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Claire McDowell

Actor

Claire McDowell

Born October 31, 1877 in New York City, New York, USADied October 23, 1966253 films

Claire McDowell (2 November 1877 – 23 October 1966) was an American actress. She appeared in 360 films between 1908 and 1945.

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Still somewhat of a youthful beauty when she started in early silent films, McDowell appeared in numerous films, eventually graduating to playing character and mother types. She can be seen to good advantage in Douglas Fairbanks's 1920 The Mark of Zorro. McDowell appeared in two of the biggest films of the silent era, The Big Parade (1925) and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925), both in which she played mothers.

She was married to silent screen character actor Charles Hill Mailes from 1906 to his 1937 death. The couple appeared in numerous silent films together, including The Mark of Zorro. They had two sons, Robert Mailes and Eugene Mailes.

Claire McDowell died, aged 88, in Hollywood, California.

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The best way into Claire McDowell's work
It Happened One Night posterFirst watchIt Happened One Night19347.8as Mother on Bus (uncredited)A runaway heiress makes a deal with the rogue reporter trailing her but the mismatched pair end up stuck with each other when their bus leaves them behind.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Big Parade poster7.6The Big Parade1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ poster7.3Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925Hangmen Also Die! poster6.9Hangmen Also Die!1943Boys Town poster6.8Boys Town1938The Mark of Zorro poster7.2The Mark of Zorro1920Imitation of Life poster7.0Imitation of Life1934This Land Is Mine poster7.1This Land Is Mine1943Test Pilot poster6.1Test Pilot1938

Filmography

253 films as actor
  1. 1945AdventureWoman in Library (uncredited)
  2. 1944Andy Hardy's Blonde TroubleDr. Standish's Servant (uncredited)
  3. 1944Men on Her MindMother Goodwin
  4. 1943Du Barry Was a LadySubway Passenger (uncredited)
  5. 1943This Land Is MineWoman in Bathroom
  6. 1943Presenting Lily MarsDowager
  7. 1943Keeper of the Flame
  8. 1943Hangmen Also Die!Counterwoman (uncredited)
  9. 1941Lady ScarfaceMrs. Tuckerman
  10. 1941WhispersGossip (uncredited)
  11. 1940Dr. Kildare Goes HomeNurse for Mr. Winslow (uncredited)
  12. 1940The Golden FleecingPedestrian (uncredited)
  13. 1940A Failure at FiftyMinor Role (uncredited)
  14. 1940Young Tom EdisonWoman at Station
  15. 1939Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the PresidentGossiper
  16. 1939Thunder AfloatNurse (uncredited)
  17. 1939One Against the WorldJane Todd Crawford (uncredited)
  18. 1939Miracles for SaleJack of Diamonds Woman
  19. 1939Angel of MercyMother (uncredited)
  20. 1939Idiot's DelightCrying Mother
  21. 1939Stand Up and FightWoman
  22. 1938Boys TownNun (uncredited)
  23. 1938The Man on the RockNapoleon's Mother (uncredited)
  24. 1938They're Always CaughtMrs. Fletcher (uncredited)
  25. 1938Three ComradesLandlady Frau Zalewski (uncredited)
  26. 1938Test PilotFuneral Home Associate (uncredited)
  27. 1937A Night at the MoviesMovie Patron (uncredited)
  28. 1937Two-Fisted SheriffMiss Herrick - Molly's Aunt
  29. 1937Song of RevoltArtistocratic Dowager (uncredited)
  30. 1936Small Town GirlWoman in Bed (uncredited)
  31. 1936August Week EndAlma Washburne
  32. 1935Murder by TelevisionMrs. Houghland
  33. 1934Imitation of LifeTeacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
  34. 1934Two Heads on a PillowMrs. Helen Gorman
  35. 1934British AgentWoman Saying 'Lenin will Live' (uncredited)
  36. 1934Dr. MonicaMiss Bryerly (uncredited)
  37. 1934Journal of a CrimeSister at Hospital (uncredited)
  38. 1934It Happened One NightMother on Bus (uncredited)
  39. 1934BedsideNurse
  40. 1933Wild Boys of the RoadMrs. Smith
  41. 1933By Appointment OnlyMrs. Mary Carroll
  42. 1933The Working ManBenjamin's Secretary
  43. 1933Central AirportMrs. Blaine
  44. 1932Lawyer ManGilmurry's Secretary (uncredited)
  45. 1932A Successful CalamityStruthers' Secretary (uncredited)
  46. 1932The Phantom ExpressMa Nolan
  47. 1932CorneredJane's Aunt
  48. 1932The Strange Love of Molly LouvainAnn Marie's Caregiver Mrs. Schiller (uncredited)
  49. 1932The Famous Ferguson CaseBrooks' Landlady (uncredited)
  50. 1932Union DepotLittle Boy's Mother (uncredited)
  51. 1932Under EighteenSeamstress (uncredited)
  52. 1931Manhattan ParadeNancy - the Maid
  53. 1931An American TragedyMrs. Samuel Griffiths
  54. 1930Mothers CryMary's Mother
  55. 1930BrothersBess Naughton
  56. 1930Wild CompanyMrs. Laura Grayson
  57. 1930The Big HouseMrs. Marlowe
  58. 1930Young DesireMrs. Spencer
  59. 1930The Second Floor MysteryAunt Hattie
  60. 1930RedemptionAnna Pavlovna
  61. 1929The QuitterMrs. Abbott
  62. 1929Silks and SaddlesMrs. Calhoun
  63. 1929The Flying FleetMrs. Hastings (uncredited)
  64. 1929When Dreams Come TrueMartha Shelby
  65. 1928Marriage by ContractMother
  66. 1928The VikingLady Editha (as Claire MacDowell)
  67. 19284 DevilsWoman
  68. 1928Don't MarryAunt Abigail Bowen
  69. 1928The Tragedy of YouthMother
  70. 1927Almost HumanMrs. Livingston
  71. 1927The Shield of HonorMrs. MacDowell
  72. 1927Winds of the PampasDoña Maria Casandos
  73. 1927Tillie the ToilerMa Jones
  74. 1927The Black Diamond ExpressMartha Foster
  75. 1927The Taxi DancerAunt Mary
  76. 1927The AuctioneerMrs. Tim Eagan
  77. 1927A Little JourneyAunt Louise
  78. 1926The Flaming ForestMrs. McTavish
  79. 1926The Show OffMom Fisher
  80. 1926The Unknown SoldierJohn Phillips' sister
  81. 1926The Shamrock HandicapMolly O'Shea
  82. 1926The Dixie MerchantJosephine Fippany
  83. 1926The Devil's CircusMrs. Peterson
  84. 1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the ChristPrincess of Hur
  85. 1925The Midnight FlyerLiza Slater
  86. 1925The Big ParadeMrs. Apperson
  87. 1925The Tower of LiesKatrina
  88. 1925Dollar DownMrs. Meadows
  89. 1925The End of the WorldMrs. Joyce
  90. 1925The End of the WorldMrs. Joyce
  91. 1925Waking Up the TownMrs. Joyce
  92. 1925The Reckless SexConcha
  93. 1924Those Who DareMrs. Rollins
  94. 1924SecretsElizabeth Channing
  95. 1924Thy Name Is WomanJuan's Mother
  96. 1924Judgment of the StormMrs. Heath
  97. 1923Black OxenAgnes Trevor
  98. 1923Enemies of ChildrenGodfrey sister
  99. 1923PonjolaMrs. Hope
  100. 1923Ashes of VengeanceMargot's Aunt
  101. 1923Circus DaysMartha
  102. 1923Human WreckageMrs. Brown
  103. 1923Michael O'HalloranNancy Harding
  104. 1923The West~Bound LimitedMrs. Bill Buckley
  105. 1922Quincy Adams SawyerMrs. Putnam
  106. 1922Heart's HavenMay Caroline
  107. 1922Nice PeopleMargaret Rainsford
  108. 1922The Ragged HeiressSylvia Moreton
  109. 1922PenrodMrs. Schofield
  110. 1922Rent FreeCountess de Mourney
  111. 1921Love Never DiesLiz Trott
  112. 1921WealthMrs. Dominick
  113. 1921Mother o' MineMrs. Sheldon
  114. 1921What Every Woman KnowsComtesse de la Brière
  115. 1921Midsummer MadnessMrs. Osborne
  116. 1921Prisoners of LoveHer Mother
  117. 1920The Mark of ZorroDona Catalina Pulido
  118. 1920Something to Think AboutHousekeeper
  119. 1920The Jack-Knife ManLize Merdin
  120. 1920Through Eyes of MenMrs. Virginia All