Gertrude Howard

Gertrude Howard (October 13, 1892 – September 30, 1934) was an American actress of the silent and early sound film eras.

Gertrude Howard
Born	(1892-10-13)October 13, 1892 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	September 30, 1934(1934-09-30) (aged 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1925–1934

Biography

Born in 1892, Howard broke into films in 1925, appearing in The Circus Cyclone, directed by Albert Rogell.[1] In 1927, she would play the wife of Uncle Tom in Uncle Tom's Cabin.[2] She appeared mostly in minor or supporting film roles, such as Queenie in the original version of Show Boat (1929),[3] and Martha in Christy Cabanne's Conspiracy.[4]

Her appearance as Beulah Thorndyke in I'm No Angel (1933), led to her being forever linked to Mae West with the famous line, "Beulah, peel me a grape".[5][6]

In Howard's short career she would appear in twenty-two films. That career was cut short by her untimely death in 1934 at the age of 41. Mae West helped raise funds for her funeral.[6]

Filmography

(Per AFI database)[7]

• The Circus Cyclone (1925) as Mrs. Jackson
• Easy Pickings (1927) as Mandy
• On Your Toes (1927) as Mammy
• South Sea Love (1927) as Moana
• Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927) as Aunt Chloe
• Hearts in Dixie (1929) as Emmy
• Show Boat (1929) as Queenie (uncredited)
• His Captive Woman (1929) as Lavoris Smythe
• Synthetic Sin (1929) as Cassie
• Conspiracy (1930) as Martha
• Guilty? (1930) as Lucy
• Father's Son (1931) as Dinah
• The Prodigal (1931) as Naomi
• Penrod and Sam (1931) as Delia - Schofield's Maid (uncredited)
• Consolation Marriage (1931) as Kate - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
• Secret Service (1931) as Martha Polk (uncredited)
• Strangers in Love (1932) as Snowball, Servant
• Forbidden Trail (1932) as Angelina
• I'm No Angel (1933) as Beulah
• The Fighting Code (1933) as Housekeeper Martha
• George White's Scandals (1934) as Black Woman (uncredited)
• Peck's Bad Boy (1934) as Martha the Maid
• Carolina (1934) as Minor Role (uncredited)

References

1. "The Circus Cyclone details". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
2. "Uncle Tom's Cabin details". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
3. "Show Boat details". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
4. "Conspiracy details". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
5. "I'm No Angel details". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
6. "Mae West: Beulah Thorndyke". Mae West BlogSpot. October 13, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
7. "Gertrude Howard profile". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2014.

External links

• Gertrude Howard on IMDb
• Gertrude Howard at the Internet Broadway Database