Florence Rabe, a renowned American character actress, was born to a family of antique store owners. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas in 1906 and initially pursued a career in teaching and social work. However, she later switched course after being persuaded by a friend to study law, passing the bar exam in 1914 and practicing law in San Antonio for four years.
Following the untimely death of her parents, Florence took over the family business and traveled extensively to acquire a diverse range of antiques, further developing her language skills, particularly in Spanish. After the Wall Street crash of 1929, she sold the antique store and married Texan oilman William F. Jacoby, who eventually went bankrupt.
The couple relocated to California in the late 1930s, where Florence briefly operated a bakery before discovering her passion for acting. She auditioned for the role of Miss Bates in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Jane Austen's 'Emma', which marked the beginning of her illustrious career.
Florence's popularity soared, leading to leading roles with the Pasadena Playhouse, and she subsequently changed her name to Florence Bates, a nod to her newfound success. In 1939, she screen tested for Alfred Hitchcock, who was impressed enough to cast her as the demanding dowager Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper in Rebecca (1940).
Her outstanding performance in Rebecca was the first in a series of memorable roles, including wealthy socialites, irritable wives, hotel managers, theatre owners, and gossipy landladies. Florence was equally adept at comedy, appearing to great effect in films such as Heaven Can Wait (1943) and Lullaby of Broadway (1951),often alongside frequent co-star S.Z. Sakall, affectionately known as 'Cuddles'.
Florence continued to delight audiences with her larger-than-life performances, playing Danny Kaye's prospective mother-in-law in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and a Russian dance teacher in On the Town (1949). She even ventured into the role of a murderess in The Brasher Doubloon (1947).
Florence Bates continued to work in films until her passing in 1954, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable characters. She was pre-deceased by her sister, her only daughter, and her husband.
