A prolific character actress who began her film career in middle age in silent films, but is best remembered for her legion of supporting roles during the 1930s and '40s, Jane Darwell played every thing from kindly neighbors and household servants to gossiping grandmothers, resilient frontierswomen and no-nonsense prison matrons -- sometimes appearing in as many as 20 films in a single year.  At her best representing Middle America, Darwell even earned an Academy Award as the Best Supporting Actress of 1940 for her performance as Ma Joad in John Ford's THE GRAPES OF WRATH.

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Memorable Quotations:

• "This younger generation is going to the dogs." --as Mrs. Schmidt in BACK STREET (1932).
• "They can't wipe us out; they can't lick us.  We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people." --as Ma Joad in THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940).

More Darwell Links:

• Great Character Actors: Jane Darwell
• A review of ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT by Edwin Jahiel
• Greatest Films: THE GRAPES OF WRATH
• Greatest Films: MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
• A review of MY DARLING CLEMENTINE by Roger Ebert

Awards | Downloads | Image Credits | GONE WITH THE WIND | MARY POPPINS