Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

206

Gender

Female

Birthday

1887-11-09

Day of Death

1977-11-09 (90 years old)

Place of Birth

Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Also Known As

Gertrude Aster

Gertrude Irene Eyster

Gertrude Astor

Biography

Gertrude Astor (Born Gertrude Eyster November 9, 1887 – November 9, 1977) was an American motion picture character actress, who began her career playing trombone on a riverboat. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Astor at the age of 12 ran off and joined a woman's band as a trombone player and toured the states. In New York she left the band to obtain film work and got a job as an extra before her career took off. Astor was a prolific performer, between 1915 and 1962 she appeared in over 250 movies. Her first known credit is in a Biograph short in 1915. She then became a contract player at Universal. A tall, angular and beautiful woman, Astor frequently towered over the leading men of the era; thus, she was most frequently utilized in comedy roles as aristocrats, golddiggers and "heroine's best pal". Her best-known silent appearances were as the visiting stage star in Stage Struck (1925) with Gloria Swanson, as the vamp who plants stolen money on Harry Langdon in The Strong Man (1926), and as Laura LaPlante's wisecracking travelling companion in The Cat and the Canary (1927). Astor worked prolifically at Hal Roach studios with such headliners as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, and especially Charley Chase. She was also kept busy at Columbia Pictures' short subjects unit. She continued to play bits in feature films throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. She was briefly glimpsed as the first murder victim in the Sherlock Holmes adventure The Scarlet Claw and was among the ranks of dress extras in 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. Her last appearance was in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. In her later years, Astor was a welcome guest at several Sons of the Desert gatherings, and became an honorary member of the Way Out West tent. She died in Woodland Hills, California from a stroke. She is interred in the Abbey of Psalms in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.

Known For

Acting

Deep in My Heart

1954

Deep in My Heart

as

Dorothy's Nurse (uncredited)

Easy Living

1937

Easy Living

as

Saleswoman (uncredited)

The Virgin Queen

1955

The Virgin Queen

as

Lady-in-Waiting - 2nd Group

Frozen Justice

1929

Frozen Justice

as

Moosehide Kate

Her Mad Bargain

1921

Her Mad Bargain

as

Ruth Beresford

The Fatal Warning

1929

The Fatal Warning

as

The Scarlet Crystal

1917

The Scarlet Crystal

as

Helen Forbes

Hollywood

1923

Hollywood

as

Gertrude Astor

The Price of a Good Time

1917

The Price of a Good Time

as

Mis Schyler

Under Two Flags

1915

Under Two Flags

as

Venetia

The Lash of Power

1917

The Lash of Power

as

Phyllis Ward

What Am I Bid?

1919

What Am I Bid?

as

Diana Newlands

The Wolf Man

1941

The Wolf Man

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

The Girl Who Won Out

1917

The Girl Who Won Out

as

Mrs. Walsh

The Old Soak

1926

The Old Soak

as

Sylvia De Costa

The Ninety and Nine

1922

The Ninety and Nine

as

Kate Van Dyke

Bombs and Banknotes

1917

Bombs and Banknotes

as

His Daughter

The Butter and Egg Man

1928

The Butter and Egg Man

as

Fanny Lehman

The Family Group

1928

The Family Group

as

Chasing Husbands

1928

Chasing Husbands

as

Skin Deep

1922

Skin Deep

as

Mrs. Carlson

The Wanters

1923

The Wanters

as

Mrs. Van Pelt

The Chases of Pimple Street

1934

The Chases of Pimple Street

as

Gertrude Astor - Lucas' Fiancee (uncredited)

The Devil's Hand

1961

The Devil's Hand

as

The Elderly Cultist

Come Clean

1931

Come Clean

as

Mrs. Hardy

The Strong Man

1926

The Strong Man

as

Lily de Broadway

My Man Godfrey

1957

My Man Godfrey

as

Party Guest (uncredited)

Wine, Women and Song

1933

Wine, Women and Song

as

Jennie Tilson

The Plumber and the Lady

1933

The Plumber and the Lady

as

Mrs. Otto Mauser

Loot

1919

Loot

as

Lady Gwendolyn

Uncle Tom's Cabin

1927

Uncle Tom's Cabin

as

Mrs. St. Clare (uncredited)

Rupert of Hentzau

1923

Rupert of Hentzau

as

Paula

Fort Osage

1952

Fort Osage

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

The Old West

1952

The Old West

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

Through The Back Door

1921

Through The Back Door

as

Louise Reeves

Don Juan's 3 Nights

1926

Don Juan's 3 Nights

as

Baroness von Minden

Here Comes Trouble

1948

Here Comes Trouble

as

Woman with Dog (uncredited)

You Never Know

1922

You Never Know

as

Miriam Folansbee

The Wicked Darling

1919

The Wicked Darling

as

Adele Hoyt

Reap the Wild Wind

1942

Reap the Wild Wind

as

Ball Guest (uncredited)

The Drunkard

1935

The Drunkard

as

Peggy

Bucking Broadway

1917

Bucking Broadway

as

Gladys (uncredited)

Stage Struck

1925

Stage Struck

as

Lillian Lyons

Broadway or Bust

1924

Broadway or Bust

as

Mrs. Dean Smythe

The Ridin' Kid from Powder River

1924

The Ridin' Kid from Powder River

as

'Kansas' Lou

Wife Tamers

1926

Wife Tamers

as

Mrs. Barry

Be Yourself!

1930

Be Yourself!

as

Lillian

All Over Town

1937

All Over Town

as

Mamie

Lorna Doone

1922

Lorna Doone

as

Countess of Brandir (uncredited)

The Best Years of Our Lives

1946

The Best Years of Our Lives

as

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

The Kentucky Derby

1922

The Kentucky Derby

as

Helen Gordon

High Hats and Low Brows

1932

High Hats and Low Brows

as

Mrs. Billingsgate

Live and Learn

1930

Live and Learn

as

Mrs. Brown

Carnival Lady

1933

Carnival Lady

as

Zandra, Fortune Teller

Rich Relations

1937

Rich Relations

as

Running Hollywood

1932

Running Hollywood

as

Gertrude Astor

Wedding Belles

1934

Wedding Belles

as

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter

1966

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter

as

Townswoman

Kiki

1926

Kiki

as

Paulette Mascar

Dizzy Daddies

1926

Dizzy Daddies

as

A Former Flame

All in a Night's Work

1961

All in a Night's Work

as

Customer (uncredited)

They Never Come Back

1932

They Never Come Back

as

Kate

Dames Ahoy

1930

Dames Ahoy

as

The Blonde

Untamed

1929

Untamed

as

Mrs. Mason

The Best of Everything

1959

The Best of Everything

as

Leading Woman in Play (uncredited)

I Have Lived

1933

I Have Lived

as

Harriet Naisson

I Don't Remember

1935

I Don't Remember

as

Sophie Glick

The Small Bachelor

1927

The Small Bachelor

as

Fanny

Frisco Lil

1942

Frisco Lil

as

Kentucky Pride

1925

Kentucky Pride

as

Mrs. Beaumont

Secrets

1924

Secrets

as

Mrs. Manwaring

Synthetic Sin

1929

Synthetic Sin

as

Sheila Kelly

The Boy Friend

1926

The Boy Friend

as

Mrs. White

Dragonwyck

1946

Dragonwyck

as

Nurse (uncredited)

In Walked Charley

1932

In Walked Charley

as

Gertrude Henderson

The Cat and the Canary

1927

The Cat and the Canary

as

Cecily

While Paris Sleeps

1932

While Paris Sleeps

as

Calcutta

1946

Calcutta

as

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

The Branding Iron

1920

The Branding Iron

as

Betty Morena

Beyond the Rocks

1922

Beyond the Rocks

as

Morella Winmarleigh

Behind the Front

1926

Behind the Front

as

French barmaid

Wells Fargo

1937

Wells Fargo

as

Pioneer Woman

The Llano Kid

1939

The Llano Kid

as

Saloon Hostess

Sergeant Rutledge

1960

Sergeant Rutledge

as

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

1954

A Star Is Born

as

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Poker Widows

1931

Poker Widows

as

Mrs. Thomas Regan

Here Comes the Band

1935

Here Comes the Band

as

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

All About Eve

1950

All About Eve

as

Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)

Northern Frontier

1935

Northern Frontier

as

Mae

The Women

1939

The Women

as

Mud Bath Nurse (uncredited)

Sitting Pretty

1948

Sitting Pretty

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

Empty Saddles

1936

Empty Saddles

as

Eloise Hayes

Dust Be My Destiny

1939

Dust Be My Destiny

as

Dame (uncredited)

Oh, What a Man!

1927

Oh, What a Man!

as

The Bandit

Ship of Wanted Men

1933

Ship of Wanted Men

as

Vera

Sister Kenny

1946

Sister Kenny

as

Doctor (uncredited)

My Dear Secretary

1948

My Dear Secretary

as

Miss Gee (uncredited)

Again Pioneers

1950

Again Pioneers

as

Mrs. Jans

An Angel Comes To Brooklyn

1945

An Angel Comes To Brooklyn

as

Eva Tanguay (uncredited)

Postal Inspector

1936

Postal Inspector

as

Woman with Drumsticks (uncredited)

Woman in Hiding

1950

Woman in Hiding

as

Woman in Drugstore (uncredited)

Monsieur Verdoux

1947

Monsieur Verdoux

as

Garden Party Guest (uncredited)

The Torrent

1924

The Torrent

as

The Cast-Off

Hold Back the Dawn

1941

Hold Back the Dawn

as

Young Woman in Bar (uncredited)

Guilty Parents

1934

Guilty Parents

as

Marie

Cappy Ricks Returns

1935

Cappy Ricks Returns

as

Speaker (uncredited)

Western Limited

1932

Western Limited

as

Mrs. Winters

Tell 'Em Nothing

1926

Tell 'Em Nothing

as

Mrs. Gladstone

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

1962

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

Ginsberg the Great

1927

Ginsberg the Great

as

Sappho

Five and Ten Cent Annie

1928

Five and Ten Cent Annie

as

Blonde

Twin Beds

1929

Twin Beds

as

Mrs. Solari

The Scarlet Claw

1944

The Scarlet Claw

as

The Charmer

1925

The Charmer

as

Bertha Sedgwick

Angel Face

1953

Angel Face

as

Matron (uncredited)

Misbehaving Husbands

1940

Misbehaving Husbands

as

Gossiping Friend

Sunset Boulevard

1950

Sunset Boulevard

as

Courtier (uncredited)

The Doctor Takes a Wife

1940

The Doctor Takes a Wife

as

Extra (uncredited)

Scared Stiff

1953

Scared Stiff

as

Man with Spaghetti's Wife (uncredited)

It's in the Air

1935

It's in the Air

as

(uncredited)

The Big Broadcast of 1938

1938

The Big Broadcast of 1938

as

Woman (uncredited)

The Tingler

1959

The Tingler

as

Member of Silent Movie Audience (uncredited)

Cheyenne's Pal

1917

Cheyenne's Pal

as

Dancehall girl

Two Rode Together

1961

Two Rode Together

as

Mrs. Wringle (uncredited)

Scandal Sheet

1952

Scandal Sheet

as

Neighbor (uncredited)

Around the World in Eighty Days

1956

Around the World in Eighty Days

as

Extra (uncredited)

The Reckless Sex

1925

The Reckless Sex

as

Lucile Dupré

Daddy Long Legs

1955

Daddy Long Legs

as

Art Gallery Patron (uncredited)

Girls of the Big House

1945

Girls of the Big House

as

Railroad Matron

Border Brigands

1935

Border Brigands

as

Big Six -Saloon Girl

3 Godfathers

1948

3 Godfathers

as

Saloon Girl (uncredited)

Lost Canyon

1942

Lost Canyon

as

Mrs. Anson

Tassels in the Air

1938

Tassels in the Air

as

Louella Pindell (uncredited)

Idaho

1943

Idaho

as

Party Guest

Honeymoon Limited

1935

Honeymoon Limited

as

Lady Devonshire

The Avenging Rider

1943

The Avenging Rider

as

Martha

The Kansan

1943

The Kansan

as

Blonde Townswoman

Paula

1952

Paula

as

Mrs. Brown (uncredited)

San Francisco

1936

San Francisco

as

Drunk's Girl (uncredited)

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

1964

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

as

Denver Party Guest (uncredited)

Two Weeks Off

1929

Two Weeks Off

as

Agnes

The Taxi Dancer

1927

The Taxi Dancer

as

Kitty Lane

Polly Redhead

1917

Polly Redhead

as

Lady Caroline

When Worlds Collide

1951

When Worlds Collide

as

Traveler (uncredited)

Flaming Gold

1932

Flaming Gold

as

Escort Service Madam

A Place in the Sun

1951

A Place in the Sun

as

Bit Part (uncredited)

The Sound of Music

1965

The Sound of Music

as

Party Guest (uncredited)

The Fall of Eve

1929

The Fall of Eve

as

Mrs. Ford

The Ne'er-Do-Well

1923

The Ne'er-Do-Well

as

Edith Cortlandt

Music Man

1948

Music Man

as

The Cheerful Fraud

1926

The Cheerful Fraud

as

Rose

$1,000 a Touchdown

1939

$1,000 a Touchdown

as

McGlen Wife (uncredited)

A Woman of Affairs

1928

A Woman of Affairs

as

Party Guest (uncredited)

Fun on a Weekend

1947

Fun on a Weekend

as

Party Guest (Uncredited)

Leave Her to Heaven

1945

Leave Her to Heaven

as

Prison Matron (uncredited)

Bondage

1917

Bondage

as

Eugenia Darth

The Devil's Pay Day

1917

The Devil's Pay Day

as

Hazel Davidson

The Brazen Beauty

1918

The Brazen Beauty

as

Mrs. Augusta Van Ruysdael

The Rescue

1917

The Rescue

as

Mrs. Hendricks

The Little Orphan

1917

The Little Orphan

as

Emmeline Warren

Bunco Squad

1950

Bunco Squad

as

Club Patron (uncredited)

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

1948

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

as

Mrs. Howard

Hurricane's Gal

1922

Hurricane's Gal

as

Phyllis Fairfield

Robes of Sin

1924

Robes of Sin

as

Swingin' on a Rainbow

1945

Swingin' on a Rainbow

as

Bit Part (uncredited)

The Concert

1921

The Concert

as

Eva

No More Ladies

1935

No More Ladies

as

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Moontide

1942

Moontide

as

Woman (uncredited)

Seeing's Believing

1922

Seeing's Believing

as

Aunt Sue

The File on Thelma Jordon

1949

The File on Thelma Jordon

as

Juror (Uncredited)

Rose-Marie

1928

Rose-Marie

as

Wanda

Hell Bound

1931

Hell Bound

as

Rosie

Wichita

1955

Wichita

as

Saloon Madam (uncredited)

Thunder on the Hill

1951

Thunder on the Hill

as

Village Woman (uncredited)

Great Guy

1936

Great Guy

as

Party Guest (Uncredited)

The Wall Flower

1922

The Wall Flower

as

Pamela Shiel

The Climax

1944

The Climax

as

Woman in Audience Behind Franz (Uncredited)

The Silent Watcher

1924

The Silent Watcher

as

Mrs. Steele

The Impossible Mrs. Bellew

1922

The Impossible Mrs. Bellew

as

Alice Granville

Crook's Tour

1933

Crook's Tour

as

Mrs Dorigan

Weird Woman

1944

Weird Woman

as

Party Guest (uncredited)

Satan in Sables

1925

Satan in Sables

as

Dolores Sierra

The Female Animal

1958

The Female Animal

as

Actress on Movie Set (uncredited)

Caged

1950

Caged

as

Inmate (uncredited)

The Horse Soldiers

1959

The Horse Soldiers

as

Townswoman (uncredited)

Crack-Up

1946

Crack-Up

as

Nagging Wife on Train (Uncredited)

The Country Beyond

1926

The Country Beyond

as

Mrs. Andrews

I'll Take Vanilla

1934

I'll Take Vanilla

as

Mom

Manhattan Monkey Business

1935

Manhattan Monkey Business

as

Gwendolyn

Laughing Ladies

1925

Laughing Ladies

as

The Married Man's Wife

Washee Ironee

1934

Washee Ironee

as

Woman at Party

Borrowed Finery

1925

Borrowed Finery

as

Maisie

The Doolins of Oklahoma

1949

The Doolins of Oklahoma

as

Saloon Girl (uncredited)

Dick Tracy

1945

Dick Tracy

as

Woman (uncredited)

The Merry Widow

1952

The Merry Widow

as

Reception Guest (uncredited)

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

1928

The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris

as

Paulette

Lightning Lariats

1927

Lightning Lariats

as

Girl

Alice Adams

Alice Adams

as

Mildred Palmer

Bad Boy

1935

Bad Boy

as

All's Swell on the Ocean

1924

All's Swell on the Ocean

as

Wives Never Know

1936

Wives Never Know

as

Mrs. Merchant (uncredited)

Ship of Souls

1925

Ship of Souls

as

Doris Barnes

Occasionally Yours

1920

Occasionally Yours

as

Mona

The Delicious Little Devil

1919

The Delicious Little Devil

as

Auditioning Dancer (uncredited)

My Mother the Car

My Mother the Car

as

I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy

as

Showgirl #4

Production

Crew

Directing