Esther Dale

Esther Dale

Deceased · Born: Nov 10, 1885 · Died: Jul 23, 1961

Personal Details

BornNov 10, 1885 Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Biography

Esther Dale, a renowned vocalist, was born on November 10, 1885, in Beaufort, South Carolina, a city with a rich cultural heritage. She pursued her passion for music at Leland and Gray Seminary in Townsend, Vermont, a prestigious institution that has been nurturing young minds since 1828. Following her studies, Esther ventured to Berlin, Germany, to hone her craft in the city's vibrant music scene. Her dedication and talent led to a successful career as a lieder singer, earning her recognition and acclaim in the music world.

Esther's artistic pursuits did not stop at music, as she later transitioned to the world of acting, landing roles in summer stock productions. Her big break came when she starred in the Broadway production of Carrie Nation in 1933, alongside notable actors James Stewart, Mildred Natwick, and Joshua Logan. This iconic play cemented her status as a talented actress, paving the way for her entry into the world of film.

Esther's cinematic debut was in the 1934 movie Crime Without Passion, which marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career in Hollywood. She went on to appear in numerous films and television shows, solidifying her position as a respected and accomplished actress. Esther's personal life was filled with love and dedication, as she was married to writer/director Arthur J. Beckhard, who also managed her career. Tragedy struck in March 1961, when Arthur passed away, and Esther followed suit a few months later, on July 23, 1961, after undergoing surgery at Queen of Angels Hospital in Hollywood, California.

Career

1960
North to Alaska
North to Alaska as Woman at Picnic
1959
The Sound and the Fury
The Sound and the Fury as Mrs. Maud Mansfield
1957
The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman as Mrs. Fitzgerald
1955
Betrayed Women
Betrayed Women as Head Matron Ballard
1952
Monkey Business
Monkey Business as Mrs. Rhinelander
1951
Too Young to Kiss
Too Young to Kiss as Mrs. Boykin
1950
Walk Softly, Stranger
Walk Softly, Stranger as Miss Thompson
Surrender
Surrender as Aunt May
1949
Holiday Affair
Holiday Affair as Mrs. Ennis
Ma and Pa Kettle
Ma and Pa Kettle as Mrs. Birdie Hicks
1948
A Song Is Born
A Song Is Born as Miss Bragg
The Egg and I
The Egg and I as Birdie Hicks
1946
A Stolen Life
A Stolen Life as Mrs. Johnson
Margie
Margie as Grandma McSweeney
Smoky
Smoky as Mrs. 'Gram' Richards
1945
Bedside Manner
Bedside Manner as Martha Gravitt
1943
Swing Your Partner
Swing Your Partner as Caroline Bird, aka Anna Robbins
The North Star
The North Star as Anna Kurin
1942
You're Telling Me
You're Telling Me as Aunt Fannie Handley
Blondie Goes to College
Blondie Goes to College as Mrs. Carrie Dill, the Landlady
Wrecking Crew
Wrecking Crew as Mike O'Glendy
A Letter from Bataan
A Letter from Bataan as Mrs. Jackson
What's Cookin'
What's Cookin' as Mrs. Murphy (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man
Maisie Gets Her Man as Mrs. McIntyre (Uncredited)
1941
All-American Co-Ed
All-American Co-Ed as Aunt Matilda Collinge
Dangerously They Live
Dangerously They Live as Dawson, Goodwin's Housekeeper
Back Street
Back Street as Mrs. Smith
Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business as Aunt Mathilda
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith as Mrs. Krausheimer
1940
Laddie
Laddie as Sarah, the Housekeeper
Opened by Mistake
Opened by Mistake as Mrs. Anthony DeBorest
Untamed
Untamed as Mrs. Smith
Forty Little Mothers
Forty Little Mothers as Mrs. Mason the Landlady
Women Without Names
Women Without Names as Head Matron Ingles
Convicted Woman
Convicted Woman as Chief Matron Brackett
Cross-Country Romance
Cross-Country Romance as Mrs. McGillicuddy
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois as Lincoln's Cook (uncredited)
1939
Big Town Czar
Big Town Czar as Ma Daley
Blackmail
Blackmail as Sarah
Broadway Serenade
Broadway Serenade as Mrs. Olsen, the Landlady
A Child Is Born
A Child Is Born as Prison Matron (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Tell No Tales as Mrs. Haskins
6,000 Enemies
6,000 Enemies as Prison Matron
The Great Man Votes
The Great Man Votes as Mrs. Markham
Bad Little Angel
Bad Little Angel as Miss Brown, Orphanage Secretary (uncredited)
Swanee River
Swanee River as Temperance Woman
Made for Each Other
Made for Each Other as Annie (uncredited)
The Women
The Women as Ingrid (uncredited)
1938
Condemned Women
Condemned Women as Mrs. Clara Glover, Head Matron
Prison Farm
Prison Farm as Cora Waxley
Girls on Probation
Girls on Probation as Mrs. Engstrom
1937
Damaged Goods
Damaged Goods as Mrs. Dupont
The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth as Mrs. Leeson
Easy Living
Easy Living as Lillian
Dead End
Dead End as Mrs. Fenner
Fury
Fury as Mrs. Whipple
1935
In Old Kentucky
In Old Kentucky as Dolly Breckenridge
The Wedding Night
The Wedding Night as Mrs. Kaise Novak
Curly Top
Curly Top as Genevieve Graham
I Live My Life
I Live My Life as Brumbaugh, Mrs. Gage's Housekeeper
I Dream Too Much
I Dream Too Much as Mrs. Dilley (uncredited)
1934
Crime Without Passion
Crime Without Passion as Miss Keeley (uncredited)