Zeffie Tilbury

Zeffie Agnes Lydia Tilbury (20 November 1863 – 24 July 1950) was an English-American actress.

Early years Born in Paddington, Middlesex, England, Tilbury was the only child of the variety performer Lydia Thompson and John Christian Tilbury, a riding-master and "fashionable 'man about town'" from a comfortably wealthy background, his grandfather, of the Tilbury family firm of London coachbuilders, having created the Tilbury carriage. Her father died aged 26 in 1864; having borrowed an inexperienced horse, "All Fours", to participate in the South Essex Steeplechase at Brentwood, Essex, he was crushed by the horse when it failed to clear a fence and rolled on him. Although he didn't appear badly injured, his skull was fractured and he had suffered severe internal injuries, which caused his death the next day.

Career

Tilbury was known first on the London stage and on Broadway in New York City. In 1881, she debuted on stage in Nine Points of the Law at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, England. and later to L.E. Woodthorpe in 1904, who died on 8 April 1915.

In 1899 Zeffie had a painful accident:

Death She died in Los Angeles, California in 1950 at the age of 86.

Stage performances This list was created from a search of advertisements and reviews in British newspapers.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1917 Blind Man's Luck Mrs. Guerton 1919 The Avalanche Mrs. Ruyler Lost filmA Society Exile Mrs. Stanley Shelby Lost film1920 Mothers of Men Mrs. De La Motte Clothes Mrs. Cathcart Lost film 1921 The Marriage of William Ashe Lady Tranmore Big Game Camille Prudence 1924 Another Scandal Brownie Lost film 1927 The Night of Love Lady in Waiting Uncredited1929 The Single Standard Mrs. Handley 1930 The Ship from Shanghai Lady Daley 1931 Charlie Chan Carries OnMrs. Luce Lost film1933 Made on Broadway Aunt Ada UncreditedBlind Adventure Uncredited1934 Two Alone Rogers' Neighbor UncreditedMystery Liner Granny Plimpton Bachelor Bait Miss Turner Uncredited1935 Women Must Dress Peg Martin The Mystery of Edwin Drood The Opium Woman Werewolf of London Mrs. Moncaster Public Hero No. 1 Deaf Woman in Scottsdale Bar UncreditedStranded Old Hag UncreditedThe Farmer Takes a Wife Old Townswoman UncreditedAlice Adams Mrs. Dresser UncreditedNavy Wife Bridge Player UncreditedThe Last Days of Pompeii The Wise Woman Bad Boy Deaf Woman Uncredited1936 The Bohemian Girl Gypsy Queen Desire Aunt Olga Second Childhood Grandma ShortParole! Molly Smith UncreditedThe White Angel Woman Donating Sheets UncreditedAnthony Adverse Old Woman at Chalet UncreditedThe Gorgeous Hussy Mrs. Daniel Beall Give Me Your Heart Esther Warren Old Hutch Elderly Woman in Bank UncreditedCamille Old Duchess Bidding 3750 Francs UncreditedAfter the Thin Man Aunt Lucy Uncredited1937 Under Cover of Night Mrs. Nash Bulldog Drummond Escapes Jail Cell Drunk UncreditedMaid of Salem Goody Rogers Midnight Taxi Mrs. Lane UncreditedParnell Old Lady UncreditedRhythm in the Clouds Maggie Conway - the Duchess de Lovely HideawayMrs. Beamish Uncredited Fit for a King Duchess Louise - Reception Guest UncreditedBulldog Drummond Comes Back Effie It Happened in Hollywood Miss Gordon Federal Bullets Mrs. Crippen 1938 Bulldog Drummond's PerilMrs. Weevens Kidnapped Old Woman UncreditedHunted Men Flower Woman UncreditedWoman Against Woman Grandma Marie Antoinette Dowager at Birth of Dauphin UncreditedBlock-Heads Dowager Seated Near Stairs (scenes deleted)Arrest Bulldog Drummond Aunt Meg 1939 Boy Trouble Mrs. Jepson The Story of Alexander Graham Bell Mrs. Sanders Tell No Tales Miss Mary Lady of the Tropics Woman Congratulating Manon UncreditedBalalaika Princess Natalya Petrovna 1940 Emergency Squad Mrs. Cobb UncreditedThe Earl of Chicago Miss Nana UncreditedThe Grapes of Wrath Grandma Joad Comin' Round the Mountain Granny Stokes She Couldn't Say No Ma Hawkins 1941 Tobacco Road Grandma Lester Sheriff of Tombstone Granny Carson 1942 Flying with Music Fortune Teller Uncredited, (final film role)