The Hollywood Grandma

Adeline De Walt turned out to be a role model for all people over the age of 60, and an inspiration to all of us of any age. Born in Benton County, Iowa in September of 1862, during the Civil War, she would go on to be one of the most admired women of her time. She enrolled in college for the first time in her sixties and starred in her first feature film at age 79. She was cast in such favorites as The Ten Commandments, The Human Comedy, The DuPont Story, Son of Dracula, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, and A Witness to Murder; just to name a few.

Her first job, at age 18, was that of a school teacher in 1880. She enjoyed teaching but when she learned that the male teachers were paid more, and after a pay increase was refused by the school board, she quit.

Adeline’s ex-husband, Frank passed away in 1908, leaving her with four children; William, Franklin, Mary and Lela. She was 43 years old at the time of Frank’s death. In an effort to gain employment Adeline enrolled in secretarial school but the historic San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire of 1906 destroyed the school. As the years went by she continued to struggle as a single mother.

After much searching, and searching, and yes, more searching I was thrilled to find Miss Adeline’s graduation picture!! Now, keep in mind she is 70 years old in this photo. I think she looks 20 years younger.

“Mrs. Adeline de Walt Reynolds, who made her screen debut in ‘Come Live With Me’, starring James Stewart and Hedy Lamarr, should be the fashion plate for women of her age. Adrian, who is designing her gowns for the picture, is working on some sketches for a personal wardrobe as well. Mrs. Reynolds made only one specification. Everything in this new wardrobe of hers will be in white.” ~ Waterbury Evening Democrat, December 12, 1940

By January of 1941 the public has become enamored with Adeline and her story. In one of her first newspaper interviews we get to know her just a bit more.

“GRANDMA – GIRL WAS PLAY ACTING BEFORE EDISON DREAMED OF MOVIES: [Hollywood] Mrs. Reynolds, 80, had craving to perform as a farm girl of three; which was 77 years ago.

“Nearly everybody knows by now that Hollywood’s most unusual discovery of the season; 80 year old potential star Mrs. Adeline de Walt Reynolds. And Nebraska is interested in this dream that came true, for when she was a young wife and mother, Mrs. Reynolds, lived in Arcadia.

Adeline stayed active between films with exercise and various physical activities when not acting.

“There is no weariness in the bright blue eyes of Adeline Reynold; nor in her trim figure. She goes to a fencing class one night each week. As for her mind, well, this is the woman who started college at age 66, graduated with her A.B. with special honors in French at age 70 and who at age 78 enrolled in a year of drama study.

It was implied through an article in the Evening Star, Washington DC, in January of 1943 that Adeline did not learn to drive until 1943 at the age of 81.

By the mid 1940s Adeline was known as a bonifide celebrity and from what I can tell this would have been her first appearance on television.

“The feature of the week is Emcee Linkletter’s search for the person who has had the ‘luckiest break’ in life. The winner will get an electric refrigerator. Judge for the contest will be Adeline DeWalt Reynolds, veteran motion picture actress.” ~ Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1945 issue.

Read the whole story of Adeline, Hollywood's Grandma in my latest book: https://amzn.to/3KhpioU