Claudette Colbert
Sep 13, 1903 — Jul 30, 1996 (92 years)
Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France
64 Movies
6 Series
Born in France and raised in New York, Claudette Colbert established herself as one of the most sparkling and elegant comediennes of 1930s Hollywood. Her great triumph came alongside Clark Gable in Frank Capra's comedy 'It Happened One Night' (1934), where her runaway heiress won her the Oscar for Best Actress and helped define the screwball comedy. That same year she showed her versatility in the title role of Cecil B. DeMille's 'Cleopatra', and went on to become the industry's highest-paid star. She combined film with theatre and television, where she still earned a Golden Globe for 'The Two Mrs. Grenvilles' (1987). Possessed of a quick wit and a warm sophistication, she embodied like few others the modern, seductive and self-sufficient woman of her time.
92R.I.P.
64Movies
6Series
Claudette Colbert
64 Movies
6 Series
Born in France and raised in New York, Claudette Colbert established herself as one of the most sparkling and elegant comediennes of 1930s Hollywood. Her great triumph came alongside Clark Gable in Frank Capra's comedy 'It Happened One Night' (1934), where her runaway heiress won her the Oscar for Best Actress and helped define the screwball comedy. That same year she showed her versatility in the title role of Cecil B. DeMille's 'Cleopatra', and went on to become the industry's highest-paid star. She combined film with theatre and television, where she still earned a Golden Globe for 'The Two Mrs. Grenvilles' (1987). Possessed of a quick wit and a warm sophistication, she embodied like few others the modern, seductive and self-sufficient woman of her time.
92 R.I.P.
R.I.P.
64
Movies
6
Series
Movies
It Happened One Night
1934
Guest Wife
1945
So Proudly We Hail
1943
Texas Lady
1955
Remember the Day
1941
Sleep, My Love
1948
It's a Wonderful World
1939
Manslaughter
1930
Family Honeymoon
1948
His Woman
1931
Cleopatra
1934
Drums Along the Mohawk
1939
Without Reservations
1946
Arise, My Love
1940
The Sign of the Cross
1932
Since You Went Away
1944
Bluebeard's 8th Wife
1938
Bride for Sale
1949
Royal Affairs in Versailles
1953
The Palm Beach Story
1942
Imitation of Life
1934
Midnight
1939
Let's Make It Legal
1951
Boom Town
1940
Tomorrow Is Forever
1946
Parrish
1961
The Gilded Lily
1935
No Time for Love
1943
The Secret Fury
1950
The Egg and I
1947
The Big Pond
1930
The Planter's Wife
1952
Thunder on the Hill
1951
The Secret Heart
1946
I Met Him in Paris
1937
The Smiling Lieutenant
1931
Private Worlds
1935
Make Me a Star
1932
Secrets of a Secretary
1931
Maid of Salem
1937
Three Cornered Moon
1933
Torch Singer
1933
Under Two Flags
1936
The Bride Comes Home
1935
Honor Among Lovers
1931
Three Came Home
1950
Four Frightened People
1934
The Phantom President
1932
Zaza
1939
The Lady Lies
1929
Latest Trailers
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Parrish
Full Filmography
The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
Alice Grenville
1987
TV
Parrish
Ellen McLean
1961
Film
Suspicion
Edith Miller
1957–1958
TV
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Lucy Bradford
1957
TV
Texas Lady
Prudence Webb
1955
Film
Climax!
Dr. Jane Everest
1954–1955
TV
Daughters of Destiny
Elizabeth Whitefield (segment "Elisabeth")
1954
Film
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Mrs. de Montespan
1953
Film
General Electric Theater
Edith Miller
1957–1958
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Claudette Colbert still alive?
Claudette Colbert passed away on July 30, 1996 at age 92.
What are the most famous roles of Claudette Colbert?
Claudette Colbert is best known for roles in It Happened One Night, The Palm Beach Story, Drums Along the Mohawk.
How many movies has Claudette Colbert been in?
Over a 69-year career (since 1927), Claudette Colbert has appeared in 72 movies and 15 TV shows.
What was Claudette Colbert's first movie?
The career of Claudette Colbert began with For the Love of Mike (1927).
What is Claudette Colbert's most recent movie or series?
Claudette Colbert's most recent release is The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, which premiered on February 8, 1987.
What TV shows has Claudette Colbert appeared in?
On television, Claudette Colbert has appeared in The Oscars, What's My Line?, The Jack Benny Program, The Colgate Comedy Hour.
Claudette Colbert
1903-09-13 · Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France
Claudette Colbert (September 13, 1903 — July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Born Emilie Claudette Chauchoin in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France, she was brought to the United States as a child three years later and went to high school in New York. While studying at the Art Students League when, in 1923, she took the name Claudette Colbert for her first Broadway role in "The Wild Westcotts". Her most noteworthy stage vehicle was the "The Barker" in 1927. Her first film was a silent For the Love of Mike (1927), directed by Frank Capra. Made on a shoestring, the movie was a flop, and she vowed that it would be her last film role: "I only left Broadway when the crash came. The Depression killed the theater, and the pictures were manna from heaven". She had her first film success the next year, however, in The Lady Lies (1929).
Her early notable films were all box-office hits and included Cleopatra (1934), in which she played the title role enticingly. She had her greatest triumph playing a runaway heiress, with enormous charm, opposite Clark Gable in Capra's comedy It Happened One Night (1934), for which she won the Academy Award as Best Actress. By 1938 her keen ability in business made her the highest paid star in Hollywood. By 1950, though, her star had begun to wane. She returned to the stage in 1956 when she replaced Margaret Sullavan during the spring and summer in the comedy "Janus". Appearances in other Broadway productions followed, including "The Marriage-Go-Round". Besides the stage, she did TV specials and had a supporting role in a notable TV movie, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1987), for which she received a Golden Globe award. In 1989 she was presented with a Life Achievement award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
She married actor Norman Foster in 1928, although they never lived together and were divorced after seven years. She married surgeon Dr. Joel Pressman soon after and remained married until his death in 1968. In latter years she divided her time between an apartment in New York and a 200-year-old plantation house in Speightstown, Barbados, where she entertained such guests as Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan. She remained on Barbados Island after her stroke. On July 30, 1996, Claudette died in Speightstown, Barbados. She was 92.