Nora Cecil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Nora Cecil (September 20, 1878 – May 1, 1951) was a British-American character actress whose 30-year career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. Cecil's career began on the stage, where she appeared in a single Broadway production, The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, which ran for more than 240 performances at the Broadway Theatre in 1901-02. (A 1930 newspaper article says that Cecil "made her debut, three decades ago, on the London stage.") Cecil appeared in well over 100 feature films and film shorts. In 1915, she moved from the stage into films, her first appearance being in a starring role in The Arrival of Perpetua, directed by Émile Chautard. She often played "thin-lipped, stern-visaged dowagers and forbidding mothers-in-law" and "welfare workers, landladies, schoolmistresses and maiden aunts". One of the most significant roles was in the W.C. Fields vehicle, The Old Fashioned Way in 1934. Some of the other notable films in which Cecil appeared include: Ernst Lubitsch's historical romance, The Merry Widow, starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald; the 1939 version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, starring Mickey Rooney; the John Ford classic, Stagecoach, with John Wayne. Her final acting performance was in a featured role in Mourning Becomes Electra in 1947, starring Rosalind Russell.
Filmography
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actress in 'Hollywood Party' (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actress in 'Hollywood Party' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Louisa Ames
Mourning Becomes Electra
as Louisa Ames
The Sea of Grass
as Mrs. Ryan - Nurse (uncredited)
The Sea of Grass
as Mrs. Ryan - Nurse (uncredited)
Big Town
as Miss Lovelace (uncredited)
Big Town
as Miss Lovelace (uncredited)
The Missing Lady
as Miss Millie
The Missing Lady
as Miss Millie
Two Sisters from Boston
as Mrs. Mulberry - Recital Guest (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
as Mrs. Mulberry - Recital Guest (uncredited)
Lady on a Train
Lady on a Train
The Thin Man Goes Home
as Miss Peavy
The Thin Man Goes Home
as Miss Peavy
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Hospital Nurse (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Hospital Nurse (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Train Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Train Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
The Unknown Guest
as Martha Williams
The Unknown Guest
as Martha Williams
I Married a Witch
as Harriet Wooley (uncredited)
I Married a Witch
as Harriet Wooley (uncredited)
Apache Trail
as Passenger (uncredited)
Apache Trail
as Passenger (uncredited)
The Wife Takes a Flyer
as Miss Updike
The Wife Takes a Flyer
as Miss Updike
Obliging Young Lady
as Miss Hollyrod - Bird Lover (uncredited)
Obliging Young Lady
as Miss Hollyrod - Bird Lover (uncredited)
Three Girls About Town
as Casket Customer
Three Girls About Town
as Casket Customer
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
as Charwoman
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
as Charwoman
The Bank Dick
as Lompoc Ladies Auxiliary (uncredited)
The Bank Dick
as Lompoc Ladies Auxiliary (uncredited)
Little Men
as Head of Orphanage
Little Men
as Head of Orphanage
Young People
as Righteous Old Lady (uncredited)
Young People
as Righteous Old Lady (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
as Women's Club President (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
as Women's Club President (uncredited)
Those Were the Days!
as Mrs. Moffett
Those Were the Days!
as Mrs. Moffett
What a Life
as Miss Eggleston
What a Life
as Miss Eggleston
Some Like It Hot
as Mrs. Beckett (uncredited)
Some Like It Hot
as Mrs. Beckett (uncredited)
Union Pacific
as Snoring Woman on Train (uncredited)
Union Pacific
as Snoring Woman on Train (uncredited)
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
as Miss Jenkins
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
as Miss Jenkins
Stagecoach
as Boone's Landlady (uncredited)
Stagecoach
as Boone's Landlady (uncredited)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
as Mrs. Shackleford (uncredited)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
as Mrs. Shackleford (uncredited)
Mr. Boggs Steps Out
as Widow Peddie
Mr. Boggs Steps Out
as Widow Peddie
International Settlement
as English Woman
International Settlement
as English Woman
Borrowing Trouble
as Dressmaker
Borrowing Trouble
as Dressmaker
Nothing Sacred
as Schoolteacher (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred
as Schoolteacher (uncredited)
Blossoms On Broadway
as Leader of Committee (uncredited)
Blossoms On Broadway
as Leader of Committee (uncredited)
Partners in Crime
as Housekeeper
Partners in Crime
as Housekeeper
She Asked for It
as Elderly lady (uncredited)
She Asked for It
as Elderly lady (uncredited)
Easy Living
as Miss Swerf
Easy Living
as Miss Swerf
Night of Mystery
Night of Mystery
Three Smart Boys
as Miss Witherspoon, Superintendent
Three Smart Boys
as Miss Witherspoon, Superintendent
Night Must Fall
Night Must Fall
Champagne Waltz
as Train Passenger
Champagne Waltz
as Train Passenger
The Mighty Treve
as Old Maid at Dog Show
The Mighty Treve
as Old Maid at Dog Show
College Holiday
as Miss Elkins (uncredited)
College Holiday
as Miss Elkins (uncredited)
Laughing at Trouble
as Mrs. Wigby - Townswoman
Laughing at Trouble
as Mrs. Wigby - Townswoman
Under Your Spell
as School Teacher (uncredited)
Under Your Spell
as School Teacher (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1937
as Home Economics Woman
The Big Broadcast of 1937
as Home Economics Woman
Let's Make a Million
Let's Make a Million
Girl of the Ozarks
as Miss Trent
Girl of the Ozarks
as Miss Trent
Little Miss Nobody
as Mrs. Robinson
Little Miss Nobody
as Mrs. Robinson
Fury
as Albert's Mother (uncredited)
Fury
as Albert's Mother (uncredited)
Dancing Pirate
as Landlady (uncredited)
Dancing Pirate
as Landlady (uncredited)
Two in the Dark
as Mrs. Potter, Landlady (uncredited)
Two in the Dark
as Mrs. Potter, Landlady (uncredited)
Collegiate
as Miss Curtiss
Collegiate
as Miss Curtiss
Way Down East
as Townswoman at Party
Way Down East
as Townswoman at Party
Slightly Static
as Beauty Products Announcer (uncredited)
Slightly Static
as Beauty Products Announcer (uncredited)
Vagabond Lady
as Miss Perkins (uncredited)
Vagabond Lady
as Miss Perkins (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1935
as Housekeeper (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1935
as Housekeeper (uncredited)
Car 99
as Granny Adams
Car 99
as Granny Adams
Memories and Melodies
as Customer (uncredited)
Memories and Melodies
as Customer (uncredited)
Biography of a Bachelor Girl
as Ship's Matron (uncredited)
Biography of a Bachelor Girl
as Ship's Matron (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
as Animal Woman (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
as Animal Woman (uncredited)
Opened by Mistake
as Head Nurse
Opened by Mistake
as Head Nurse
The Spectacle Maker
as Duchess
The Spectacle Maker
as Duchess
Chained
as Edith (uncredited)
Chained
as Edith (uncredited)
One-Horse Farmers
as Subway Passenger (uncredited)
One-Horse Farmers
as Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
as Mrs. Trutmanner (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
as Mrs. Trutmanner (uncredited)
The Old-Fashioned Way
as Mrs. Wendelschaffer
The Old-Fashioned Way
as Mrs. Wendelschaffer
Upperworld
as Stream's Housekeeper (uncredited)
Upperworld
as Stream's Housekeeper (uncredited)
Laughing Boy
as Schoolteacher
Laughing Boy
as Schoolteacher
You're Telling Me!
as Mrs. Price
You're Telling Me!
as Mrs. Price
Once to Every Woman
as Miss Baxter’s Sister (uncredited)
Once to Every Woman
as Miss Baxter’s Sister (uncredited)
Mixed Nuts
as Mrs. Twitchett
Mixed Nuts
as Mrs. Twitchett
Search for Beauty
as Miss Pettigrew
Search for Beauty
as Miss Pettigrew
Design for Living
as Tom's Secretary (uncredited)
Design for Living
as Tom's Secretary (uncredited)
Going Hollywood
as Briarcroft's Teacher
Going Hollywood
as Briarcroft's Teacher
Meet the Baron
as Professor Winterbottom (uncredited)
Meet the Baron
as Professor Winterbottom (uncredited)
Stage Mother
as Miss Gilford, Kitty's Music Store Boss (uncredited)
Stage Mother
as Miss Gilford, Kitty's Music Store Boss (uncredited)
Doctor Bull
as Aunt Emily Banning
Doctor Bull
as Aunt Emily Banning
Hold Your Man
as Miss Campbell (uncredited)
Hold Your Man
as Miss Campbell (uncredited)
Peg o' My Heart
as Smythe (maid)
Peg o' My Heart
as Smythe (maid)
Nature in the Wrong
as Muriel's mother
Nature in the Wrong
as Muriel's mother
King of the Jungle
as Spinster in park (uncredited)
King of the Jungle
as Spinster in park (uncredited)
Fast Workers
as Tall Window-Shopper (Uncredited)
Fast Workers
as Tall Window-Shopper (Uncredited)
Wreckety Wrecks
as Miss Winterbottom
Wreckety Wrecks
as Miss Winterbottom
Asleep in the Feet
as Female Police Officer
Asleep in the Feet
as Female Police Officer
The Bitter Tea of General Yen
as Missionary
The Bitter Tea of General Yen
as Missionary
Mr. Bride
as Mrs. Cecil
Mr. Bride
as Mrs. Cecil
Hot Saturday
as Gossip on Telephone (Uncredited)
Hot Saturday
as Gossip on Telephone (Uncredited)
The Millionaire Cat
as Aunt Mathilda
The Millionaire Cat
as Aunt Mathilda
Girl Grief
as Miss Tuttle, Principal
Girl Grief
as Miss Tuttle, Principal
Pack Up Your Troubles
as Welfare Association Officer (uncredited)
Pack Up Your Troubles
as Welfare Association Officer (uncredited)
Amateur Daddy
as Saleslady
Amateur Daddy
as Saleslady
Young Bride
as Landlady (uncredited)
Young Bride
as Landlady (uncredited)
Arrowsmith
as Nurse (uncredited)
Arrowsmith
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Ruling Voice
as Malcom's Nurse (uncredited)
The Ruling Voice
as Malcom's Nurse (uncredited)
Street Scene
as Alice Simpson - Welfare Worker
Street Scene
as Alice Simpson - Welfare Worker
Everything’s Rosie
as Hotel Proprietress
Everything’s Rosie
as Hotel Proprietress
East Lynne
as Charity Bazaar Committee
East Lynne
as Charity Bazaar Committee
Millie
as Helen and Angie's Landlady (uncredited)
Millie
as Helen and Angie's Landlady (uncredited)
Only Saps Work
as Mrs. Partridge (uncredited)
Only Saps Work
as Mrs. Partridge (uncredited)
Hell's Angels
as Helen's Maid (uncredited)
Hell's Angels
as Helen's Maid (uncredited)
Little Accident
as Dr. Zernecke
Little Accident
as Dr. Zernecke
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
Seven Days Leave
as Amelia Twymley
Seven Days Leave
as Amelia Twymley
Footlights and Fools
as (uncredited)
Footlights and Fools
as (uncredited)
Seven Footprints to Satan
as Old Witch
Seven Footprints to Satan
as Old Witch
The Cavalier
as Lucia's Aunt
The Cavalier
as Lucia's Aunt
Driftwood
as Mrs. Prouty
Driftwood
as Mrs. Prouty
The Baby Cyclone
as Mrs. Crandall
The Baby Cyclone
as Mrs. Crandall
A Trick of Hearts
as The Mayor
A Trick of Hearts
as The Mayor
The Devil Dancer
as Julia
The Devil Dancer
as Julia
Born to Battle
as Ma Cowan
Born to Battle
as Ma Cowan
Too Many Crooks
as (uncredited)
Too Many Crooks
as (uncredited)
Girls
as Matron Helen Hunt
Girls
as Matron Helen Hunt
Sensation Seekers
as Mrs. Lodge
Sensation Seekers
as Mrs. Lodge
The Demi-Bride
as School Teacher
The Demi-Bride
as School Teacher
The Fortune Hunter
as Betty Carpenter
The Fortune Hunter
as Betty Carpenter
The Silent Rider
as Mrs. Randall
The Silent Rider
as Mrs. Randall
Midnight Faces
as Mrs. Hart
Midnight Faces
as Mrs. Hart
Chip of the Flying U
as Dr. Cecil Grantham
Chip of the Flying U
as Dr. Cecil Grantham
Three Weeks in Paris
Three Weeks in Paris
His Majesty, Bunker Bean
as Countess Casanova
His Majesty, Bunker Bean
as Countess Casanova
The Deadwood Coach
as Matilda Shields - in play
The Deadwood Coach
as Matilda Shields - in play
Darwin Was Right
as Aunt Priscilla
Darwin Was Right
as Aunt Priscilla
The Town That Forgot God
as (uncredited)
The Town That Forgot God
as (uncredited)
Manslaughter
as Lydia's Chaperone (uncredited)
Manslaughter
as Lydia's Chaperone (uncredited)
Timothy's Quest
as Townswoman
Timothy's Quest
as Townswoman
Footfalls
Footfalls
The Daughter Pays
The Daughter Pays
Red Foam
Red Foam
Woman, Woman!
as Mrs. Lindsay
Woman, Woman!
as Mrs. Lindsay
Miss Crusoe
as Miss Meeker (uncredited)
Miss Crusoe
as Miss Meeker (uncredited)
An Amateur Widow
An Amateur Widow
Love Net
as Miss Prudence Tilly
Love Net
as Miss Prudence Tilly
The Zero Hour
as Mrs. Winslow (uncredited)
The Zero Hour
as Mrs. Winslow (uncredited)
Appearance of Evil
as Miss Spurgeon
Appearance of Evil
as Miss Spurgeon
By Hook or Crook
as Aunt Marie
By Hook or Crook
as Aunt Marie
American Buds
as Emily
American Buds
as Emily
Prunella
Prunella
The Wild Girl
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
The Wild Girl
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
A Royal Romance
as Miss McPherson
A Royal Romance
as Miss McPherson
The Poor Little Rich Girl
as One of Gwendolyn's Teachers (uncredited)
The Poor Little Rich Girl
as One of Gwendolyn's Teachers (uncredited)
Tillie Wakes Up
as Gossip in Ice Cream Parlor / Woman Having Picture Taken
Tillie Wakes Up
as Gossip in Ice Cream Parlor / Woman Having Picture Taken
The Social Secretary
as Spinster (uncredited)
The Social Secretary
as Spinster (uncredited)
A Model Husband
as Mrs Gossip
A Model Husband
as Mrs Gossip
The Arrival of Perpetua
as Abigail Majendrie
The Arrival of Perpetua
as Abigail Majendrie