Mary Nash

Mary Nash (born Mary Honora Ryan; August 15, 1884 – December 3, 1976) was an American actress.

Early life Mary and her younger sister, author/actress Florence, were born to James H. Ryan, a lawyer, and his wife, Ellen Frances (née McNamara). The sisters adopted the surname of their stepfather, Philip F. Nash, a vaudeville booking executive, who married their mother after the death of their father. Fortuitously, the name change would avoid conflict with actress Mary Ryan, who achieved Broadway popularity before Nash. Nash attended the Convent of St. Anne in Montreal and trained for acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In the 1940 film Gold Rush Maisie, she played the patient, forbearing wife and mother of a family - forced by the Dust Bowl and Depression to abandon their farm in Arkansas - who spent five years traveling through the country in search of seasonal work.

Nash may be best known for playing villains in two Shirley Temple films, first as Fraulein Rottenmeier in Heidi (1937) and then as Miss Minchin in The Little Princess (1939). She played Katharine Hepburn's socialite mother in the movie version of The Philadelphia Story (1940). She played a supporting role in the 1936 Academy Award-winning film Come and Get It and had a featured role in the 1944 film In the Meantime, Darling.

Personal life On October 19, 1918, she wed the French-born actor and director José Ruben (1884–1969). They divorced sometime after 1923, when they were still living together with Florence Nash.

Death Nash died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home on December 3, 1976. She was 92. She is interred at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, NY.

Filmography Year Film Role Director Notes 1915 The Unbroken Road Constance Turner Tides of Time Mary Martin (in the Five Ages of Woman) Short 1916 Arms and the Woman Rozika George Fitzmaurice 1934 Uncertain Lady Edith Hayes Karl Freund 1935 College Scandal Mrs. Fresnel Elliott Nugent 1936 Come and Get It Emma Louise William Wyler 1937 The King and the Chorus Girl Duchess Anna of Elberfield Mervyn LeRoy Easy Living Mrs. Ball Mitchell Leisen Heidi Fraulein Rottenmeier Allan Dwan Wells Fargo Mrs. Pryor Frank Lloyd 1939 The Little Princess Amanda Minchin Walter Lang The Rains Came Miss Mac Daid Clarence Brown 1940 Charlie Chan in Panama Miss Jennie Finch Norman Foster Sailor's Lady Miss Purvis Allan Dwan Gold Rush Maisie Sarah Davis Norman Taurog The Philadelphia Story Margaret Lord George Cukor 1941 Men of Boys Town Mrs. Maitland Norman Taurog 1942 Calling Dr. Gillespie Emma Hope Harold S. Bucquet 1943 The Human Comedy Miss Hicks Clarence Brown 1944 The Lady and the Monster Mrs. Fame - the housekeeper George Sherman Cobra Woman Queen Robert Siodmak In the Meantime, Darling Mrs. Vera Preston Otto Preminger 1945 Yolanda and the Thief Duenna Vincente Minnelli 1946 Monsieur Beaucaire The Duenna George Marshall Till the Clouds Roll By Mrs. Muller Richard Whorf Swell Guy Sarah Duncan Frank Tuttle Final film role