Jane Darwell

Birth Name:

Patti Mary Woodward

Birth Place:

Palmyra, Missouri, United States

Profession

Actress, Soundtrack

Made her screen acting debut in the short film "The Capture of Aguinaldo" in 1913
Took voice, piano, and dramatics lessons before she began acting professionally on stages in Chicago
Appeared in classic films like "Gone with the Wind," in which she played Mrs․ Merriwether, and "Mary Poppins," in which she played The Bird Woman
Appeared in more than 200 films and TV series over the course of her 50-year career
Best known for her role as Ma Joad in the 1940 film adaptation of "The Grapes of Wrath․"
Appeared as a grandmother or housekeeper in a number of Shirley Temple films
Changed her name to Jane Darwell when she made the decision to become an opera singer, since her father didn't approve and didn't want her to "sully the family name․"
Was a guest star on "Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town" in 1951

Fast Facts