Emma Dunn

Emma Dunn

Emma Dunn (1920)
Born (1875-02-26)February 26, 1875
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
Died December 14, 1966(1966-12-14) (aged 91)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1902–1948
Spouse(s)
  • Harry Beresford
    (married 1897–1909; divorced); 2 children
  • John W. Stokes (married 1909–1931; his death)

Emma Dunn (February 26, 1875 – December 14, 1966) was an English-born American character actress on the stage and in motion pictures.

Career

Emma Dunn and Emmett Corrigan in David Belasco's production of The Governor's Lady (1912)

Emma Dunn appeared onstage in her early teens, graduating to the London stage for several years and later became a noted Broadway actress. She appeared in the first American production of Ibsen's Peer Gynt (1906) with Richard Mansfield as Peer. She played Peer's mother, Ase, even though she was, in real life, 20 years younger than Mansfield. She appeared in three productions for theatre impresario David Belasco: The Warrens of Virginia (1907), The Easiest Way (1909) and The Governor's Lady (1912). In The Easiest Way, Dunn portrayed Annie, who was black, in blackface. In 1913 Dunn appeared in vaudeville.[1]

Dunn made her first film in 1914, a silent film of her 1910 stage success, Mother, directed by Maurice Tourneur. This was Tourneur's first American film. Dunn's second film was 1920's Old Lady 31, reprising the role she played in the 1916 Broadway play of the same name. One more silent film followed in 1924, Pied Piper Malone, before she made her talkie debut in Side Street, co-starring the Moore brothers, Matt, Owen and Tom as her sons.

Dunn wrote two books on elocution and speech: Thought Quality in the Voice (1933)[2] and You Can Do It (1947).[3]

Personal life

Emma Dunn with daughters Helen (left) and Dorothy (1915)

Emma Dunn was born February 26, 1875,[4] in Birkenhead, England, although she sometimes gave her year of birth as 1883.[5][6]

Dunn married actor Harry Beresford[7][8] (born Harry J. Morgan) in Chicago on October 4, 1897.[9]

They divorced on February 10, 1909, in New York City. She was awarded sole custody of their young daughter, Dorothy. On May 19, 1909, Dunn married John W. Stokes[5] (John W. S. Sullivan[10]), an actor, playwright[6] and theatrical manager.[11] They subsequently adopted a second daughter, Helen.[12] The couple divorced sometime between 1923[5] and Stokes' death in 1931.[13]

After suffering a heart attack some months before, Dunn died December 14, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, aged 91.[14][15]

Theatre credits

Date Title Role Notes
November 30 – December 6, 1902 The Wrong Mr. Wright Tillie Bird National tour beginning at Morosco's Burbank Theatre, Los Angeles[16][17]
January 8 – January 1906 The Redemption of David Corson Majestic Theatre, New York City[18]
October 28, 1906 – January 1907 Peer Gynt Ase Grand Opera House, Chicago[19][20]
February 25 – March 23, 1907 Peer Gynt Ase New Amsterdam Theatre, New York City[21][22]
December 3, 1907 – October 1908 The Warrens of Virginia Mrs. Warren Belasco Theatre, Stuyvesant Theatre, New York City[23]
January 19 – June 1909 The Easiest Way Annie Stuyvesant Theatre, New York City[24]
September 7 – December 31, 1910 Mother Mrs. Katherine Wetherill Hackett Theatre, Criterion Theatre, New York City[25][26]
September 10, 1912 – January 1913 The Governor's Lady Mary Slade Theatre Republic, New York City[27]
January 7 – July 1915 Sinners Mrs. Horton Playhouse Theatre, New York City[28][29]
October 30, 1916 – March 1917 Old Lady 31 Angie 38th Street Theatre, New York City[30][31]
August 16 – September 10, 1921 Sonny Mrs. Crosby Cort Theatre, New York City[32]
November 24, 1924 – January 1925 Dawn Mary Slayton Sam H. Harris Theatre, New York City[33]
November 24, 1925 – 19?? Rip Van Winkle Gretchen Boston Repertory Theatre, Boston[34]
January 1927 Junk Old Sal Garrick Theatre, New York City[35]

Filmography

Advertisement for Mother (1914)
Year Title Role Notes
1914 Mother Mrs. Wetherell [36]
1920 Old Lady 31 Angie Rose [36]
1924 Pied Piper Malone Mother Malone [36]
1929 Side Street Mrs. O'Farrell [36]
1930 Manslaughter Miss Bennett [36]
1931 Bad Sister Mrs. Madison [36]
1931 Compromised Mrs. Squires [36]
1931 Guilty Generation, TheThe Guilty Generation Nina [36]
1931 Morals for Women Mrs. Hutson [36]
1931 Prodigal, TheThe Prodigal Mrs. Cynthia Farraday [36]
1931 Texan, TheThe Texan Señora Ibarra [36]
1931 This Modern Age Mrs. Blake [36]
1931 Too Young to Marry Jennie Bumpsted [36]
1931 Under 18 Mrs. Evans [36]
1932 Blessed Event Mrs. Roberts [36]
1932 Broken Lullaby Mrs. Miller [36]
1932 Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood, TheThe Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood Mrs. Sarah Cohen [36]
1932 Hell's House Emma Clark [36]
1932 It's Tough to Be Famous "Moms" McClenahan [36]
1932 Letty Lynton Mrs. Darrow [36]
1932 Wet Parade, TheThe Wet Parade Mrs. Sally Chilcote [36]
1932 When a Fellow Needs a Friend Kind lady [36]
1933 Elmer, the Great Mrs. Kane [36]
1933 Grand Slam Sob sister [36]
1933 Hard to Handle Mrs. Hawks [36]
1933 It's Great to Be Alive Mrs. Wilton [36]
1933 Man of Sentiment, AA Man of Sentiment Mrs. Russell [36]
1933 Private Jones Mrs. Jones [36]
1934 Dark Hazard Mrs. Mayhew [36]
1934 Dr. Monica Mrs. Monahan [36]
1934 Flirtation Mrs. Poole [36]
1934 Quitter, TheThe Quitter Cordelia Tilford [36]
1935 Another Face Sheila's mother [36]
1935 Crusades, TheThe Crusades Mother of Alan [36]
1935 George White's 1935 Scandals Aunt Jane [36]
1935 Glass Key, TheThe Glass Key "Mom" [36]
1935 Keeper of the Bees, TheThe Keeper of the Bees Margaret Campbell [36]
1935 Ladies Crave Excitement Mary Phelan [36]
1935 Little Big Shot Matron [36]
1935 Seven Keys to Baldpate Mrs. Quimby [36]
1935 This Is the Life Mrs. Davis [36]
1936 Harvester, TheThe Harvester Granny Moreland [36]
1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mrs. Meredith [36]
1936 Second Wife Mrs. Brown [36]
1937 Circus Girl Molly [36]
1937 Emperor's Candlesticks, TheThe Emperor's Candlesticks Housekeeper [36]
1937 Madame X Rose [36]
1937 Varsity Show Mrs. Smith [36]
1937 Waikiki Wedding Old woman [36]
1937 When You're in Love Mrs. Hamilton [36]
1938 Cowboy and the Lady, TheThe Cowboy and the Lady Ma Hawkins [36]
1938 Cowboy from Brooklyn Ma Hardy [36]
1938 Crowd Roars, TheThe Crowd Roars Laura McCoy [36]
1938 Duke of West Point, TheThe Duke of West Point Mrs. West [36]
1938 Lord Jeff Mrs. Briggs [36]
1938 Thanks for the Memory Mrs. Platt [36]
1938 Three Loves Has Nancy Mrs. Briggs [36]
1938 Young Dr. Kildare Martha Kildare [36]
1939 Calling Dr. Kildare Martha Kildare [36]
1939 Each Dawn I Die Mrs. Ross [36]
1939 Hero for a Day "Mom" Higgins [36]
1939 Llano Kid, TheThe Llano Kid Dona Teresa [36]
1939 Secret of Dr. Kildare, TheThe Secret of Dr. Kildare Martha Kildare [36]
1939 Son of Frankenstein Amelia [36]
1940 Dance, Girl, Dance Mrs. Simpson [36]
1940 Dr. Kildare Goes Home Martha Kildare [36]
1940 Dr. Kildare's Crisis Martha Kildare [36]
1940 Dr. Kildare's Strange Case Martha Kildare [36]
1940 Great Dictator, TheThe Great Dictator Mrs. Jaeckel [36]
1940 Half a Sinner Granny Gladden [36]
1940 High School Mrs. O'Neill [36]
1940 Little Orvie Mrs. Welty [36]
1940 One Crowded Night Ma [36]
1940 Yesterday's Heroes Aunt Winnie [36]
1940 You Can't Fool Your Wife Mrs. Fields [36]
1941 Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day Martha Kildare [36]
1941 Ladies in Retirement Sister Theresa [36]
1941 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Martha [36]
1941 Monster and the Girl, TheThe Monster and the Girl Aunt Della [36]
1941 Penalty, TheThe Penalty "Ma" McCormick [36]
1941 Rise and Shine Mrs. Murray [36]
1941 Scattergood Baines Mirandy Baines [36]
1941 Scattergood Meets Broadway Mirandy Baines [36]
1941 Scattergood Pulls the Strings Mirandy Baines [36]
1942 Babes on Broadway Mrs. Williams [36]
1942 I Married a Witch Wife of the justice of the peace [36]
1942 Mad Martindales, TheThe Mad Martindales Agnes [36]
1942 Postman Didn't Ring, TheThe Postman Didn't Ring Martha Carter [36]
1942 Talk of the Town, TheThe Talk of the Town Mrs. Shelley [36]
1942 When Johnny Comes Marching Home Nora Flanagan [36]
1943 Cross of Lorraine, TheThe Cross of Lorraine Mme. Marchand [36]
1943 Hoosier Holiday Molly Baker [36]
1943 Minesweeper Mom [36]
1943 North Star, TheThe North Star Old lady [36]
1944 Are These Our Parents? Ma Henderson [36]
1944 Bridge of San Luis Rey, TheThe Bridge of San Luis Rey Dona Mercedes [36]
1944 Irish Eyes Are Smiling Mother Machree [36]
1944 It Happened Tomorrow Mrs. Keever [36]
1944 My Buddy Mary Ballinger [36]
1945 Horn Blows at Midnight, TheThe Horn Blows at Midnight Mrs. Smith [36]
1945 Hoodlum Saint, TheThe Hoodlum Saint Maggie [36]
1946 Night Train to Memphis Mom Acuff [36]
1947 Life with Father Margaret [36]
1947 Mourning Becomes Electra Mrs. Borden [36]
1948 Woman in White, TheThe Woman in White Mrs. Vesey [36]

References

  1. ↑ EMMA DUNN IN VAUDEVILLE; Appears at the 5th Avenue in New Sketch - New York Times June 10, 1913
  2. ↑ Dunn, Emma (1933). Thought Quality in the Voice. Hollywood: Ferger. OCLC 7131895.
  3. ↑ Dunn, Emma (1947). You Can Do It. Agoura, California: Industrial Arts Press. OCLC 4447617.
  4. ↑ Who Was Who in the Theatre, 1912–1976. Detroit: Gale Research Company. 1978. p. 720. ISBN 9780810304062.
  5. 1 2 3 "Emma Dunn Stokes", National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2321; Volume #: Roll 2321 - Certificates: 317850-318349, 29 Jun 1923-30 Jun 1923. Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007; retrieved 2016-04-16.
  6. 1 2 "Emma D. Stokes". Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; retrieved 2016-04-16.
  7. ↑ "Emma Beresford". Year: 1905; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 0611; Line: 4; Page Number: 59. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010; retrieved 2016-04-17.
  8. ↑ Fidler, Jimmie (August 10, 1936). "Hollywood Shots". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  9. ↑ "Harry J. Morgan". Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011; retrieved 2016-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Emma D. Morgan". Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; retrieved 2016-04-17.
  11. ↑ "John Wickliffe Stokes". Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005; retrieved 2016-04-17.
  12. ↑ "Emma Dunn as a Real Mother". The Green Book Magazine. January 1916. p. 103. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  13. ↑ Ancestry.com. "John W. Stokes", South Carolina, Death Records, 1821-1961 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008; retrieved 2016-04-17.
  14. ↑ "Actress Dies at 91". Kenosha News. December 19, 1966.
  15. ↑ "Character Actress' Rites Held". The Bakersfield Californian. December 22, 1966.
  16. ↑ "At the Theatres". The Capital. Los Angeles: The Capital Publishing Company. p. 6. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  17. ↑ "In the Theatres". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 22, 1903. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  18. ↑ "The Redemption of David Corson". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  19. ↑ "'Peer Gynt' in English Put On by Mansfield". The New York Times. October 30, 1906. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  20. ↑ "Mansfield Falls Out with Actress". The New York Times. January 24, 1907. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  21. ↑ "Peer Gynt". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  22. ↑ "Mansfield Seen in Ibsen's Peer Gynt". The New York Times. February 26, 1907. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  23. ↑ "The Warrens of Virginia". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  24. ↑ "The Easiest Way". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  25. ↑ "Mother". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  26. ↑ ""Mother's' Woes Win Tears at Hackett"". The New York Times. September 8, 1910. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  27. ↑ "The Governor's Lady". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  28. ↑ "Sinners". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  29. ↑ "'Sinners' is Given at the Playhouse". The New York Times. January 8, 1915. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  30. ↑ "Old Lady 31". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  31. ↑ "'Old Lady 31' A Play Full of Laughter". The New York Times. October 31, 1916. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  32. ↑ "Sonny". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  33. ↑ "Dawn". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  34. ↑ "Francis Wilson as Rip Van Winkle". The New York Times. November 24, 1925. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  35. ↑ "Junk". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 "Emma Dunn profile". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
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