Effie Ellsler was an American actress, best known for her roles in Daddy Long Legs, The Actress, and The Lady of Scandal. Born on September 17, 1855, in Cleveland, Ohio, she had a significant influence on American theater through her performances.
Personal and Family Life
Effie Ellsler was married to Frank Weston from May 25, 1881, until his passing on January 28, 1922. Upon learning of her husband’s death, she chose to continue performing that evening due to a lack of an understudy. She was the daughter of John Ellsler, a well-respected stage actor and manager, and Euphemia Murray, who famously played Portia opposite Edwin Booth’s Shylock. Effie began acting in Shakespearean roles with her father’s company at the age of sixteen and became a prominent figure on Broadway starting in 1901.
Death and Legacy
Effie Ellsler passed away on October 8, 1942, in Hollywood, California, due to a heart attack. Throughout her career, she was known for her dedication to theater and broke records on Broadway with 480 performances in one show. Her contributions to performing arts have left a lasting impact on generations of actors.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Woman Trap | 1929-09-28 | Mrs. Malone |
| Daddy Long Legs | 1931-06-05 | Mrs. Semple |
| We’re Only Human | 1935-12-27 | Grandma Anderson |
| The Lady of Scandal | 1930-05-24 | Lady Minster |
| Up Pops the Devil | 1931-05-19 | Mrs. Platt |
| Old Ironsides | 1926-12-06 | Esther’s Mother |
| Hold That Girl | 1934-03-23 | Grandmother |
| The Girl in 419 | 1933-05-26 | Mrs. Young |
| Doctor Bull | 1933-09-22 | Aunt Myra Bull |
| Song o’ My Heart | 1930-03-11 | Mona |
| What Price Hollywood? | 1932-06-24 | Elderly Brown Derby Diner (uncredited) |
| The Front Page | 1931-04-04 | Mrs. Grant |
| Camille | 1936-12-26 | Grandma Duval (uncredited) |
| Drift Fence | 1936-02-14 | Granny Dunn |
| The Actress | 1928-04-27 | Mrs. Mossop |
| If I Had a Million | 1932-11-18 | Mrs. Scott – Idylwood Resident (uncredited) |
| The Chief | 1933-11-03 | Ma Summers |