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Hope Emerson (October 29, 1897 - April 25, 1960) was an American actress.

Early life

Emerson was born in Hawarden, Iowa. Following her graduation from West High School in Des Moines in 1916, she moved to New York City where she performed in vaudeville.

Career

Emerson made her Broadway debut in Lysistrata in 1930. She made her film debut in Smiling Faces (1932) but then returned to theater work. In the 1940s, Emerson was well known as the voice of Elsie the Cow in Borden Milk commercials on radio.

Towering 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and weighing 240 pounds (109 kg), Emerson was a force in both film and theater. She returned to Hollywood in 1946 and appeared in character parts in films such as Roseanna McCoy. Among her most memorable roles was as a circus strongwoman testifying in court in Adam's Rib (1949), a malevolant nurse in Cry of the City and a mail-order bride in Westward the Women (1952). Her most famous role, as sadistic prison matron Evelyn Harper, in Caged (1950) garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She also did television work and had a regular role in Peter Gunn (1958, for which she received an Emmy nomination) and The Dennis O'Keefe Show (1959).

Death

Emerson died of liver disease aged 62 in Hollywood, California. She was interred in Grace Hill Cemetery in her hometown.

External links

• Hope Emerson at the Internet Movie Database
• Hope Emerson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Hope Emerson at Find a Grave