18 Facts About Beulah Bondi

Beulah Bondi began her acting career as a young child in theater, and after establishing herself as a Broadway stage actress in 1925, she reprised her role in Street Scene for the 1931 film version.

Beulah Bondi played supporting roles in several films during the 1930s, and was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Beulah Bondi played the mother of James Stewart in four films: Of Human Hearts, Vivacious Lady, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and It's a Wonderful Life.

Beulah Bondi was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Eva Suzanna, an author, and Abraham O Bondy, who worked in real estate.

The family moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, when she was three, and Beulah Bondi began her acting career on the stage at age seven, playing Cedric Errol in a production of Little Lord Fauntleroy at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso.

Beulah Bondi graduated from the Frances Shimer Academy in 1907, and gained her bachelor's and master's degrees in oratory at Valparaiso University in 1916 and 1918.

Beulah Bondi changed her surname to Bondi and made her Broadway debut in Kenneth Seymour Webb's One of the Family at the 49th Street Theatre on December 21,1925.

Beulah Bondi next appeared in another hit, Maxwell Anderson's Saturday's Children, in 1926.

Beulah Bondi was one of the first five women to be nominated for an Academy Award in the newly created category of "Best Supporting Actress" for her work in The Gorgeous Hussy, although she lost the award to Gale Sondergaard.

Beulah Bondi often played mature roles in her early film career even though she was only in her early 40s.

In 1940 Beulah Bondi played Mrs Webb in Our Town and Granny Tucker in The Southerner, directed by Jean Renoir and released in 1945.

Beulah Bondi, believing that she had the part, reportedly bought an old jalopy and moved to Bakersfield, California to live among the migrant workers in order to research the role.

Beulah Bondi was reportedly extremely disappointed at losing the role to Jane Darwell, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work.

Beulah Bondi made a guest appearance on Perry Mason in 1963 when she played the role of Sophia Stone in "The Case of the Nebulous Nephew".

Beulah Bondi made her final appearances as Martha Corinne Walton on The Waltons in the episodes "The Conflict" and "The Pony Cart".

Beulah Bondi received an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series for her performance in "The Pony Cart".

Beulah Bondi died from pulmonary complications caused by broken ribs suffered when she tripped over her cat in her home on January 11,1981, at age 92.

Beulah Bondi's remains were cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.