# Gladys Blake

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{{Short description|American actress (1910–1983)}}
{{for|the author|Gladys Blake (writer)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Gladys Blake
| image              = Gladys Blake in Career Girl (1944).jpg
| caption            = Blake in ''[Career Girl](/source/Career_Girl_(1944_film))'' (1944)
| birth_name         = Gladys Timmons{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1910|05|12|mf=yes}}
| birth_place        = [Luray, Virginia](/source/Luray%2C_Virginia), U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1983|05|21|1910|05|12|mf=yes}}
| death_place        = [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California), U.S.
| occupation         = Actress
| years_active       = 1933–1952
| spouse             = Lee Gresham
}}

'''Gladys Blake'''  (born '''Gladys Timmons'''; May 12, 1910 – May 21, 1983) was an American character actress from the 1930s to the 1950s.<ref name=Omni>{{cite web|url=https://www.omnilexica.com/?q=Gladys+Blake+%28actress%29|publisher=Omnilexica|title=Gladys Blake (actress) profile|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

==Biography==
Blake was born on January 12, 1910, in [Luray, Virginia](/source/Luray%2C_Virginia). Her mother, Ada Timmons, died when Gladys was less than a year old.<ref name=MP>{{cite web|url=http://moviespictures.org/biography/Blake,_Gladys|publisher=MoviePictures.org|title=Gladys Blake biography|accessdate=January 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054833/http://moviespictures.org/biography/Blake,_Gladys|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At fourteen, she entered the theater world in a stock company, before moving on to [vaudeville](/source/vaudeville). In vaudeville, she met her husband, Lee Gresham, and the two formed an act together. While performing in Los Angeles, they were noticed by producer [Edward Small](/source/Edward_Small), which led to her beginning in the film industry.<ref name=MP/>

Blake made her film debut in a small role in ''I Have Lived'' (1933), directed by [Richard Thorpe](/source/Richard_Thorpe).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=5155|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''I Have Lived'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> She had her first featured role later that same year in ''Rainbow over Broadway'', which Thorpe also directed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=5192|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Rainbow over Broadway'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

Over her 20-year career, she appeared in over 100 films.<ref name=AFIF>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&Type=PN&Tbl=&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=62085&searchedFor=Gladys_Blake_&SortType=ASC&SortCol=RELEASE_YEAR|publisher=American Film Institute|title=Gladys Blake profile|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> She was noted for playing very talkative supporting roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/gladys-blake-p6569|publisher=AllMovie.com|title=Gladys Blake biography|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

Appearing mostly in supporting or bit parts, she was occasionally given a featured role, as in ''[Lucky Night](/source/Lucky_Night)'' (1939), which starred [Myrna Loy](/source/Myrna_Loy) and [Robert Taylor](/source/Robert_Taylor_(American_actor));<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=5065|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Lucky Night'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> or ''[Woman of the Year](/source/Woman_of_the_Year)'' (1942), which starred [Spencer Tracy](/source/Spencer_Tracy) and [Katharine Hepburn](/source/Katharine_Hepburn), in which she played Flo Peters, the wife of a friend of Tracy's character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27562|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Woman of the Year'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> Even more rarely she would be given the lead in a film, such as in ''Racing Blood'' (1936).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=5774|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Racing Blood'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> In the early 1940s, she played the recurring role of "Maisie" in several of the [Dr. Kildare](/source/Dr._Kildare) films starring [Lew Ayres](/source/Lew_Ayres), [Lionel Barrymore](/source/Lionel_Barrymore), and [Laraine Day](/source/Laraine_Day).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6513|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Dr. Kildare's Crisis'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26674|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26861|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''The People vs. Dr. Kildare'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

Other notable films in which she appeared include: ''[Ship Ahoy](/source/Ship_Ahoy_(film))'' (1942), starring [Eleanor Powell](/source/Eleanor_Powell) and [Red Skelton](/source/Red_Skelton);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27457|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Ship Ahoy'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> the [Abbott and Costello](/source/Abbott_and_Costello) film, ''[Who Done It?](/source/Who_Done_It%3F_(1942_film))'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27556|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Who Done It?'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> the 1943 version of ''[Phantom of the Opera](/source/Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1943_film))'', starring [Claude Rains](/source/Claude_Rains);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=613|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''Phantom of the Opera'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> ''[The Naughty Nineties](/source/The_Naughty_Nineties)'', again with Abbott and Costello;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=24509|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''The Naughty Nineties'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> ''[On the Town](/source/On_the_Town_(film))'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26043|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''On the Town'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> ''[The Yellow Cab Man](/source/The_Yellow_Cab_Man)'', starring Red Skelton;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26575 | publisher=American Film Institute|title=''The Yellow Cab Man'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref> and the 1952 epic, ''[The Greatest Show on Earth](/source/The_Greatest_Show_on_Earth_(film))''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50496|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''The Greatest Show on Earth'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

Blake's final role was in 1952's ''[This Woman is Dangerous](/source/This_Woman_is_Dangerous)'', starring [Joan Crawford](/source/Joan_Crawford) and [Dennis Morgan](/source/Dennis_Morgan), in which she plays a garrulous hairdresser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50688|publisher=American Film Institute|title=''This Woman Is Dangerous'' details|accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

Blake died on May 21, 1983, aged 73, in [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California).<ref name=Omni/>

==Filmography==
<!-- Please leave redlinks. They are for film titles which already either have a redlink on a disambiguation page, or there is another film with the same title which already has an article. It will aid anyone who creates an article for that film. Thank you! -->
(Per [AFI](/source/American_Film_Institute) database)<ref name=AFIF/>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''[By Appointment Only](/source/By_Appointment_Only_(1933_film))''  (1933)   	
*''[I Have Lived](/source/I_Have_Lived)''  (1933)   	
*''[Rainbow Over Broadway](/source/Rainbow_Over_Broadway)''  (1933)   	
*''[Sing Sinner Sing](/source/Sing_Sinner_Sing)''  (1933)   	
*''[My Weakness](/source/My_Weakness_(film))''  (1933)   	
*''[The Important Witness](/source/The_Important_Witness)''  (1933)   	
*''Coming Out Party''  (1934)   	
*''[Marrying Widows](/source/Marrying_Widows)''  (1934)   	
*''[One in a Million](/source/One_in_a_Million_(1934_film))''  (1934)   	
*''[Servants' Entrance](/source/Servants'_Entrance)''  (1934)   	
*''[Racing Blood](/source/Racing_Blood_(1936_film))''  (1936)   	
*''There's That Woman Again''  (1938)   	
*''[The Cisco Kid and the Lady](/source/The_Cisco_Kid_and_the_Lady)''  (1939)   	
*''[Lucky Night](/source/Lucky_Night)''  (1939)   	
*''[The Women](/source/The_Women_(1939_film))''  (1939)   	
*''[Fast and Furious](/source/Fast_and_Furious_(1939_film))''  (1939)   	
*''[Tell No Tales](/source/Tell_No_Tales_(film))''  (1939)   	
*''[Money to Burn](/source/Money_to_Burn_(1939_film))''  (1939)   	
*''[When Tomorrow Comes](/source/When_Tomorrow_Comes_(film))''  (1939)   	
*''[Broadway Melody of 1940](/source/Broadway_Melody_of_1940)''  (1940)   	
*''[The Earl of Chicago](/source/The_Earl_of_Chicago)''  (1940)   	
*''[I Love You Again](/source/I_Love_You_Again)''  (1940)   	
*''[Sailor's Lady](/source/Sailor's_Lady)''  (1940)   	
*''[Dr. Kildare's Crisis](/source/Dr._Kildare's_Crisis)''  (1940)   	
*''[Street of Memories](/source/Street_of_Memories)''  (1940)   	
*''[The Golden Fleecing](/source/The_Golden_Fleecing_(film))''  (1940)   	
*''[Andy Hardy Meets Debutante](/source/Andy_Hardy_Meets_Debutante)''  (1940)   	
*''[Young as You Feel](/source/Young_as_You_Feel_(1940_film))''  (1940)   	
*''[Niagara Falls](/source/Niagara_Falls_(1941_film))''  (1941)   	
*''[Bachelor Daddy](/source/Bachelor_Daddy)''  (1941)   	
*''[Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day](/source/Dr._Kildare's_Wedding_Day)''  (1941)   	
*''[The Lady from Cheyenne](/source/The_Lady_from_Cheyenne)''  (1941)   	
*''[Lucky Devils](/source/Lucky_Devils_(1941_film))''  (1941)   	
*''[Married Bachelor](/source/Married_Bachelor)''  (1941)   	
*''[The People vs. Dr. Kildare](/source/The_People_vs._Dr._Kildare)''  (1941) 	
*''[We Go Fast](/source/We_Go_Fast)''  (1941)   	
*''[West Point Widow](/source/West_Point_Widow)''  (1941)   	
*''[Johnny Eager](/source/Johnny_Eager)''  (1942)   	
*''[Mr. & Mrs. North](/source/Mr._and_Mrs._North_(film))''  (1942)   	
*''[Fly-by-Night](/source/Fly-by-Night_(film))''  (1942)   	
*''[Henry Aldrich, Editor](/source/The_Aldrich_Family)''  (1942)   	
*''[The Magnificent Dope](/source/The_Magnificent_Dope)''  (1942)   	
*''[Seven Sweethearts](/source/Seven_Sweethearts)''  (1942)   	
*''[Ship Ahoy](/source/Ship_Ahoy_(film))''  (1942)   	
*''[Who Done It?](/source/Who_Done_It%3F_(1942_film))''  (1942)   	
*''[Woman of the Year](/source/Woman_of_the_Year)''  (1942)   	
*''[Fired Wife](/source/Fired_Wife)''  (1943)   	
*''[Footlight Glamour](/source/Blondie_(1938_film))''  (1943)   	
*''[Jitterbugs](/source/Jitterbugs)''  (1943)   	
*''[The More the Merrier](/source/The_More_the_Merrier)''  (1943)   	
*''[My Kingdom for a Cook](/source/My_Kingdom_for_a_Cook)''  (1943)   	
*''[Phantom of the Opera](/source/Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1943_film))''  (1943)   	
*''[Star Spangled Rhythm](/source/Star_Spangled_Rhythm)''  (1943)   	
*''[A Stranger in Town](/source/A_Stranger_in_Town_(1943_film))''  (1943)   	
*''[Top Man](/source/Top_Man_(film))''  (1943)   	
*''[Career Girl](/source/Career_Girl_(1944_film))''  (1944)   	
*''[Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore](/source/Johnny_Doesn't_Live_Here_Anymore)''  (1944)   	
*''[In Society](/source/In_Society)''  (1944)   	
*''[Hi, Beautiful](/source/Hi%2C_Beautiful)''  (1944)   	
*''[Chip Off the Old Block](/source/Chip_Off_the_Old_Block)''  (1944)   	
*''[Can't Help Singing](/source/Can't_Help_Singing)''  (1944)   	
*''[Meet Miss Bobby Socks](/source/Meet_Miss_Bobby_Socks)''  (1944)   	
*''[Practically Yours](/source/Practically_Yours)''  (1944)   	
*''[Reckless Age](/source/Reckless_Age)''  (1944)   	
*''[She's a Soldier Too](/source/She's_a_Soldier_Too)''  (1944)   	
*''[Swingtime Johnny](/source/Swingtime_Johnny)''  (1944)   	
*''[Army Wives](/source/Army_Wives_(1944_film))''  (1944)   	
*''[Bewitched](/source/Bewitched_(1945_film))''  (1945)   	
*''[Her Highness and the Bellboy](/source/Her_Highness_and_the_Bellboy)''  (1945)   	
*''[Her Lucky Night](/source/Her_Lucky_Night)''  (1945)   	
*''[Let's Go Steady](/source/Let's_Go_Steady)''  (1945)   	
*''[The Naughty Nineties](/source/The_Naughty_Nineties)''  (1945)   	
*''[Over 21](/source/Over_21)''  (1945)   	
*''[Rockin' in the Rockies](/source/Rockin'_in_the_Rockies)''  (1945)   	
*''[There Goes Kelly](/source/There_Goes_Kelly)''  (1945)   	
*''[Under Western Skies](/source/Under_Western_Skies_(1945_film))''  (1945)   	
*''[Because of Him](/source/Because_of_Him)''  (1946)   	
*''[The Gentleman Misbehaves](/source/The_Gentleman_Misbehaves)''  (1946)   	
*''[Live Wires](/source/Live_Wires_(1946_film))''  (1946)   	
*''[The Magnificent Rogue](/source/The_Magnificent_Rogue)''  (1946)   	
*''[Nocturne](/source/Nocturne_(1946_film))''  (1946)   	
*''[Shadows Over Chinatown](/source/Shadows_Over_Chinatown)''  (1946)   	
*''[She Wrote the Book](/source/She_Wrote_the_Book)''  (1946)   	
*''[Strange Triangle](/source/Strange_Triangle)''  (1946)   	
*''[To Each His Own](/source/To_Each_His_Own_(1946_film))''  (1946)   	
*''[Fear in the Night](/source/Fear_in_the_Night_(1947_film))''  (1947)   	
*''[Scared to Death](/source/Scared_to_Death_(1947_film))''  (1947)   	
*''[Dream Girl](/source/Dream_Girl_(1948_film))''  (1948)   	
*''[Hazard](/source/Hazard_(1948_film))''  (1948)   	
*''[Michael O'Halloran](/source/Michael_O'Halloran_(1948_film))''  (1948)   	
*''[Money Madness](/source/Money_Madness_(1948_film))''  (1948)   	
*''[Night Has a Thousand Eyes](/source/Night_Has_a_Thousand_Eyes)''  (1948)   	
*''[Smart Woman](/source/Smart_Woman_(1948_film))''  (1948)   	
*''[The Time of Your Life](/source/The_Time_of_Your_Life_(film))''  (1948)   	
*''[The Accused](/source/The_Accused_(1949_film))''  (1949)   	
*''[Ladies of the Chorus](/source/Ladies_of_the_Chorus)''  (1949)   	
*''[On the Town](/source/On_the_Town_(film))''  (1949)   	
*''[Paid in Full](/source/Paid_in_Full_(1950_film))''  (1950)   	
*''[The Yellow Cab Man](/source/The_Yellow_Cab_Man)''  (1950)   	
*''[The Greatest Show on Earth](/source/The_Greatest_Show_on_Earth_(film))''  (1952)   	
*''[This Woman Is Dangerous](/source/This_Woman_Is_Dangerous)''  (1952)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0086560}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Gladys}}
Category:1910 births
Category:1983 deaths
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:Actresses from Virginia
Category:People from Luray, Virginia
Category:American vaudeville performers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gladys Blake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Blake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Blake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.