Jane Darwell
Known for
The American Jane Darwell, with more than a hundred films behind her, is one of the most beloved maternal figures of classic Hollywood cinema. Her role as Ma Joad, the courageous matriarch who holds her family together in John Ford's 'The Grapes of Wrath', earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1941 and remained one of the most emblematic performances of American social cinema. Decades later, near the end of her life, she moved new generations as the Bird Woman in 'Mary Poppins'. Specialized in mothers, grandmothers and country women, she embodied with honesty and warmth the dignity of ordinary people.
Jane Darwell
162 Movies
9 Series
The American Jane Darwell, with more than a hundred films behind her, is one of the most beloved maternal figures of classic Hollywood cinema. Her role as Ma Joad, the courageous matriarch who holds her family together in John Ford's 'The Grapes of Wrath', earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1941 and remained one of the most emblematic performances of American social cinema. Decades later, near the end of her life, she moved new generations as the Bird Woman in 'Mary Poppins'. Specialized in mothers, grandmothers and country women, she embodied with honesty and warmth the dignity of ordinary people.
Movies
Plays Mrs. Merriwether
Gone with the Wind
1939
Plays Bird Woman
Mary Poppins
1964
Plays Ma Joad
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
Plays Miss Florie
3 Godfathers
1948
Plays Kate Nelson
My Darling Clementine
1946
Plays Ma Grier
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943
Plays Mrs. Samuels
Jesse James
1939
Plays Isolation Matron
Caged
1950
Plays Mrs. Marble
Before Dawn
1933
Plays Mrs. Bush
We're Not Married!
1952
Plays Mrs. Denham
Curly Top
1935
Plays Mrs. Donahue
All Through the Night
1942
Plays Sister Ledyard
Wagon Master
1950
Plays Ma Stanton
Affair with a Stranger
1953
Plays Eliza Kent
Brigham Young
1940
Plays Aurora Ratchitt
The Sun Shines Bright
1953
Plays Ma Stone
All That Money Can Buy
1941
Plays Curtis' Housekeeper
Design for Living
1933
Plays Jenny
Hit the Deck
1955
Plays Mrs. Barrett - Mary's Mother
One Night of Love
1934
Plays Mme Rogers
There's Always Tomorrow
1956
Plays Mrs. Henderson
Tender Comrade
1944
Plays Landlady
A Life at Stake
1955
Plays Delia
The Last Hurrah
1958
Plays Sister Mary Brigid
Three Wise Fools
1946
Plays Mrs. Marlowe
Slave Ship
1937
Plays Aunt Phoebe Smiley
The Rains Came
1939
Plays Nurse Waldron
Five of a Kind
1938
Plays Mrs. Connelley
The Bigamist
1953
Plays Grandma Wilson
Hound-Dog Man
1959
Plays Jane Darwell
Stage Door Canteen
1943
Plays 'Nellie Thursday' Regan
The Lemon Drop Kid
1951
Plays Woodward
Poor Little Rich Girl
1936
Plays Aunt Emma Forrester
The Great Gildersleeve
1942
Plays Mrs. Flaherty
Love Is News
1937
Plays Mrs. Belden
Excuse My Dust
1951
Plays Eliza Croft
Captain January
1936
Plays Maud Mahoney
White Fang
1936
Plays Frederick's Mother
Desirable
1934
Plays Mrs. Bettina Huguenine
Chad Hanna
1940
Plays Mrs. Higgins
Bright Eyes
1934
Plays Mrs. Spatch
It Happens Every Thursday
1953
Plays Mrs. Harold
Craig's Wife
1936
Plays Alice's Aunt
Washington Merry-Go-Round
1932
Plays Minister's wife
The Impatient Years
1944
Plays Mrs. Sheldon, Bill's Mother
The Jury's Secret
1938
Plays Mrs. Frisby
Private Number
1936
Plays Mrs. Turner
Ladies of the Big House
1931
Plays Ma Kearny
Air Hostess
1933
Plays Mrs. Graham
The Country Doctor
1936
TV Shows
Plays B. Cool
Climax!
1954
Plays Mrs. Leah Mulligan
Burke's Law
1963
Plays Anna - Maid
Studio One
1948
Plays Minna
Cavalcade of America
1952
Plays Irene Townsend
Letter to Loretta
1953
Plays Mrs. Knowles
Maverick
1957
Plays Lena
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
Plays Mamie Carnation
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
Plays Mama Mumby
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Mary Poppins
Full Filmography
Mary Poppins
Bird Woman
1964
Film
Burke's Law
Mrs. Leah Mulligan · 1 episode
1963–
TV
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Mamie Carnation · 1 episode
1962–
TV
Hound-Dog Man
Grandma Wilson
1959
Film
The Last Hurrah
Delia
1958
Film
Maverick
Mrs. Knowles · 1 episode
1957–
TV
The Greer Case
Annie Jackson
1957
Film
Sincerely, Willis Wade
Mrs. Jacoby
1956
Film
Girls in Prison
Matron Jamieson
1956
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jane Darwell still alive?
Jane Darwell passed away on August 13, 1967 at age 87.
What are the most famous roles of Jane Darwell?
Jane Darwell is best known for roles in Mary Poppins, Gone with the Wind, The Grapes of Wrath.
How many movies has Jane Darwell been in?
Over a 53-year career (since 1914), Jane Darwell has appeared in 162 movies and 9 TV shows.
What was Jane Darwell's first movie?
The career of Jane Darwell began with Brewster's Millions (1914).
What is Jane Darwell's most recent movie or series?
Jane Darwell's most recent release is Mary Poppins, which premiered on December 17, 1964.
What TV shows has Jane Darwell appeared in?
On television, Jane Darwell has appeared in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Lassie, Maverick, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Jane Darwell
1879-10-15 · Palmyra, Missouri, USA
Jane Darwell was an American film and stage actress. With appearances in over 100 major motion pictures, Darwell is perhaps best-remembered for her portrayal of the matriarch and leader of the Joad family in the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and her role as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins.Jane Darwell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.