System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Ellen Corby
1911 - 1999
Ellen Corby, best known for her role as Grandma Walton on the television series, The Waltons, died April 14, 1999. She was 87.
Corby was born Ellen Hansen on June 3, 1911 in Racine, Wisconsin. She came to Hollywood in the early 1930's to act, but ended up behind the scenes as a script girl for 12 years, before she got a chance to perform.
Corby was usually cast as a matronly elderly citizen. She made her film debut in 1946 with The Dark Corner, and also appeared the same year in the classic "It's a Wonderful Life".
Some of her other memorable film credits include Angel In My Pocket, Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Pocketful of Miracles and I Remember Mama. In the latter film, Corby was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but did not win.
She also was a frequent guest star and regular on a number of television series in the 1950's and 60's. She was the maid in "Please Don't Eat The Daisies" from 1965-67.
One of her memorable guest star appearances was as a con artist in an Andy Griffith Show episode. Her character bilked Barney out of $300 for a worthless car that fell apart when Barney took everyone out for a Sunday drive.
But Ellen Corby's claim to fame came in 1972 when she was cast as the feisty grandmother in the Earl Hamner inspired series, The Waltons. She played Esther Walton, the wife of Zebulon Walton, played by Will Geer.
The couple was the foundation of the Walton clan, which included Ralph Waite as John Walton, the son, his wife Oliva, played by Michael Learned, and their son, John Boy, played by Richard Thomas. Five other children completed the family. The series chronicled the ups and downs of the depression era Waltons.
The interaction of Geer and Corby was especially exciting for viewers. The two veteran character actors created an atmosphere of love mixed with stubbornness.
Her role as Grandma Walton won Corby three Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series.
Even after a debilitating stroke in 1976, which kept her off the show for 18 months, she returned and completed the series, which ended in 1981. She also returned for the reunion shows in later years.
Corby died in Woodland Hills, California on April 14, 1999.
