Actress. Born and raised in England, she had a distinguished Hollywood film career in supporting roles. The daughter of a retired sea captain, she trained as a concert pianist in Paris, France and performed in England before deciding to pursue an acting career. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England and made her first appearance in the role as 'Mrs. Darling' in Peter Pan. She acted in repertory theater and in 1920 she made her West End debut in "The Wandering Jew". She established herself as a regular member of the Aldwych Theatre Company in Westminster, England where she appeared in plays from 1929 until 1933. She then began to appear in British films, taking on haughty upper-class roles. In the early 1940s she visited California and decided to settle there permanently and began her American film career, appearing most notably in "Casablanca" (1942), "The Major and the Minor" (1942), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1944), "National Velvet" (1944), "The Green Years" (1946), "Forever Amber" (1947), "Strangers on a Train" (1951), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), and "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957). She played the housekeeper 'Frau Schmidt' in "The Sound of Music" (1965) and two years later, she had a minor part as 'Lady Petherington' in "Doctor Dolittle" (1967). In television, she had a recurring role in the 1960s NBC sitcom "Hazel" as 'Harriet Johnson'. Her other television credits include "I Love Lucy," "The Real McCoys," "Perry Mason," and "The Beverly Hillbillies." Her career spanned five decades during which she appeared in over 100 films. She died of insuficiencia cardiaca one day prior to her 91st birthday.
Actress. Born and raised in England, she had a distinguished Hollywood film career in supporting roles. The daughter of a retired sea captain, she trained as a concert pianist in Paris, France and performed in England before deciding to pursue an acting career. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England and made her first appearance in the role as 'Mrs. Darling' in Peter Pan. She acted in repertory theater and in 1920 she made her West End debut in "The Wandering Jew". She established herself as a regular member of the Aldwych Theatre Company in Westminster, England where she appeared in plays from 1929 until 1933. She then began to appear in British films, taking on haughty upper-class roles. In the early 1940s she visited California and decided to settle there permanently and began her American film career, appearing most notably in "Casablanca" (1942), "The Major and the Minor" (1942), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1944), "National Velvet" (1944), "The Green Years" (1946), "Forever Amber" (1947), "Strangers on a Train" (1951), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), and "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957). She played the housekeeper 'Frau Schmidt' in "The Sound of Music" (1965) and two years later, she had a minor part as 'Lady Petherington' in "Doctor Dolittle" (1967). In television, she had a recurring role in the 1960s NBC sitcom "Hazel" as 'Harriet Johnson'. Her other television credits include "I Love Lucy," "The Real McCoys," "Perry Mason," and "The Beverly Hillbillies." Her career spanned five decades during which she appeared in over 100 films. She died of insuficiencia cardiaca one day prior to her 91st birthday.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Family Members
Parents
Advertisement
See more Varden memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
