Gertrude Astor
Gertrude Astor (Born Gertrude Eyster November 9, 1887 – November 9, 1977) was an American motion picture character actress, who began her career playing trombone on a riverboat. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Astor at the age of 12 ran off and joined a woman's band as a trombone player and toured the states. In New York she left the band to obtain film work and got a job as an extra before her career took off. Astor was a prolific performer, between 1915 and 1962 she appeared in over 250 movies. Her first known credit is in a Biograph short in 1915. She then became a contract player at Universal. A tall, angular and beautiful woman, Astor frequently towered over the leading men of the era; thus, she was most frequently utilized in comedy roles as aristocrats, golddiggers and "heroine's best pal". Her best-known silent appearances were as the visiting stage star in Stage Struck (1925) with Gloria Swanson, as the vamp who plants stolen money on Harry Langdon in The Strong Man (1926), and as Laura LaPlante's wisecracking travelling companion in The Cat and the Canary (1927). Astor worked prolifically at Hal Roach studios with such headliners as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, and especially Charley Chase. She was also kept busy at Columbia Pictures' short subjects unit. She continued to play bits in feature films throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. She was briefly glimpsed as the first murder victim in the Sherlock Holmes adventure The Scarlet Claw and was among the ranks of dress extras in 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. Her last appearance was in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. In her later years, Astor was a welcome guest at several Sons of the Desert gatherings, and became an honorary member of the Way Out West tent. She died in Woodland Hills, California from a stroke. She is interred in the Abbey of Psalms in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.
Filmography
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
as Townswoman
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
as Townswoman
The Sound of Music
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Sound of Music
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
as Denver Party Guest (uncredited)
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
as Denver Party Guest (uncredited)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Devil's Hand
as The Elderly Cultist
The Devil's Hand
as The Elderly Cultist
Two Rode Together
as Mrs. Wringle (uncredited)
Two Rode Together
as Mrs. Wringle (uncredited)
All in a Night's Work
as Customer (uncredited)
All in a Night's Work
as Customer (uncredited)
Sergeant Rutledge
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Sergeant Rutledge
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Best of Everything
as Leading Woman in Play (uncredited)
The Best of Everything
as Leading Woman in Play (uncredited)
The Tingler
as Member of Silent Movie Audience (uncredited)
The Tingler
as Member of Silent Movie Audience (uncredited)
The Horse Soldiers
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Horse Soldiers
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Female Animal
as Actress on Movie Set (uncredited)
The Female Animal
as Actress on Movie Set (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
as Party Guest (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Around the World in 80 Days
as Extra (uncredited)
Around the World in 80 Days
as Extra (uncredited)
The Virgin Queen
as Lady-in-Waiting - 2nd Group
The Virgin Queen
as Lady-in-Waiting - 2nd Group
Wichita
as Saloon Madam (uncredited)
Wichita
as Saloon Madam (uncredited)
Daddy Long Legs
as Art Gallery Patron (uncredited)
Daddy Long Legs
as Art Gallery Patron (uncredited)
Deep in My Heart
as Dorothy's Nurse (uncredited)
Deep in My Heart
as Dorothy's Nurse (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
Scared Stiff
as Man with Spaghetti's Wife (uncredited)
Scared Stiff
as Man with Spaghetti's Wife (uncredited)
Angel Face
as Matron (uncredited)
Angel Face
as Matron (uncredited)
The Old West
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Old West
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
as Reception Guest (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
as Reception Guest (uncredited)
Paula
as Mrs. Brown (uncredited)
Paula
as Mrs. Brown (uncredited)
Fort Osage
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Fort Osage
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
as Neighbor (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
as Neighbor (uncredited)
Thunder on the Hill
as Village Woman (uncredited)
Thunder on the Hill
as Village Woman (uncredited)
When Worlds Collide
as Traveler (uncredited)
When Worlds Collide
as Traveler (uncredited)
A Place in the Sun
as Bit Part (uncredited)
A Place in the Sun
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Apache Drums
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Apache Drums
as Townswoman (uncredited)
All About Eve
as Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)
All About Eve
as Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)
Again Pioneers
as Mrs. Jans
Again Pioneers
as Mrs. Jans
Bunco Squad
as Club Patron (uncredited)
Bunco Squad
as Club Patron (uncredited)
Sunset Boulevard
as Courtier (uncredited)
Sunset Boulevard
as Courtier (uncredited)
Caged
as Inmate (uncredited)
Caged
as Inmate (uncredited)
Montana
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Montana
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Woman in Hiding
as Woman in Drugstore (uncredited)
Woman in Hiding
as Woman in Drugstore (uncredited)
The File on Thelma Jordon
as Juror (uncredited)
The File on Thelma Jordon
as Juror (uncredited)
The Doolins of Oklahoma
as Saloon Girl (uncredited)
The Doolins of Oklahoma
as Saloon Girl (uncredited)
3 Godfathers
as Saloon Girl (uncredited)
3 Godfathers
as Saloon Girl (uncredited)
My Dear Secretary
as Miss Gee (uncredited)
My Dear Secretary
as Miss Gee (uncredited)
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as Mrs. Howard
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as Mrs. Howard
Music Man
as Mrs. Larkin
Music Man
as Mrs. Larkin
Here Comes Trouble
as Woman with Dog (uncredited)
Here Comes Trouble
as Woman with Dog (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Monsieur Verdoux
as Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
Monsieur Verdoux
as Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
Fun on a Weekend
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Fun on a Weekend
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Best Years of Our Lives
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
The Best Years of Our Lives
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Calcutta
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Calcutta
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Sister Kenny
as Doctor (uncredited)
Sister Kenny
as Doctor (uncredited)
Crack-Up
as Nagging Wife on Train (Uncredited)
Crack-Up
as Nagging Wife on Train (Uncredited)
Dragonwyck
as Nurse (uncredited)
Dragonwyck
as Nurse (uncredited)
Leave Her to Heaven
as Prison Matron (uncredited)
Leave Her to Heaven
as Prison Matron (uncredited)
Dick Tracy
as Woman (uncredited)
Dick Tracy
as Woman (uncredited)
An Angel Comes To Brooklyn
as Eva Tanguay (uncredited)
An Angel Comes To Brooklyn
as Eva Tanguay (uncredited)
Girls of the Big House
as Railroad Matron
Girls of the Big House
as Railroad Matron
Swingin' on a Rainbow
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Swingin' on a Rainbow
as Bit Part (uncredited)
The Climax
as Woman in Audience Behind Franz (Uncredited)
The Climax
as Woman in Audience Behind Franz (Uncredited)
The Scarlet Claw
The Scarlet Claw
Weird Woman
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Weird Woman
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Kansan
as Blonde Townswoman
The Kansan
as Blonde Townswoman
The Avenging Rider
as Martha
The Avenging Rider
as Martha
Idaho
as Party Guest
Idaho
as Party Guest
Lost Canyon
as Mrs. Anson
Lost Canyon
as Mrs. Anson
Moontide
as Woman (uncredited)
Moontide
as Woman (uncredited)
Reap the Wild Wind
as Ball Guest (uncredited)
Reap the Wild Wind
as Ball Guest (uncredited)
Frisco Lil
Frisco Lil
The Wolf Man
as Townswoman (uncredited)
The Wolf Man
as Townswoman (uncredited)
Hold Back the Dawn
as Young Woman in Bar (uncredited)
Hold Back the Dawn
as Young Woman in Bar (uncredited)
Misbehaving Husbands
as Gossiping Friend
Misbehaving Husbands
as Gossiping Friend
The Doctor Takes a Wife
as Extra (uncredited)
The Doctor Takes a Wife
as Extra (uncredited)
The Llano Kid
as Saloon Hostess
The Llano Kid
as Saloon Hostess
$1,000 a Touchdown
as McGlen Wife (uncredited)
$1,000 a Touchdown
as McGlen Wife (uncredited)
Dust Be My Destiny
as Dame (uncredited)
Dust Be My Destiny
as Dame (uncredited)
The Women
as Mud Bath Nurse (uncredited)
The Women
as Mud Bath Nurse (uncredited)
Tassels in the Air
as Louella Pindell (uncredited)
Tassels in the Air
as Louella Pindell (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1938
as Woman (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1938
as Woman (uncredited)
Wells Fargo
as Pioneer Woman
Wells Fargo
as Pioneer Woman
All Over Town
as Mamie
All Over Town
as Mamie
Easy Living
as Saleswoman (uncredited)
Easy Living
as Saleswoman (uncredited)
Rich Relations
Rich Relations
Empty Saddles
as Eloise Hayes
Empty Saddles
as Eloise Hayes
Great Guy
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Great Guy
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Wives Never Know
as Mrs. Merchant (uncredited)
Wives Never Know
as Mrs. Merchant (uncredited)
Postal Inspector
as Woman with Drumsticks (uncredited)
Postal Inspector
as Woman with Drumsticks (uncredited)
San Francisco
as Drunk's Girl (uncredited)
San Francisco
as Drunk's Girl (uncredited)
I Don't Remember
as Sophie Glick
I Don't Remember
as Sophie Glick
Manhattan Monkey Business
as Gwendolyn
Manhattan Monkey Business
as Gwendolyn
Bad Boy
Bad Boy
It's in the Air
as (uncredited)
It's in the Air
as (uncredited)
Cappy Ricks Returns
as Speaker (uncredited)
Cappy Ricks Returns
as Speaker (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band
as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band
as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
Honeymoon Limited
as Lady Devonshire
Honeymoon Limited
as Lady Devonshire
No More Ladies
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
No More Ladies
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Border Brigands
as Big Six -Saloon Girl
Border Brigands
as Big Six -Saloon Girl
The Drunkard
as Peggy
The Drunkard
as Peggy
Northern Frontier
as Mae
Northern Frontier
as Mae
The Chases of Pimple Street
as Gertrude Astor - Lucas' Fiancee (uncredited)
The Chases of Pimple Street
as Gertrude Astor - Lucas' Fiancee (uncredited)
Washee Ironee
as Woman at Party
Washee Ironee
as Woman at Party
Wedding Belles
Wedding Belles
I'll Take Vanilla
as Mom
I'll Take Vanilla
as Mom
Guilty Parents
as Marie
Guilty Parents
as Marie
Carnival Lady
as Zandra, Fortune Teller
Carnival Lady
as Zandra, Fortune Teller
Crook's Tour
as Mrs Dorigan
Crook's Tour
as Mrs Dorigan
Ship of Wanted Men
as Vera
Ship of Wanted Men
as Vera
I Have Lived
as Harriet Naisson
I Have Lived
as Harriet Naisson
The Plumber and the Lady
as Mrs. Otto Mauser
The Plumber and the Lady
as Mrs. Otto Mauser
Wine, Women and Song
as Jennie Tilson
Wine, Women and Song
as Jennie Tilson
Flaming Gold
as Escort Service Madam
Flaming Gold
as Escort Service Madam
Western Limited
as Mrs. Winters
Western Limited
as Mrs. Winters
High Hats and Low Brows
as Mrs. Billingsgate
High Hats and Low Brows
as Mrs. Billingsgate
They Never Come Back
as Kate
They Never Come Back
as Kate
While Paris Sleeps
While Paris Sleeps
In Walked Charley
as Gertrude Henderson
In Walked Charley
as Gertrude Henderson
Running Hollywood
as Gertrude Astor
Running Hollywood
as Gertrude Astor
Poker Widows
as Mrs. Thomas Regan
Poker Widows
as Mrs. Thomas Regan
Come Clean
as Mrs. Hardy
Come Clean
as Mrs. Hardy
Hell Bound
as Rosie
Hell Bound
as Rosie
Live and Learn
as Mrs. Brown
Live and Learn
as Mrs. Brown
Dames Ahoy
as The Blonde
Dames Ahoy
as The Blonde
Be Yourself!
as Lillian
Be Yourself!
as Lillian
Untamed
as Mrs. Mason
Untamed
as Mrs. Mason
Frozen Justice
as Moosehide Kate
Frozen Justice
as Moosehide Kate
Twin Beds
as Mrs. Solari
Twin Beds
as Mrs. Solari
The Fall of Eve
as Mrs. Ford
The Fall of Eve
as Mrs. Ford
Two Weeks Off
as Agnes
Two Weeks Off
as Agnes
The Fatal Warning
The Fatal Warning
Synthetic Sin
as Sheila Kelly
Synthetic Sin
as Sheila Kelly
Chasing Husbands
Chasing Husbands
A Woman of Affairs
as Party Guest (uncredited)
A Woman of Affairs
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Butter and Egg Man
as Fanny Lehman
The Butter and Egg Man
as Fanny Lehman
Stocks and Blondes
as Goldie
Stocks and Blondes
as Goldie
Hit of the Show
as Trece
Hit of the Show
as Trece
Five and Ten Cent Annie
as Blonde
Five and Ten Cent Annie
as Blonde
The Family Group
The Family Group
Rose-Marie
as Wanda
Rose-Marie
as Wanda
The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris
as Paulette
The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris
as Paulette
Oh, What a Man!
as The Bandit
Oh, What a Man!
as The Bandit
Ginsberg the Great
as Sappho
Ginsberg the Great
as Sappho
The Small Bachelor
as Fanny
The Small Bachelor
as Fanny
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Mrs. St. Clare (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Mrs. St. Clare (uncredited)
The Irresistible Lover
as Dolly Carleton
The Irresistible Lover
as Dolly Carleton
The Cat and the Canary
as Cecily
The Cat and the Canary
as Cecily
The Taxi Dancer
as Kitty Lane
The Taxi Dancer
as Kitty Lane
Lightning Lariats
as Girl
Lightning Lariats
as Girl
The Cheerful Fraud
as Rose
The Cheerful Fraud
as Rose
The Strong Man
as Lily de Broadway
The Strong Man
as Lily de Broadway
Sin Cargo
as Mary Wickham
Sin Cargo
as Mary Wickham
The Country Beyond
as Mrs. Andrews
The Country Beyond
as Mrs. Andrews
Tell 'Em Nothing
as Mrs. Gladstone
Tell 'Em Nothing
as Mrs. Gladstone
The Old Soak
as Sylvia De Costa
The Old Soak
as Sylvia De Costa
Don Juan's 3 Nights
as Baroness von Minden
Don Juan's 3 Nights
as Baroness von Minden
The Boy Friend
as Mrs. White
The Boy Friend
as Mrs. White
Kiki
as Paulette Mascar
Kiki
as Paulette Mascar
Wife Tamers
as Mrs. Barry
Wife Tamers
as Mrs. Barry
Dizzy Daddies
as A Former Flame
Dizzy Daddies
as A Former Flame
Behind the Front
as French barmaid
Behind the Front
as French barmaid
Ship of Souls
as Doris Barnes
Ship of Souls
as Doris Barnes
Stage Struck
as Lillian Lyons
Stage Struck
as Lillian Lyons
Satan in Sables
as Dolores Sierra
Satan in Sables
as Dolores Sierra
Borrowed Finery
as Maisie
Borrowed Finery
as Maisie
The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted
as Greta
The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted
as Greta
Kentucky Pride
as Mrs. Beaumont
Kentucky Pride
as Mrs. Beaumont
Pursued
as Madame La Grande
Pursued
as Madame La Grande
The Charmer
as Bertha Sedgwick
The Charmer
as Bertha Sedgwick
The Verdict
as Mrs. Ronsard
The Verdict
as Mrs. Ronsard
Folly of Youth
as Evelyn Cartwright
Folly of Youth
as Evelyn Cartwright
The Reckless Sex
as Lucile Dupré
The Reckless Sex
as Lucile Dupré
Laughing Ladies
as The Married Man's Wife
Laughing Ladies
as The Married Man's Wife
Robes of Sin
Robes of Sin
The Ridin' Kid from Powder River
as 'Kansas' Lou
The Ridin' Kid from Powder River
as 'Kansas' Lou
The Silent Watcher
as Mrs. Steele
The Silent Watcher
as Mrs. Steele
All's Swell on the Ocean
All's Swell on the Ocean
The Torrent
as The Cast-Off
The Torrent
as The Cast-Off
Fight and Win
Fight and Win
Broadway or Bust
as Mrs. Dean Smythe
Broadway or Bust
as Mrs. Dean Smythe
Secrets
as Mrs. Manwaring
Secrets
as Mrs. Manwaring
The Wanters
as Mrs. Van Pelt
The Wanters
as Mrs. Van Pelt
Flaming Youth
as Annie
Flaming Youth
as Annie
The Six-Fifty
as Christine Palmer
The Six-Fifty
as Christine Palmer
Hollywood
as Gertrude Astor
Hollywood
as Gertrude Astor
Rupert of Hentzau
as Paula
Rupert of Hentzau
as Paula
The Ne'er-Do-Well
as Edith Cortlandt
The Ne'er-Do-Well
as Edith Cortlandt
Alice Adams
as Mildred Palmer
Alice Adams
as Mildred Palmer
The Ninety and Nine
as Kate Van Dyke
The Ninety and Nine
as Kate Van Dyke
You Never Know
as Miriam Folansbee
You Never Know
as Miriam Folansbee
The Kentucky Derby
as Helen Gordon
The Kentucky Derby
as Helen Gordon
The Impossible Mrs. Bellew
as Alice Granville
The Impossible Mrs. Bellew
as Alice Granville
Lorna Doone
as Countess of Brandir (uncredited)
Lorna Doone
as Countess of Brandir (uncredited)
Skin Deep
as Mrs. Carlson
Skin Deep
as Mrs. Carlson
Hurricane's Gal
as Phyllis Fairfield
Hurricane's Gal
as Phyllis Fairfield
Beyond the Rocks
as Morella Winmarleigh
Beyond the Rocks
as Morella Winmarleigh
Seeing's Believing
as Aunt Sue
Seeing's Believing
as Aunt Sue
The Wall Flower
as Pamela Shiel
The Wall Flower
as Pamela Shiel
Her Mad Bargain
as Ruth Beresford
Her Mad Bargain
as Ruth Beresford
Through the Back Door
as Louise Reeves
Through the Back Door
as Louise Reeves
The Concert
as Eva
The Concert
as Eva
The Branding Iron
as Betty Morena
The Branding Iron
as Betty Morena
Occasionally Yours
as Mona
Occasionally Yours
as Mona
Burning Daylight
as Lucille
Burning Daylight
as Lucille
The Lion Man
as Celeste La Rue
The Lion Man
as Celeste La Rue
The Wicked Darling
as Adele Hoyt
The Wicked Darling
as Adele Hoyt
Loot
as Lady Gwendolyn
Loot
as Lady Gwendolyn
Pretty Smooth
as Mrs. Hanson
Pretty Smooth
as Mrs. Hanson
The Delicious Little Devil
as Auditioning Dancer (uncredited)
The Delicious Little Devil
as Auditioning Dancer (uncredited)
What Am I Bid?
as Diana Newlands
What Am I Bid?
as Diana Newlands
The Brazen Beauty
as Mrs. Augusta Van Ruysdael
The Brazen Beauty
as Mrs. Augusta Van Ruysdael
The Girl Who Wouldn't Quit
as Stella Carter
The Girl Who Wouldn't Quit
as Stella Carter
Vamping the Vamp
as Thedeska - The Vamp
Vamping the Vamp
as Thedeska - The Vamp
Bucking Broadway
as Gladys (uncredited)
Bucking Broadway
as Gladys (uncredited)
The Lash of Power
as Phyllis Ward
The Lash of Power
as Phyllis Ward
The Price of a Good Time
as Mis Schyler
The Price of a Good Time
as Mis Schyler
Bondage
as Eugenia Darth
Bondage
as Eugenia Darth
The Girl Who Won Out
as Mrs. Walsh
The Girl Who Won Out
as Mrs. Walsh
Cheyenne's Pal
as Dancehall girl
Cheyenne's Pal
as Dancehall girl
The Rescue
as Mrs. Hendricks
The Rescue
as Mrs. Hendricks
The Gray Ghost
as Lady Gwendolyn
The Gray Ghost
as Lady Gwendolyn
The Little Orphan
as Emmeline Warren
The Little Orphan
as Emmeline Warren
Polly Redhead
as Lady Caroline
Polly Redhead
as Lady Caroline
The Scarlet Crystal
as Helen Forbes
The Scarlet Crystal
as Helen Forbes
The Devil's Pay Day
as Hazel Davidson
The Devil's Pay Day
as Hazel Davidson
Bombs and Banknotes
as His Daughter
Bombs and Banknotes
as His Daughter
Under Two Flags
as Venetia
Under Two Flags
as Venetia