Mary Gordon

Mary Gordon

Acting
Born May 16, 1882
From Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Died Aug 23, 1963

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Gordon (born Mary Gilmour, 16 May 1882 – 23 August 1963) was a Scottish actress, long in the United States, who mainly played housekeepers and mothers, most notably the landlady Mrs. Hudson in the Sherlock Holmes series of movies of the 1940s starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Her body of work included nearly 300 films between 1925 and 1950. With her mother and daughter (both also named Mary), she arrived in Los Angeles in the mid-1920s and began playing variations on the roles she would spend her career on. She became friends with John Ford while making Hangman's House in 1928 and made seven more films with him. In 1939, she took on her best-remembered role as Sherlock Holmes' landlady and played the role in ten films and numerous radio plays. She was a charter member of the Hollywood Canteen, entertaining servicemen throughout the Second World War. On the radio show Those We Love, she played the regular role of Mrs. Emmett. She entered retirement just as television reshaped the entertainment industry, making only a single appearance in that medium. She was active in the Daughters of Scotia auxiliary of the Order of Scottish Clans. She lived out her final years in Pasadena, California with her daughter and grandson. She died at age 81 on 23 August 1963 in Pasadena, California after a long illness.

Known For

Filmography — Acting

Fort Apache
7.0
1948

Fort Apache

Ma (barmaid)

Bride of Frankenstein
7.5
1935

Bride of Frankenstein

Hans' Wife

The Invisible Man
7.5
1933

The Invisible Man

Screaming Woman (uncredited)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
7.8
1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Woman (uncredited)

Mutiny on the Bounty
7.4
1935

Mutiny on the Bounty

Peddler (uncredited)

Gateway
6.5
1938

Gateway

Scottish Mother

Dressed to Kill
6.6
1946

Dressed to Kill

Mrs. Hudson

The Hound of the Baskervilles
7.1
1939

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Mrs. Hudson

The Invisible Man Returns
6.3
1940

The Invisible Man Returns

Cookie (uncredited)

The Woman in Green
6.5
1945

The Woman in Green

Mrs. Hudson

Keep 'Em Slugging
5.5
1943

Keep 'Em Slugging

Mrs. Banning

After the Thin Man
7.3
1936

After the Thin Man

Rose (uncredited)

The Pride of the Yankees
7.4
1942

The Pride of the Yankees

Maid (uncredited)

Go West
6.5
1940

Go West

Train Passenger

Angels with Dirty Faces
7.5
1938

Angels with Dirty Faces

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
6.9
1939

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Mrs. Hudson

Blonde Venus
6.8
1932

Blonde Venus

Landlady (uncredited)

The Body Snatcher
7.0
1945

The Body Snatcher

Mary McBride (uncredited)

Hollywood Canteen
7.3
1944

Hollywood Canteen

Hostess (uncredited)

Design for Living
7.1
1933

Design for Living

Theatre Chambermaid (uncredited)

Mannequin
5.9
1938

Mannequin

Mrs. O'Rourke (Uncredited)

Kitty Foyle
6.5
1940

Kitty Foyle

Cleaning Lady (uncredited)

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
6.4
1942

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

Mrs. Hudson

Waterloo Bridge
6.9
1931

Waterloo Bridge

Distraught Woman on Stairway (uncredited)

Kidnapped
5.5
1948

Kidnapped

Scottish Woman (uncredited)

Pot o' Gold
5.5
1941

Pot o' Gold

Mom McCorkle

Gentleman Jim
7.1
1942

Gentleman Jim

Mrs. Casey (uncredited)

The Long Night
5.6
1947

The Long Night

Old Woman in Crowd (uncredited)

The Spider Woman
7.0
1943

The Spider Woman

Mrs. Hudson

Brother Orchid
6.6
1940

Brother Orchid

Mrs. Sweeney - Flo's Landlady (uncredited)

Manhattan Melodrama
7.0
1934

Manhattan Melodrama

Boat Passenger (uncredited)

Bonnie Scotland
6.6
1935

Bonnie Scotland

Mrs. Bickerdike

The File on Thelma Jordon
6.5
1949

The File on Thelma Jordon

Charwoman (uncredited)

Great Guy
6.2
1936

Great Guy

Mrs. Ogilvie

The Black Camel
6.1
1931

The Black Camel

Mrs. MacMasters

Mary of Scotland
6.2
1936

Mary of Scotland

Nurse

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
6.9
1943

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death

Mrs. Hudson

Sister Kenny
6.8
1946

Sister Kenny

Mrs. Gordon (uncredited)

The Kiss Before the Mirror
5.4
1933

The Kiss Before the Mirror

Scrubwoman (uncredited)

The Mummy's Tomb
5.5
1942

The Mummy's Tomb

Jane Banning

The Invisible Woman
5.7
1940

The Invisible Woman

Mrs. Bates

Little Giant
5.1
1946

Little Giant

Ma Miller

She Done Him Wrong
5.9
1933

She Done Him Wrong

Cleaning Lady (uncredited)

Sherlock Holmes in Washington
6.7
1943

Sherlock Holmes in Washington

Mrs. Hudson

Shadows Over Chinatown
6.0
1946

Shadows Over Chinatown

Mrs. Conover

Kitty
5.5
1945

Kitty

Nanny

Tail Spin
6.0
1939

Tail Spin

Mrs. Lee

The Hour Before the Dawn
5.5
1944

The Hour Before the Dawn

Annie

Texas Cyclone
4.2
1932

Texas Cyclone

Kate

It Started with Eve
7.2
1941

It Started with Eve

Mrs. O'Toole (uncredited)

You Can't Have Everything
5.7
1937

You Can't Have Everything

YWCA Scrub Woman (uncredited)

The Pearl of Death
7.0
1944

The Pearl of Death

Mrs. Hudson

Sweepings
5.1
1933

Sweepings

Mrs. Patrick O'Leary (Uncredited)

Waterfront Lady
4.0
1935

Waterfront Lady

Mrs. O'Flaherty

Mr. Soft Touch
6.8
1949

Mr. Soft Touch

Slatternly Woman Tenant (Uncredited)

Broadway Serenade
6.2
1939

Broadway Serenade

Annie (uncredited)

The Hoodlum Saint
5.2
1946

The Hoodlum Saint

Trina

Dynamite
6.4
1929

Dynamite

Neighbor at Store

Pack Up Your Troubles
6.7
1932

Pack Up Your Troubles

Mrs. MacTavish (uncredited)

Hell's Heroes
7.0
1929

Hell's Heroes

Choir Member (uncredited)

No, No, Nanette
6.0
1940

No, No, Nanette

Gertrude, the Cook

Appointment for Love
5.4
1941

Appointment for Love

Martha

Charlie Chan in London
6.8
1934

Charlie Chan in London

Prison Visitor (uncredited)

A Damsel in Distress
6.5
1937

A Damsel in Distress

Cook (uncredited)

Broadway Thru a Keyhole
5.7
1933

Broadway Thru a Keyhole

Cleaning Woman

The Great O'Malley
6.7
1937

The Great O'Malley

Mrs. O'Malley

The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
5.1
1942

The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

Mrs. Scott

Wild Girl
6.0
1932

Wild Girl

Washerwoman (uncredited)

Captain Eddie
7.0
1945

Captain Eddie

Mrs. Westrom

Possessed
7.0
1931

Possessed

Woman at Political Rally (uncredited)

Skyscraper Souls
5.2
1932

Skyscraper Souls

Charwoman

Captain Fury
5.2
1939

Captain Fury

Mrs. Bailey

Kidnapped
4.7
1938

Kidnapped

Mrs. MacDonald

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
2.0
1939

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

Mrs. O'Leary

Madame X
6.1
1929

Madame X

Nursemaid (uncredited)

Blond Cheat
6.0
1938

Blond Cheat

Maggie (uncredited)

Our Daily Bread
6.7
1934

Our Daily Bread

Community Woman in Cottage (uncredited)

Day-time Wife
5.9
1939

Day-time Wife

Scrubwoman

Double Wedding
6.4
1937

Double Wedding

Mrs. Keough

The Brat
5.2
1931

The Brat

Angry Wife in Night Court (uncredited)

Blue, White and Perfect
6.3
1942

Blue, White and Perfect

Mrs. Flaherty - Mike's Landlady (uncredited)

Divorce
5.0
1945

Divorce

Ellen

Baby Take a Bow
5.6
1934

Baby Take a Bow

Mrs. O'Brien (Uncredited)

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
6.5
1942

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror

Mrs. Hudson

Saps at Sea
6.8
1940

Saps at Sea

Mrs. O'Riley

When the Daltons Rode
6.0
1940

When the Daltons Rode

Ma Dalton

Pilgrimage
6.9
1933

Pilgrimage

Rulers of the Sea
6.5
1939

Rulers of the Sea

Mrs. Ogilvie (Uncredited)

The Invisible Wall
5.4
1947

The Invisible Wall

Mrs. Bledsoe

The Irish in Us
7.6
1935

The Irish in Us

Ma O'Hara

Vanessa: Her Love Story
6.0
1935

Vanessa: Her Love Story

Mrs. Leathwaite

Ginger
4.2
1935

Ginger

Mrs. Monahan (uncredited)

Murder at the Vanities
5.5
1934

Murder at the Vanities

Assistant Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)

Doctor Bull
6.5
1933

Doctor Bull

Townswoman at Meeting

Flight from Destiny
5.4
1941

Flight from Destiny

Martha

The Matinee Idol
6.4
1928

The Matinee Idol

Woman in Audience (uncredited)

Dr. Broadway
5.7
1942

Dr. Broadway

Broadway Carrie

Young People
4.7
1940

Young People

Old Woman

The Little Minister
5.5
1934

The Little Minister

Nanny

Strange Confession
6.8
1945

Strange Confession

Mrs. O'Connor

70,000 Witnesses
5.0
1932

70,000 Witnesses

Scrubwoman (uncredited)

Sentimental Journey
6.4
1946

Sentimental Journey

Agnes, the Cook (uncredited)

Bombay Clipper
5.5
1942

Bombay Clipper

Abigail 'Mag' MacPherson

The Impatient Maiden
10.0
1932

The Impatient Maiden

Irish Neighbor (uncredited)

Let Us Be Gay
3.6
1930

Let Us Be Gay

Mrs. McIntyre (uncredited)

Secrets of Scotland Yard
5.3
1944

Secrets of Scotland Yard

Libby, the Housekeeper

The Plot Thickens
5.8
1936

The Plot Thickens

Woman with Bag (uncredited)

Shamrock Hill
1.0
1949

Shamrock Hill

Grandma Rogan

The Woman Condemned
4.4
1934

The Woman Condemned

Crying Woman at Night Court (uncredited)

Racketeers of the Range
6.6
1939

Racketeers of the Range

Mary-Benson's Housekeeper

Song o' My Heart
4.1
1930

Song o' My Heart

Irish Woman

Unfinished Business
5.3
1941

Unfinished Business

Miss Brady

Tucson
6.0
1949

Tucson

Housemother (uncredited)

Queen of the Mob
5.2
1940

Queen of the Mob

Tenement Landlady

The Power and the Glory
5.7
1933

The Power and the Glory

Nurse (uncredited)

The World Changes
4.3
1933

The World Changes

Lady at Party (uncredited)

Beauty Parlor
5.0
1932

Beauty Parlor

Landlady

The Jones Family in Hollywood
1939

The Jones Family in Hollywood

Landlady (uncredited)

Her Husband Lies
5.5
1937

Her Husband Lies

Mrs. Jenks

You're Only Young Once
5.5
1937

You're Only Young Once

Mary's Mother (uncredited)

Public Deb No. 1
4.4
1940

Public Deb No. 1

Landlady

Vagabond Lady
7.2
1935

Vagabond Lady

Myrtle, Scrubwoman (uncredited)

Tear Gas Squad
4.9
1940

Tear Gas Squad

Mrs. Sullivan

One More River
4.6
1934

One More River

Cook (Uncredited)

Roses Are Red
5.5
1947

Roses Are Red

Cleaning Lady

Secret Command
6.5
1944

Secret Command

Mrs. McKenzie (uncredited)

Off the Record
6.0
1939

Off the Record

Mrs. Finnegan (uncredited)

She Married a Cop
5.7
1939

She Married a Cop

Ma Duffy

Subway Express
1931

Subway Express

Mrs. Delaney

Two Tickets to London
6.0
1943

Two Tickets to London

Mrs. Tinkle

Haunted Trails
1949

Haunted Trails

Aunt Libby

Ladies They Talk About
6.1
1933

Ladies They Talk About

Prisoner in Visiting Room (uncredited)

The Defense Rests
7.0
1934

The Defense Rests

Scrub Woman

A House Divided
4.8
1931

A House Divided

Townswoman (uncredited)

See My Lawyer
6.0
1945

See My Lawyer

Mrs. Fillmore

My Son, My Son!
4.0
1940

My Son, My Son!

Mrs. Mulvaney

Lady Behave!
4.5
1937

Lady Behave!

Cook

My Woman
3.6
1933

My Woman

Woman at Ironing Board (Uncredited)

It Happened in Flatbush
4.8
1942

It Happened in Flatbush

Mrs. Collins

The Judge Steps Out
7.0
1947

The Judge Steps Out

Annie (Scrub Woman) (uncredited)

Code of the Streets
7.0
1939

Code of the Streets

Mrs. Flaherty

Call Her Savage
5.7
1932

Call Her Savage

Lady in Tenement (Uncredited)

Meet the Stewarts
4.3
1942

Meet the Stewarts

Mrs. Stewart

Follow the Leader
2.7
1944

Follow the Leader

Borrowed Hero
4.0
1941

Borrowed Hero

Mrs. Riley

Fly By Night
6.4
1942

Fly By Night

Ma Prescott

Wings of the Navy
6.0
1939

Wings of the Navy

Irene's Housekeeper

Dancers in the Dark
4.8
1932

Dancers in the Dark

Scrubwoman

Tell No Tales
4.6
1939

Tell No Tales

Mrs. Bryant (uncredited)

I Take This Oath
4.3
1940

I Take This Oath

Mrs. Eileen Hanagan

The Loudspeaker
1934

The Loudspeaker

Landlady

Powder Town
3.5
1942

Powder Town

Mrs. Douglas

Million Dollar Kid
5.8
1944

Million Dollar Kid

Mrs. McGinnis

The Trial of Vivienne Ware
1932

The Trial of Vivienne Ware

Court Matron (uncredited)

Change of Heart
6.2
1934

Change of Heart

Woman in Street (uncredited)

Stage Struck
4.0
1936

Stage Struck

Mrs. Cassidy

24 Hours
5.5
1931

24 Hours

Nurse

The Escape
5.5
1939

The Escape

Neighbor

Beloved
1934

Beloved

Mrs. O'Leary

Angels' Alley
4.0
1948

Angels' Alley

Mrs. Mamie Mahoney

The Plough and the Stars
5.8
1936

The Plough and the Stars

Woman at Barricades

Cross Streets
5.8
1934

Cross Streets

Sonny's Mother

Campus Confessions
4.2
1938

Campus Confessions

Mrs. Twill

Hangman's House
6.6
1928

Hangman's House

The Woman at Hogan's Hideout

Exposed
5.8
1947

Exposed

Housekeeper

The Whirlwind
1933

The Whirlwind

Mrs. Curtis

Meet the Baron
4.2
1933

Meet the Baron

Washer Woman (uncredited)

The Racket Man
7.0
1944

The Racket Man

Mom Benson

Forgotten Faces
1.0
1936

Forgotten Faces

Mrs. O'Leary

When the Wind Blows
6.2
1930

When the Wind Blows

Chubby's Mother (uncredited)

$10 Raise
8.0
1935

$10 Raise

Landlady (uncredited)

Law of the Badlands
1945

Law of the Badlands

The Dark Horse
1946

The Dark Horse

Mrs. Mahoney

Deputy Marshal
5.6
1949

Deputy Marshal

Mrs. Lance

Whom the Gods Destroy
5.5
1934

Whom the Gods Destroy

Newfoundlander

Nature in the Wrong
1933

Nature in the Wrong

Mrs. Clancy

The Marshal Of Mesa City
8.0
1939

The Marshal Of Mesa City

Mrs. Dudley

Women Without Names
4.1
1940

Women Without Names

Juror

City Streets
1938

City Streets

Mrs. Devlin

The Last Ride
6.2
1944

The Last Ride

Mrs. Mary Kelly

Smart Guy
5.0
1943

Smart Guy

Maggie

The Lady Consents
5.8
1936

The Lady Consents

Apple Lady

Radio Patrol
1932

Radio Patrol

Landlady (uncredited)

The Saturday Night Kid
4.4
1929

The Saturday Night Kid

Reducing customer (uncredited)

Sealed Lips
5.8
1942

Sealed Lips

Mrs. Ann Morton (Fred's mother)

The White Angel
7.2
1936

The White Angel

Nursing Applicant (uncredited)

The Expert
6.3
1932

The Expert

Neighbor

Friend Indeed
4.0
1937

Friend Indeed

Housekeeper

The Man from Hell
4.5
1934

The Man from Hell

Mrs. Frank McCarrol

The Strange Mrs. Crane
6.0
1948

The Strange Mrs. Crane

Nora

Black Paradise
3.7
1926

Black Paradise

Mrs. Murphy

The Home Maker
1925

The Home Maker

Mrs. Hennessy

1930

His Honor the Mayor

His Wife

1930

The Ghosts

Chubby's Mama

The Story That Couldn't Be Printed
4.0
1939

The Story That Couldn't Be Printed

Woman Reading Newspaper (uncredited)

Oh, for a Man!
5.7
1930

Oh, for a Man!

Stage Door Admirer with Violets

1941

Riot Squad

Mrs. McGonigle

The Last Alarm
4.3
1940

The Last Alarm

Mrs. Hadley

1.0
1943

Here Comes Kelly

Mrs. Kelly

Whispering Footsteps
5.0
1943

Whispering Footsteps

Ma Murphy

The Ol' Gray Hoss
6.0
1928

The Ol' Gray Hoss

First taxi passenger

Half Way to Shanghai
4.5
1942

Half Way to Shanghai

Mrs. McIntyre

Anybody's Woman
5.9
1930

Anybody's Woman

Maid

Double Cross
4.8
1941

Double Cross

Mrs. Murray

West of Wyoming
6.0
1950

West of Wyoming

Nora Jones

In Fast Company
6.3
1946

In Fast Company

Mrs. Cassidy

The Night of Nights
1939

The Night of Nights

1nd Pencil Woman (uncredited)

Is Everybody Happy?
1929

Is Everybody Happy?

Neighbor (uncredited)

Highway 13
5.6
1948

Highway 13

Aunt Myrt Lacy

Clues to Adventure
6.0
1949

Clues to Adventure

Woman Reading Newspaper (archive footage) (uncredited)

Roaring Ranch
1930

Roaring Ranch

Mrs. O'Riley (uncredited)

1925

Tessie

Aunt Maggie

Laughing Irish Eyes
1936

Laughing Irish Eyes

Mrs. O'Keefe

Meet the Boy Friend
5.2
1937

Meet the Boy Friend

Mrs. Grimes

Men Must Fight
5.7
1933

Men Must Fight

Pacifist Audience Member

Little Miss Nobody
6.0
1936

Little Miss Nobody

Mrs. Biddle

Big Town Scandal
5.0
1948

Big Town Scandal

Mary - Cleaning Woman (uncredited)

Sarong Girl
1943

Sarong Girl

Mattie

Naughty Nanette
1927

Naughty Nanette

Mrs. Rooney

One Man Justice
6.0
1937

One Man Justice

Bridget

Nobody's Children
1940

Nobody's Children

Mary

The People vs. Nancy Preston
1925

The People vs. Nancy Preston

Mrs. Tifft

Share the Wealth
3.0
1936

Share the Wealth

Ma MacClyde

Clancy's Kosher Wedding
1927

Clancy's Kosher Wedding

Molly Clancy