Actress. She is best remembered for her role of 'Esther/Grandma Walton' in the television series, "The Waltons" (1972 to 1981). Born Ellen Hansen in Racine, Wisconsin, she grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and went to Hollywood in the early 1930s to start an acting career. Her career began with a small role in the film "Rafter Romance" (1933), and appeared in some five movies up to 1936, mostly unaccredited, when she took a nine-year break before returning in "Cornered" (1945). During this period, she worked as a script assistant to earn a living. She continued her film career, appearing mostly in bit parts, including the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) in which she plays a depositor in the building and loan. She hit a highlight when she was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for her work in "I Remember Mama" (1948), but despite the nomination (she lost to Claire Trevor), it did not help her career, and she continued in small roles. She played in such well-known films as "Shane" (1953), "Sabrina" (1954), "Vertigo" (1958), and "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961), as well as some less-than-A films such as "Mighty Joe Young" (1949), "Visit to a Small Planet" (1960), "4 for Texas," (1963), and "The Gnome-Mobile" (1967). Also appearing in television, she seemed at her best in comedy, often playing the straight person to the comedian. She appeared in such television shows as "The Andy Griffith Show," "Dragnet," "The Millionaire," "The Roy Rogers Show," "Trackdown," "Perry Mason," "Wagon Train," "Dr. Kildare," "Gomer Pyle USMC," "Get Smart," and "The FBI." Her real fame came with the role of Grandma Walton, in the television series "The Waltons." That role won her three Emmy awards, in 1973, 1974, and 1975. Although she suffered a stroke in November 1976, which lead to her leaving the series for over a year, she returned to the show in March 1978, and continued to appear including the specials after the series ended. Her stroke was written into the series. Her last television appearance was in 1997, in the television special, "A Walton Easter." She died of natural causes in 1999 in Woodland Hills, California.