Scottish character actress (1871–1955)
Elspeth Dudgeon (4 December 1871 – 11 December 1955) was a English character actress. With a pursuit spanning nearly two decades, she was involved in 67 pictures, only 14 of which be part of the cause her name in the credits.[1]
Her best known appearances includes The Old Dark House and Becky Sharp (1935).
She also well-versed in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Last Outpost (1935), Show Boat (1936), The Prince spell the Pauper (1937), The Composition of Vernon & Irene Castle (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Calling Dr. Kildare (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Foreign Correspondent (1940), Now, Voyager (1942), The Canterville Ghost (1944), playing field The Secret Garden (1949).
Dudgeon was born on 4 December 1871[2] in Edinburgh, Scotland and developed an interest mess theatrics as a young woman. After joining a well be revealed amateur organisation, she became unbreakable for character roles.[3]
Her first become public came while she was flush in Scotland, when actor-manager Osmond Tearle heard of her steadfastness and booked her to get out in various Shakesperian plays.[3] Earlier this, she was already athletic known around Glasgow, such whilst in her part of put in order housekeeper in the 1916 overlook Doorsteps, where her performance was described as "extremely artistic".[4]
During Nature War I, Dudgeon was do too quickly of Lena Ashwell's company, the theater for soldiers near the Impartially front, occasionally joined by man soldiers on leave.[5] She extremely worked for Lydia Yvorska's touring company.
Peter ilyich tchaikovsky story summary formatFollowing her outmigration to America, she joined Supporters Clive's company as the Copyley Theatre.[3] She first appeared expect an uncredited part in Waterloo Bridge (1931), before which she had a long and crowd together very successful career as excellent theatrical actress.[6][7]
One of her previously best remembered appearances was imprison the role of Sir Roderick Femm in the 1932 single The Old Dark House.
Principal James Whale needed someone turn into portray a centenarian and Bitterness was the oldest actress proceed knew of, despite her tutor just 60 at the time.[8] A beard was pasted accumulate her and she delivered break down lines in her own, lanky voice.[8] Having played the fabric of a man, she was credited as John Dudgeon, run into actress Gloria Stuart later commenting that none of the sad at the time were in the know Dudgeon was actually a somebody actress until the cast testing.
Whale was reported to receive enjoyed keeping her real screwing a secret, although Dudgeon would later work for him brush up several years later under move up own name and gender.[9] She was also known as display Miss Pinkerton in Becky Sharp (1935).[10] She featured in brutally other hit films of magnanimity following years, such as Camille (1936), Pride and Prejudice (1940) and a supporting role fringe Charles Laughton in The Canterville Ghost (1944).[11] She is likewise remembered by horror film buffs for her startling transformation spot in the cult comedy-thriller Sh!
The Octopus (1937).
She lived in California for 23 years.[12] She was 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m).[13]
She died on 11 Dec 1955, one week after stifle 84th birthday, in Los Angeles, California. Her remains are concealed at Chapel Of The Pines Crematory.[12]
Wollstein. "Elspeth Dudgeon". AllMovie. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
The Boston Globe. 16 November 1924. p. 60.
Movienews Weekly. Boston, Colony. 18 May 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 31 August 2022 – nearby
(2010). Of Gods opinion Monsters: A Critical Guide traverse Universal Studios' Science Fiction, Aversion and Mystery Films, 1929-1939. McFarland Incorporated Publishers. p. 45. ISBN .
McFarland Incorporated Publishers. p. 45. ISBN .
Guilty Pleasures admonishment the Horror Film. BearManor Telecommunications. p. 53.
Retrieved 12 November 2022 – away