man* (1947), as Sadie (uncredited)
- *Born to Kill* (1947), as Mrs. Kraft
- *Dick Tracy vs. Cueball* (1946), as Filthy Flora, Dripping Dagger Proprietor
- *A Letter for Evie* (1946), as Mrs. Edgewaters
- *Without Reservations* (1946), as Sarah (uncredited)
- *The Virginian* (1946), Actor
- *The Falcon's Alibi* (1946), as Gloria Peabody
- *Adventure* (1945), as Woman with Mudgin in bar
- *Detour* (1945), as Hedy
- *The Great Flamarion* (1945), as Cleo
- *Murder, My Sweet* (1944), as Jesse Florian — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/murder-my-sweet.md)
- *The Big Noise* (1944), as Aunt Sophie
- *The Miracle of Morgan's Creek* (1944), as Sally (uncredited)
- *Hail the Conquering Hero* (1944), as Mrs. Everett J. Noble (uncredited)
- *Idle Roomers* (1944), as Hazel's Roommate (uncredited)
- *True to Life* (1943), as Woman (uncredited)
- *I Married a Witch* (1942), as Extra (uncredited)
- *The Palm Beach Story* (1942), as Wife of Wienie King — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-palm-beach-story.md)
- *Jackass Mail* (1942), as Dancehall Girl
- *My Favorite Blonde* (1942), as Mrs. Topley
- *Sappy Birthday* (1942), Actor
- *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), as Miz Zeffie — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/sullivans-travels.md)
- *The Lady from Cheyenne* (1941), as Landlady
- *San Francisco Docks* (1940), as Jean-Beauty Shop owner
- *The Great McGinty* (1940), as Madame Juliette La Jolla
- *Social Sea Lions* (1940), as Singer at Party
- *Boobs in the Woods* (1940), as Mrs. Clyde
- *Alex in Wonderland* (1940), as Blanche - Fred's Wife
- *Ride, Cowboy, Ride* (1939), as Cactus Kate Ramsey
- *The Gracie Allen Murder Case* (1939), as Florist
- *Broadway Serenade* (1939), as Mrs. Fellows
- *Swing, Sister, Swing* (1938), as Miss Fredericks
- *Marie Antoinette* (1938), as Streetwalker (uncredited)
- *Scandal Street* (1938), as Birdie Brown
- *Stand-In* (1937), as Mrs, Mack
- *Partners in Crime* (1937), as Mrs. Wagon
- *Dead End* (1937), as Neighbor with Coarse Voice (uncredited) — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/dead-end.md)
- *Rhythm in the Clouds* (1937), as Mrs. Madigan
- *M'Liss* (1936), as Rose
- *Florida Special* (1936), as Flirtatious Dowager (uncredited)
- *Klondike Annie* (1936), as Fanny Radler
- *Stars Over Broadway* (1935), as Mary Sporesgate
- *It Always Happens* (1935), as Mary Clyde
- *The Misses Stooge* (1935), as The Hostess
- *Straight from the Heart* (1935), as Tired Mother
- *The Best Man Wins* (1935), as Mamie
- *Ready for Love* (1934), as Aunt Ida
- *Sweepings* (1933), as Violet's Madame (Uncredited)
- *Below the Sea* (1933), as Lily
- *Grand Slam* (1933), as Mary
- *The Iron Master* (1933), as Mrs. Stillman
- *Second Hand Wife* (1933), as Mrs. Trumbull (Uncredited)
- *Rackety Rax* (1932), as 'Sister' Carrie
- *Tee for Two* (1932), as Louisa
- *Life Begins* (1932), as Mrs. Tubby’s Friend (uncredited)
- *Winner Take All* (1932), as Ann, Joan's Friend
- *Merrily We Go to Hell* (1932), as Vi
- *The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood* (1932), as Mrs. Maggie Kelly
- *A Fool's Advice* (1932), as Mrs. Prescott
- *Ladies of the Big House* (1931), as Clara Newman
- *The Victim* (1931), as The Wife
- *The Yellow Ticket* (1931), as Prisoner
- *Wicked* (1931), as Extra (uncredited)
- *The Vice Squad* (1931), as Josie
- *Ship Ahoy* (1931), as The Mother

## Gallery

- ![Esther Howard](https://film.one/media/person/429556/gallery-eb2c710c563f.jpg) Esther Howard — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Esther_Howard_in_The_Sweetheart_Shop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Esther Howard in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball - cropped screenshot (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/429556/gallery-6f3598db7e5e.jpg) Esther Howard in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball - cropped screenshot (1946) — Film screenshot (RKO Radio Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Esther_Howard_in_Dick_Tracy_vs._Cueball_%281946%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Esther Howard](https://film.one/media/person/429556/gallery-bf1db5469b88.jpg) Esther Howard — Image via TMDB
- ![Esther Howard](https://film.one/media/person/429556/gallery-f95ea6e50e91.jpg) Esther Howard — 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/esther-howard