Elsa Lanchester backdrop
ACTING . Acting . 84 years (deceased) . Lewisham, London, England, UK

Elsa Lanchester_

GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER Lewisham, London, England, UK

"Born — Died "

Born Lewisham, London, England, UK
Birthday
84
Lived
38
Credits
Actor
Known For
0.8
Popularity
50 yrs
Career
Updated Feb 20, 2026

Details

Known For
Actor
Occupations
Television actor, Film actor, Stage actor
Birthday
(Tuesday)
Birthplace
Lewisham, London, England, UK
Nationality
Citizenship
United Kingdom
Religion
Atheism
Languages
English
Spouse
Charles Laughton (1929-1962)
Parents
Edith Lanchester
Zodiac Sign
♏ Scorpio
Chinese Zodiac
虎 Tiger
Name Origin
English < German
Popularity
Tier B -- 29,988 Wikipedia views/month

DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Birthday twin
Shares a birthday (October 28) with Bill Gates
Bill Gates →
Career
Career spanning 50 years (1935-1985)
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 32
Year context
Born in 1902 -- End of the Second Boer War; Theodore Roosevelt was US president
Year 1902 →
Frequent co-star
Appeared in 5 films with Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton →

DROPTHE GOOD_

15
Notable
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
100
Cultural Uplift
47
Public Vote
Be the first to vote
How is this calculated?

AWARDS (3)

G
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1958
WON
G
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1958
WON
G
Golden Globe Awards
WON

Biography

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (October 28, 1902 – December 26, 1986) was a British actress with a long career in theatre, film and television and former dancer. Lanchester studied dance as a child and after the First World War began performing in theatre and cabaret, where she established her career over the following decade. She met the actor Charles Laughton in 1927, and they were married two years later. She began playing small roles in British films, including the role of Anne of Cleves with Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). Laughton's success in American films resulted in the couple moving to Hollywood, where Lanchester played small film roles. Her role as the bride in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), brought her recognition, and came to be one of the roles most closely associated with her throughout her life. Lanchester played supporting roles through the 1940s and 1950s. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Come to the Stable (1949) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957), the last of twelve films in which she appeared with Laughton. Following Laughton's death in 1962, Lanchester resumed her career with appearances in such Disney films as Mary Poppins (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965) and Blackbeard's Ghost (1968). The horror film, Willard, (1971) was highly successful and one of her last roles was in Murder By Death (1976). Description above from the Wikipedia article Elsa Lanchester, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Elsa Lanchester?
Elsa Lanchester was born on and passed away on at the age of 84.
Where was Elsa Lanchester born?
Elsa Lanchester was born in Lewisham, London, England, UK.
What movies or shows has Elsa Lanchester been in?
Elsa Lanchester has 38 credits in our database. Notable titles include Terror in the Aisles (1984), Die Laughing (1980), Murder by Death (1976), Arnold (1973), Me, Natalie (1969).
What is Elsa Lanchester known for?
Elsa Lanchester is primarily known as an actor. Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (October 28, 1902 – December 26, 1986) was a British actress with a long career in theatre, film and television and former…
Where can I find more information about Elsa Lanchester?
You can find more about Elsa Lanchester on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
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