---
name: "Spring Byington"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/spring-byington"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 October 1886"
died: "7 September 1971"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-20T00:54:04.367574+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."
---

# Spring Byington

Actor. Born 16 October 1886 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Died 7 September 1971.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 October 1886, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
- **Died:** 7 September 1971
- **Active:** 1935–1943
- **Also known as:** Spring Dell Byington
- **Frequently works with:** [William Wyler](https://film.one/person/william-wyler.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 80 (4), 1940s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 80 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Romance 4, Comedy 2, Adventure 1, Fantasy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $12m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Byington, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q267803, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001981/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20369

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Dodsworth*](https://film.one/film/dodsworth.md) (87)
- **Tubi:** [*Heaven Can Wait*](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait-1943.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*You Can't Take It with You*](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) (70)

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

## Biography

Spring Byington was an American actress whose career spanned stage, film, radio and television from the 1900s to the late 1960s. Born Spring Dell Byington in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she began acting professionally after high school and appeared in numerous Broadway productions before entering films.

She became a contract player at MGM and appeared in dozens of films, including *Little Women* (1933) as Marmee, *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935) as Mrs. Byam, *You Can't Take It with You* (1938) as Penny Sycamore (for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress), and *Jezebel* (1938). She was also a regular in the Jones Family comedy series.

Byington starred as Lily Ruskin in the CBS radio and television series *December Bride* (1954–1959), a seven-year run that made her a household name. She continued working in television and film into the 1960s.

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

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Heaven Can Wait* (1943), Fi1m 84, as Bertha Van Cleve — [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait-1943.md)
- *Jezebel* (1938), Fi1m 78, as Mrs. Kendrick — [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Fi1m 70, as Penny Sycamore — [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md)
- *Dodsworth* (1936), Fi1m 87, as Matey Pearson — [page](https://film.one/film/dodsworth.md)
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), Fi1m 83, as Mrs. Byam — [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty.md)

## Complete filmography (111)

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

- *Going Hollywood: The '30s* (1984), as (archive footage)
- *The Flying Nun* (1967), series, as Mother General
- *Batman* (1966), series, as J. Pauline Spaghetti
- *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965), series, as Mother
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, as Louise
- *Please Don't Eat the Daisies* (1960), as Suzie Robinson
- *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor
- *Dennis the Menace* (1959), series, Actor
- *Laramie* (1959), series, as Daisy Cooper
- *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Mrs. Miller
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Alice Wagner
- *December Bride* (1954), series, as Lily Ruskin
- *The Rocket Man* (1954), as Justice Amelia Brown
- *The Danny Thomas Show* (1953), series, as Eloise Adams
- *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Aunt Cordelia
- *Because You're Mine* (1952), as Mrs. Edna Montville
- *No Room for the Groom* (1952), as Mama Kingshead
- *Angels in the Outfield* (1951), as Sister Edwitha
- *Bannerline* (1951), as Mrs. Loomis
- *According to Mrs. Hoyle* (1951), as Mrs. Harriet Hoyle
- *Walk Softly, Stranger* (1950), as Mrs. Brentman
- *Devil's Doorway* (1950), as Mrs. Masters
- *The Skipper Surprised His Wife* (1950), as Agnes Thorndyke
- *Louisa* (1950), as Louisa Norton
- *Please Believe Me* (1950), as Mrs. Milwright
- *The Reformer and the Redhead* (1950), as Kathy's Mother (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Big Wheel* (1949), as Mary Coy
- *In the Good Old Summertime* (1949), as Nellie Burke
- *B.F.'s Daughter* (1948), as Gladys Fulton
- *It Had to Be You* (1947), as Martha Stafford
- *Cynthia* (1947), as Carrie Bishop Jannings
- *Singapore* (1947), as Mrs. Bellows
- *Living in a Big Way* (1947), as Mrs. Minerva Alsop Morgan
- *Little Mister Jim* (1947), as Mrs. Starwell
- *My Brother Talks to Horses* (1947), as Mrs. 'Ma' Penrose
- *Faithful in My Fashion* (1946), as Miss Mary Swanson
- *A Letter for Evie* (1946), as Mrs. McPherson
- *Dragonwyck* (1946), as Magda
- *Meet Me on Broadway* (1946), as Sylvia Kane Storm
- *Captain Eddie* (1945), as Mrs. Frost
- *Thrill of a Romance* (1945), as Nona Glenn
- *The Enchanted Cottage* (1945), as Violet Price
- *Salty O'Rourke* (1945), as Mrs. Brooks
- *I'll Be Seeing You* (1944), as Mrs. Marshall
- *Reward Unlimited* (1944), as Peggy's mother
- *The Heavenly Body* (1944), as Nancy Potter
- *Heaven Can Wait* (1943), as Bertha Van Cleve — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait-1943.md)
- *Presenting Lily Mars* (1943), as Mrs. Mars
- *The War Against Mrs. Hadley* (1942), as Cecilia Talbot
- *The Affairs of Martha* (1942), as Sophia Sommerfield
- *Rings on Her Fingers* (1942), as Mrs. Maybelle Worthington
- *Roxie Hart* (1942), as Mary Sunshine
- *The Vanishing Virginian* (1942), as Rosa Yancey
- *When Ladies Meet* (1941), as Bridget 'Bridgie' Drake
- *Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime* (1941), as Carlotta Emerson
- *The Devil and Miss Jones* (1941), as Elizabeth Ellis
- *Meet John Doe* (1941), as Mme Mitchell
- *Arkansas Judge* (1941), as Mary Shoemaker
- *Lucky Partners* (1940), as Aunt Lucy
- *My Love Came Back* (1940), as Clara Malette
- *On Their Own* (1940), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Young as You Feel* (1940), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Laddie* (1940), as Mrs. Stanton
- *The Blue Bird* (1940), as Mummy Tyl
- *A Child is Born* (1939), as Mrs. Mamie West
- *Too Busy to Work* (1939), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Quick Millions* (1939), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Chicken Wagon Family* (1939), as Josephine Fippany
- *Land of Liberty* (1939), as Dolly Madison (edited from 'The Buccaneer')
- *The Jones Family in Hollywood* (1939), as Mrs. John Jones
- *The Story of Alexander Graham Bell* (1939), as Mrs. Hubbard
- *Everybody's Baby* (1939), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Down on the Farm* (1938), as Mrs. John Jones
- *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), as Penny Sycamore — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md)
- *Safety in Numbers* (1938), as Mrs. John Jones
- *A Trip to Paris* (1938), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Jezebel* (1938), as Mrs. Kendrick — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *Love on a Budget* (1938), as Louise Jones
- *Penrod and His Twin Brother* (1938), as Mrs. Schofield
- *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* (1938), as Widow Douglas (uncredited)
- *The Buccaneer* (1938), as Dolly Madison
- *Borrowing Trouble* (1937), as Mrs. John Jones
- *It's Love I'm After* (1937), as Aunt Ella
- *Hot Water* (1937), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Big Business* (1937), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Hotel Haywire* (1937), as Mrs. Parkhouse
- *The Road Back* (1937), as Ernst's Mother
- *A Family Affair* (1937), as Emily Hardy
- *Penrod and Sam* (1937), as Mrs. Schofield
- *Green Light* (1937), as Mrs. Dexter
- *Clarence* (1937), as Mrs. Wheeler
- *Off to the Races* (1937), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Theodora Goes Wild* (1936), as Rebecca Perry
- *The Charge of the Light Brigade* (1936), as Lady Octavia Warrenton
- *The Girl on the Front Page* (1936), as Mrs. Langford
- *Dodsworth* (1936), as Matey Pearson — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/dodsworth.md)
- *Stage Struck* (1936), as Mrs. Randall
- *Back to Nature* (1936), as Louise Jones
- *Palm Springs* (1936), as Aunt Letty
- *Educating Father* (1936), as Mrs. John Jones
- *Every Saturday Night* (1936), as Mrs. Evers
- *The Voice of Bugle Ann* (1936), as Ma Davis
- *Ah, Wilderness!* (1935), as Essie Miller
- *The Great Impersonation* (1935), as Duchess Caroline
- *Broadway Hostess* (1935), as Mrs. Duncan-Griswold-Wembly-Smythe
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), as Mrs. Byam — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty.md)
- *Way Down East* (1935), as Mrs. Louisa Bartlett
- *Orchids to You* (1935), as Alice Draper
- *Love Me Forever* (1935), as Clara Fields
- *Werewolf of London* (1935), as Ettie Coombes
- *Little Women* (1933), as Marmee

## Gallery

- ![Spring Byington](https://film.one/media/person/1227782/gallery-72d228120bbf.jpg) Spring Byington — Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Spring_Byington_in_Little_Women_trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Spring Byington in a guest starring role as Mrs. Jolly, who is hired by Kentucky Jones to do some housekeeping work to pay her veterinary bill.](https://film.one/media/person/1227782/gallery-7c3c4b525ac9.jpg) Photo of Spring Byington in a guest starring role as Mrs. Jolly, who is hired by Kentucky Jones to do some housekeeping work to pay her veterinary bill. — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Spring_Byington_Kentucky_Jones_1965.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Spring Byington](https://film.one/media/person/1227782/gallery-66a08377ca11.jpg) Spring Byington — Image via TMDB
- ![Spring Byington](https://film.one/media/person/1227782/gallery-0935c012d36a.jpg) Spring Byington — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1939: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *You Can't Take It With You*

*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/spring-byington