Clara Blandick
Actor
About Clara Blandick
Clara Blandick was a highly respected American character actress whose career spanned the transition from the Victorian stage to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born on a ship anchored in Hong Kong harbor, she began her professional acting career in the late 1890s, eventually becoming a prominent leading lady on Broadway in productions like 'Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.' While she appeared in a few silent films, her cinematic career truly flourished with the advent of talkies, where her refined voice and maternal presence made her a staple at major studios like MGM. She specialized in playing aunts, mothers, and grandmothers, often portraying characters who were either sternly moralistic or deeply compassionate. Her most enduring contribution to film history came in 1939 when she was cast as Aunt Em in 'The Wizard of Oz,' a role that immortalized her image for generations of viewers. Despite a prolific career featuring over 100 film credits, her later years were marked by failing health and severe arthritis, leading to her tragic death by suicide in 1962.
The Craft
On Screen
Blandick was known for a grounded, naturalistic acting style that favored subtlety over the theatrical histrionics common in the early silent era. She possessed a remarkable ability to convey warmth and domestic stability, which made her the quintessential 'Aunt' figure in Hollywood. Her stage training provided her with impeccable diction and a commanding yet gentle vocal presence that served her well in the early sound era. She often used small physical gestures—the smoothing of an apron or a steady gaze—to establish the moral center of a scene.
Milestones
- Established herself as a Broadway star in the early 1900s
- Successfully transitioned to sound films in 1930 with 'Romance'
- Cast as Aunt Em in the cinematic masterpiece 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)
- Maintained a steady career as one of Hollywood's most reliable character actresses for two decades
- Appeared in the classic 1937 version of 'A Star Is Born'
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Accolades
Won
- Posthumous recognition for her contribution to the 'The Wizard of Oz' ensemble
Special Recognition
- Recognized as a pioneer of the early American stage by the Actors' Equity Association
- Inducted into the 'Wizard of Oz' Hall of Fame
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Clara Blandick's portrayal of Aunt Em in 'The Wizard of Oz' created the definitive cinematic archetype of the American farm woman—resilient, hardworking, and the emotional anchor of the family. Her performance provided the necessary grounded reality in Kansas that made the fantasy of Oz feel earned and impactful. Beyond Oz, she represented a generation of stage-trained actors who brought dignity and professional polish to the 'character actor' roles that populated the Golden Age of Hollywood. She remains a symbol of the reliable, unsung professionals who formed the backbone of the studio system.
Lasting Legacy
Blandick's legacy is inextricably linked to the most-watched film in history, 'The Wizard of Oz.' While she appeared in over 100 films, her face is recognized by billions as the woman who gave Dorothy Gale a home to return to. In film history circles, she is remembered as a versatile performer who could transition seamlessly between high drama and light comedy. Her tragic end also serves as a poignant reminder of the personal struggles faced by aging stars of the studio era.
Who They Inspired
She influenced the 'matriarch' archetype in Hollywood, setting a standard for how older women were portrayed as pillars of strength rather than just background figures. Many subsequent character actresses studied her economy of movement and vocal clarity.
Off Screen
Clara Blandick was the daughter of Isaac B. Vick and Hattie S. Blanchard. She was married to Harry Stephen Lewis on December 7, 1905, in Manhattan, but the marriage was relatively brief and they eventually divorced; they had no children. For much of her life in Hollywood, she lived a quiet, dignified existence at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. In her final years, she suffered from failing eyesight and debilitating arthritis, which eventually led her to take her own life at the age of 85.
Education
Educated in Boston and later trained in repertory theater companies across the United States.
Family
- Harry Stephen Lewis (1905-1912)
Did You Know?
- She was born on a ship in Hong Kong harbor while her father was captaining the vessel.
- She beat out over 70 other actresses for the role of Aunt Em in 'The Wizard of Oz'.
- She was paid $750 per week for her work on 'The Wizard of Oz', which was a substantial sum for a character actress at the time.
- On the morning of her death, she dressed in her finest royal blue gown, arranged her room with flowers and memorabilia, and left a carefully written suicide note.
- She was a descendant of Mayflower passengers on both sides of her family.
- She was known as 'The Little Princess' of the stage during her early years in stock theater.
- Despite her 'grandmotherly' screen image, she was known in private life for being highly intellectual and well-traveled.
- She retired from acting in 1951 after her final film, 'Love Nest'.
In Their Own Words
Dorothy, what's all this I hear? (As Aunt Em in 'The Wizard of Oz', establishing the character's no-nonsense attitude)
I am now about to make the great adventure. (From her final suicide note, 1962)
I've done my best, and I'm tired. (Context: Reflecting on her long career in her final years)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Clara Blandick?
Clara Blandick was a prolific American stage and film actress best known for her roles as maternal figures in Hollywood's Golden Age. She is most famous for playing Aunt Em in the 1939 classic 'The Wizard of Oz'.
What films is Clara Blandick best known for?
She is best known for 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939), 'A Star Is Born' (1937), 'Tom Sawyer' (1930), and 'Drums Along the Mohawk' (1939).
When was Clara Blandick born and when did she die?
She was born on June 4, 1876, in Hong Kong and died on April 15, 1962, in Hollywood, California.
What awards did Clara Blandick win?
While she did not win major individual competitive awards like an Oscar, she was part of several films that won Academy Awards and has been honored posthumously for her iconic contribution to 'The Wizard of Oz'.
What was Clara Blandick's acting style?
She was known for a disciplined, naturalistic style rooted in her extensive Broadway experience. She excelled at portraying 'salt-of-the-earth' characters with a mix of stern authority and underlying kindness.
How did Clara Blandick die?
Facing blindness and severe physical pain from arthritis, she committed suicide in 1962 at the age of 85, leaving behind a meticulously arranged room and a farewell note.
Learn More
Films
2 films
