
Person
Zeffie Tilbury
Acting · 1863–1950 · Paddington, London, England, UK
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Zeffie Agnes Lydia Tilbury (November 20, 1863 – July 24, 1950) was an English actress. Tilbury was known first on the London stage and on Broadway in New York City. In 1881, she debuted on stage in Nine Points of the Law at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, England. She is today best known for playing wise or evil older characters in films, such as the distinguished lady gambler at dinner with Garbo in The Single Standard, as the pitiful Grandma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Grandma Lester in Tobacco Road. She appeared in over 70 films. Her earliest surviving silent film is the Valentino / Nazimova 1921 production of Camille. Tilbury is probably best remembered as the old lady who is befriended by Spanky and his friends on her birthday and, as a result, is transformed from a lonely, disagreeable recluse to a happy and loving carefree soul in the 1936 Hal Roach Our Gang comedy Second Childhood. In the same year she also portrayed the Gypsy Queen in the Laurel and Hardy film The Bohemian Girl. Tilbury was married twice. First to Arthur Frederick Lewis in June, 1887, and later to L. E. Woodthorpe, who died on April 8, 1915. She died in Los Angeles, California in 1950 at the age of 86.
Known for

MGM Parade
Self

The Grapes of Wrath
Grandma Joad

Desire
Aunt Olga

Camille
Old Duchess Bidding 3750 Francs

After the Thin Man
Aunt Lucy (uncredited)

Marie Antoinette
Dowager at Birth of Dauphin (uncredited)

Bachelor Bait
Miss Turner (uncredited)

Werewolf of London
Mrs. Moncaster

The Last Days of Pompeii
The Wise Woman (uncredited)

Camille
Prudence
Filmography
- 1955MGM ParadeSelf
- 1942Flying with MusicFortune Teller
- 1941Sheriff of TombstoneGranny Carson
- 1941Tobacco RoadGrandma Lester
- 1940She Couldn't Say NoMa Hawkins
- 1940Comin' Round the MountainGranny Stokes
- 1940The Grapes of WrathGrandma Joad
- 1940The Earl of ChicagoMiss Nana (uncredited)
- 1940Emergency SquadMrs. Cobb
- 1939BalalaikaNatalya Petrovna
- 1939Lady of the TropicsWoman Congratulating Manon
- 1939Tell No TalesMiss Mary
- 1939The Story of Alexander Graham BellMrs. Sanders
- 1939Boy TroubleMrs. Jepson
- 1938Arrest Bulldog DrummondAunt Meg
- 1938Marie AntoinetteDowager at Birth of Dauphin (uncredited)
- 1938Woman Against WomanGrandma
- 1938KidnappedOld Woman
- 1938Hunted MenFlower Woman
- 1938Bulldog Drummond's PerilMrs. Weevens
- 1937Federal BulletsMrs. Crippen
- 1937The King Without a CrownDying Duchess Marie (uncredited)
- 1937Bulldog Drummond Comes BackZeffie
- 1937It Happened in HollywoodMiss Gordon
- 1937HideawayMrs. Beamish
- 1937Rhythm in the CloudsThe Duchess de Lovely
- 1937ParnellOld Lady
- 1937Midnight TaxiMrs. Lane
- 1937Maid of SalemGoody Hodgers
- 1937Bulldog Drummond EscapesDrunk in Jail Cell
- 1937Under Cover of NightMrs. Nash
- 1936CamilleOld Duchess Bidding 3750 Francs
- 1936After the Thin ManAunt Lucy (uncredited)
- 1936Grandma's BuoysGrandma
- 1936Old HutchElderly Woman in Bank
- 1936Give Me Your HeartEsther Warren
- 1936The Gorgeous HussyMrs. Daniel Beall
- 1936Anthony AdverseOld Woman at Chalet
- 1936The White AngelWoman Donating Sheets (uncredited)
- 1936Parole!Molly Smith
- 1936DesireAunt Olga
- 1936Second ChildhoodGrandma
- 1936Vamp Till ReadyWoman
- 1936The Bohemian GirlGypsy Queen
- 1935Bad BoyDeaf Woman
- 1935The Last Days of PompeiiThe Wise Woman (uncredited)
- 1935Navy WifeBridge Player
- 1935Alice AdamsMrs. Dresser (uncredited)
- 1935The Farmer Takes a WifeOld Townswoman
- 1935StrandedOld Hag (uncredited)
- 1935Public Hero Number 1Deaf Woman in Scottsdale Bar (uncredited)
- 1935Werewolf of LondonMrs. Moncaster
- 1935The Mystery of Edwin DroodThe Opium Woman
- 1935Women Must DressPeg Martin
- 1934The Fuller Gush ManGrandma
- 1934Ocean SwellsAuntie
- 1934Bachelor BaitMiss Turner (uncredited)
- 1934Mystery LinerGranny Plimpton
- 1934Two AloneRogers' Neighbor (uncredited)
- 1933Blind Adventure
- 1933Made on BroadwayAunt Ada
- 1931Charlie Chan Carries OnMrs. Luce
- 1930The Ship from ShanghaiLady Daley
- 1929The Single StandardMrs. Handley
- 1927The Night of LoveLady in Waiting
- 1924Another ScandalBrownie
- 1921CamillePrudence
- 1921Big GameAunt Sarah Winthrop
- 1921The Marriage of William AsheLady Tranmore
- 1920ClothesMrs. Cathcart
- 1920Mothers of MenMrs. De La Motte
- 1919A Society ExileMrs. Stanley Shelby
- 1919The AvalancheMrs. Ruyler
- 1917Blind Man's LuckMrs. Guerton
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