ELSA LANCHESTER

October 28, 1902

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester was born in Lewisham, London.

She studied dance in Paris under Isadora Duncan, whom she disliked. When the school was discontinued due to the start of the World War I, she returned to the UK. 

“My parents were always a bit arty. They were ‘advanced’. They supported pacifism, vegetarianism, socialism, atheism and all that.” ~ Elsa Lanchester

Her cabaret and nightclub appearances led to more serious stage work and it was then that Lanchester first met actor Charles Laughton. They were married two years later and continued to act together from time to time, both on stage and screen. Lanchester made her film debut in The Scarlet Woman (1925) alongside author Evelyn Waugh.  

She was nominated for Academy Awards for Come To The Stable (1949) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Her most memorable role, however, was as Mary Shelley and the Monster’s Bride in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), a sequel to James Whale’s Frankenstein (1931).  Later in her career she starred in popular comedies like Murder By Death (1976) and musicals like Mary Poppins (1964), among others.

 Lanchester made her television debut in “Music and Mrs. Pratt” in October 1953, a production of the “Studio One” anthology series. Lanchester played Mrs. Pratt. 

In April 1955, she did a television version of the 1936 play and 1937 film “Stage Door”, which featured Lucille Ball. It was part of “The Best of Broadway” anthology series. Lanchester played Mrs. Orcutt. 

“Stardom is all hard work, aspirins and purgatives.” ~ Elsa Lanchester  

Lucy fans recognize Lanchester as Edna Grundy, the eccentric woman that Lucy and Ethel share a ride with in “Off To Florida” (ILL S6;E6). The girls think Grundy may be an escaped hatchet murderess and vice versa!  Grundy drives off and leaves Lucy and Ethel stranded. 

The Oscar-nominated actress received $2,000 for appearing in the episode, just $500 less than she was paid for The Bride of Frankenstein twenty years earlier. In “Lucy Writes a Play” (S1;E17), Ricky jokes that Ethel looks like the Bride of Frankenstein in her Spanish mantilla.

Eighteen years later, Lanchester once again worked with Lucille Ball, this time playing ex-con Mumsie Westcott on a 1973 episode of “Here’s Lucy” “Lucy Goes to Prison” (HL S5;E18). Westcott was the surname of the “Here’s Lucy” props master. 

Mumsie is an imprisoned bank robber who has hidden $300,000 but the police don’t know where. The undercover prisoner will receive a reward if they help find the stolen loot and the Unique Employment Agency will get 15% of that fee. The prisoner (Lucy) will receive $400 a week while in the clink, no matter what the outcome. Naturally, Lucy volunteers for the assignment.  

Lanchester draws on her early days in the British music hall, singing snatches of songs and little dances, to create this odd, gin-guzzling lady criminal. 

Lanchester’s final screen appearance was in 1980 comedy Die Laughing starring Robby Benson. 

Her husband, Charles Laughton, died in 1962. Lanchester talked about her open (and child-less) marriage: 

“We both needed other company. I met his young men, and I had a young man around and Charles didn’t even argue.”

Elsa Lanchester died on Boxing Day 1986.