Gladys Cooper is a Hollywood legend

Those who enjoy retro television are probably seeing the face of Dame Gladys Constance Cooper, a lot. She was especially utilized in the on TWILIGHT ZONE and ALFRED HITCHCOCK series. The actress was born on December 18, 1888, in London and passed away on November 17, 1971. She was an English actress, a producer, and also a theatrical manager. Her impressive career whose career including state, TV, and films spanned seven decades. Dame Gladys hit milestones in every decade during her long career.

She began acting as a teenager in silent films, dramatic roles, and Edwardian musical comedy and pantomime, prior to the First World War. In 1905 she made her stage debut by touring with Seymour Hicks in his musical BLUEBELL IN FAIRYLAND. At the same time, she was becoming a popular photographic model. Cooper appeared as Lady Swan in London in 1906 in THE BELL OF MAYFLOWER and then starred as Mavis in the pantomime BABES IN THE WOOD.

She became a chorus girl at the Gaiety Theatre, the following year and in 1908, she appeared in the musical HAVANA followed by OUR MISS GIBBS in 1909. That same year she was in THE DOLLAR PRINCE at Daly's Theatre. In 1911, Cooper appeared in a production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and MAN AND SUPERMAN. In 1913 she had a role in DIPLOMACY at Wyndham's Theatre. These are but a few of the impressive credits of Dame Gladys Cooper.

From 1917-1934 she was first co-manager and then the manager for the Playhouse Theatre where she also starred in numerous roles. During the 1930s she worked steadily by starring in productions on BROADWAY as well as London's West End. In the 1940s Cooper moved to Hollywood and became successful in character roles. The actress received three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Now, Voyager (1942), ATHE SONG OF BERNADETTE, (1943), and MY FAIR LADY, (1964).

In 1922 she starred in THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY and received critical acclaim. The actress had previously been criticized for being too passive and too stiff. Long before Mary Martin took on the role of the boy who would not grow up, Gladys Cooper portrayed Peter Pan during the 1923 and 1924 Christma shows at the Adelphi Theatre. in 1929, also in London and on tour. Gladys Cooper had hundreds of additional roles on stage and the big screen which included the films THE SECRET GARDEN and THE GREEN YEARS in 1946.

Her television roles during the 1950s and '60s include 3 episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. In NOTHING IN THE DARK in 1962, she portrayed an older woman who refuses to leave her flat because she is afraid of meeting 'Death'. In PASSSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE in 1963 she was one of a number of older passengers on a doomed cruise ship who befriends a young couple. Her final role was that of an elderly woman who received phone calls that were coming from a cemetery Night Call", in 1964.

In 1964 she was in an episode of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR titled "CONSIDER HER WAYS". She also appeared in an episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS which was THE END OF INDIAN SUMMER. Between 1964–65 Gladys Cooper had a role on the series THE ROGUE along with Larry Hagman, Gig Young, David Niven, Charles Boyer, Robert Coote, and John Williams.

In 1967, when the iconic actress was 79, she was appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). Her last major role on stage was at the age of 82 from 1970–71 as Mrs. St. Maugham THE CHALK GARDEN. Gladys Cooper continued in her craft until shortly before her death. She should be an inspiration to women in the entertainment business today.

Cooper was married to Captain Herbert Buckmaster from 1908–1921 and they had two children: Joan and John Rodney. She was married to Sir Neville Pearson from 1927–1936 and they had one daughter, Sally Pearson, In 1937 the actress wed Philip Merivale, a fellow actor. He died in 1946 at age 59 from a heart ailment. If you ae a Gladys Cooper fan look for her television shows and movies on MeTV and TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES.