Edna May Oliver was a talented and versatile actress who appeared in many stage and film productions in the early 20th century. She was known for her distinctive appearance and voice, as well as her comedic timing and witty delivery. She often played spinsters, matrons, or eccentric characters in adaptations of classic novels by Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, and others. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1939 for her role as Widow McKlennar in Drums Along the Mohawk. But how did Edna May Oliver die? And what was the cause of her death?
Contents
Edna May Oliver’s Early Life and Career
Edna May Oliver was born as Edna May Nutter on November 9, 1883, in Malden, Massachusetts. She was a descendant of two American presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, through her father’s side. She had a passion for performing arts since childhood, and quit school at the age of 14 to pursue a stage career. She studied speech and piano, and worked as a pianist with an all-female orchestra that toured the country.
She made her Broadway debut in 1917 in the musical comedy Oh, Boy!, playing the hero’s comically dour Aunt Penelope. She gained popularity on stage with her roles in The Cradle Snatchers (1925), Show Boat (1927), and The Royal Family (1928). She married stock broker David Welford Pratt in 1928, but they divorced in 1933.
She made her film debut in 1923 in Wife in Name Only, but her film career took off in the 1930s when she signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures. She appeared in several comedies with the duo Wheeler & Woolsey, such as Half Shot at Sunrise (1930), Cracked Nuts (1931), and Diplomaniacs (1933). She also starred in her own films, such as Fanny Foley Herself (1931) and Ladies of the Jury (1932).
Edna May Oliver’s Memorable Roles and Oscar Nomination
Edna May Oliver’s most memorable roles were in adaptations of literary classics, where she brought to life some of the most iconic characters in fiction. She played wealthy, domineering Aunt March in Little Women (1933), the prim, acidic Miss Pross in A Tale of Two Cities (1935), and the title character’s eccentric aunt, Betsy Trotwood in David Copperfield (also 1935). She also played the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (1936), Parthy Hawks in Show Boat (1936), and Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1940).
She received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her role as Widow McKlennar in Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), a historical drama set during the American Revolution. She played a feisty frontier woman who helps a young couple (Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert) survive the war and build a home. She was praised for her humorous and touching performance, which added some comic relief to the otherwise serious film.
Edna May Oliver’s Illness and Death
Edna May Oliver’s last film was Lydia (1941), a romantic drama starring Merle Oberon and Joseph Cotten. She played an elderly woman who reminisces about her past loves with her old friends. The film was not a success, and Oliver decided to retire from acting.
She fell ill in August 1942 with a gastrointestinal disease, which caused severe pain and discomfort. She was hospitalized at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, where she underwent surgery. She seemed to recover briefly, but her condition worsened again. Her friend and fellow actress Virginia Hammond flew from New York to be by her side.
Edna May Oliver died on November 9, 1942, on her 59th birthday. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances that showcased her talent, charm, and personality.
Conclusion
Edna May Oliver was one of the most beloved character actresses of Hollywood’s golden age. She had a remarkable career that spanned from stage to screen, from comedy to drama, from musicals to classics. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Drums Along the Mohawk, but she also won the hearts of audiences with her roles in Little Women, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, and many others. She died on her birthday in 1942 from a gastrointestinal disease, leaving behind a rich and lasting legacy.
