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Sarah Selby

{{short description|American actress (1905–1980)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Sarah Selby

| image = Sarah_Selby_in_The_Hardy_Boys_1956.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Sarah Selby in The Hardy Boys 1956

| birth_name = Sarah Elizabeth Selby

| birth_date = {{birth date|1905|8|30}}

| birth_place = Middletown, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|1|7|1905|8|30}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1941–1979

| spouse = {{ubl|Holger Yngvar Harthern (m. 1945 – 1966) (his death)|Stanley Robert Wuliger (m. 1943 – 1944) (divorced)}}

| children = 2

}}

Sarah Elizabeth Selby (August 30, 1905 – January 7, 1980) was an American actress.

Career

Selby was a character actress who played minor roles for the most part – usually a town gossip, maiden aunt, or teacher. Beginning her career as a radio actress, she made her screen debut voicing one of the elephants in Disney's Dumbo (1941). She was best known for her recurring role as Ma Smalley, the owner of a boarding house on TV's Gunsmoke (1955).{{Cite web|title=Sarah Selby|url=https://www.metacritic.com/person/sarah-selby|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=Metacritic}} She had recurring roles on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, initially as Gracie's friend Mamie Kelly, and then a recurring role as Lucille Vanderlip the society hostess wife of banker Chester Vanderlip. In 1964, she appeared with Jackie Cooper in an episode of the Twilight Zone (S5,E32 - "Caesar and Me"). She also had a recurring role on Father Knows Best as Jim Anderson's (Robert Young) secretary.

She starred in numerous films from 1941 to 1978. In her first role, she voiced{{Cite web|title=Sarah Selby (visual voices guide)|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Sarah-Selby/|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US}} the elephant Prissy in the movie Dumbo.{{Cite web|title=Sarah Selby|url=https://www.metacritic.com/person/sarah-selby|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=Metacritic}} Selby was an actress, known for Tower of London (1962), Beyond the Forest (1949) and a recurring role as Aunt Gertrude in The Mickey Mouse Club television series The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure (1956). Among her radio program appearances, she played various roles on 1947 Escape drama anthology series, and was a regular cast member as Grace in the 1948-50 Junior Miss radio sitcom.{{sfn|Dunning|1998|pp=254, 400}}

Personal life and death

Selby was married to Holger Yngvar Harthern-Jakobsen, and to Stanley Robert Wuliger. She died from cancer at the age of 74, on Monday, January 7, 1980, in Los Angeles California.{{cite news |title=Sarah Selby: Directors Knew Her Even If Public Didn't. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78803371/sarah-selby-directors-knew-her-even-if/ |access-date=June 2, 2021 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=January 14, 1980}}

Feature-length films

1943

  • The Seventh Victim - Min Gottschalk {{cite web |title=The Seventh Victim |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/656-THE-SEVENTH-VICTIM?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1944

  • San Diego, I Love You - Mrs. Lovelace {{cite web |title=San Diego, I Love You |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24146-SAN-DIEGO-I-LOVE-YOU?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The Curse of the Cat People - Miss Plunkett {{cite web |title=The Curse of the Cat People |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/2449-THE-CURSE-OF-THE-CAT-PEOPLE?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1945

  • The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry - Alice {{cite web |title=The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24640-THE-STRANGE-AFFAIR-OF-UNCLE-HARRY?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Earl Carroll Vanities - Mrs. Thayer {{cite web |title=Earl Carroll Vanities |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24394-EARL-CARROLL-VANITIES?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The Beautiful Cheat - Athena [Haven] {{cite web |title=The Beautiful Cheat |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24321-THE-BEAUTIFUL-CHEAT?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Wonder Man - Woman in library {{cite web |title=Wonder Man |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24666-WONDER-MAN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The Naughty Nineties - Mrs. Hawkins {{cite web |title=The Naughty Nineties |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24509-THE-NAUGHTY-NINETIES?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1946

  • One Exciting Week - Committee Woman {{cite web |title=One Exciting Week|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24904-ONE-EXCITING-WEEK?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Ideal Girl - Esmeralda {{cite web |title=Ideal Girl|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24828-IDEA-GIRL?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Little Iodine - Mrs. Bigdome {{cite web |title=Little Iodine|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24856-LITTLE-IODINE?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1947

  • Swell Guy - Lorraine {{cite web |title=Swell Guy|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24996-SWELL-GUY?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Stork Bites Man - Mrs. Greene {{cite web |title=Stork Bites Man|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25372-STORK-BITES-MAN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The Fabulous Texan - Unknown {{cite web |title=The Fabulous Texan|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25158-THE-FABULOUS-TEXAN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • That's My Man - Unknown {{cite web |title=That's My Man|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25383-THATS-MY-MAN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1948

  • A Double Life - Anna {{cite web |title=A Double Life|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25521-A-DOUBLE-LIFE?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Trapped by Boston Blackie - Mrs. Carter {{cite web |title=Trapped by Boston Blackie|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25783-TRAPPED-BY-BOSTON-BLACKIE?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Train to Alcatraz - Widow's friend {{cite web |title=Train to Alcatraz|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25782-TRAIN-TO-ALCATRAZ?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1949

  • Beyond the Forest - Mildred Sorren {{cite web |title=Beyond the Forest|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25848-BEYOND-THE-FOREST?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Prison Warden - Vivian Markham {{cite web |title=Prison Warden|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26057-PRISON-WARDEN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Side Street - Nurse Williams {{cite web |title=Side Street|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26104-SIDE-STREET?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1950

  • Perfect Strangers - Mrs. Wilson {{cite web |title=Perfect Strangers (1950 film)|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26450-PERFECT-STRANGERS?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1951

  • Jim Thorpe – All-American - Miss Benton {{cite web |title=Jim Thorpe – All-American|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53411-JIM-THORPE--ALL-AMERICAN?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1952

  • The Sniper - (unknown character role) {{cite web |title=The Sniper |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50656-THE-SNIPER?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The Iron Mistress - Mrs. Bowie {{cite web |title=The Iron Mistress|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53633-THE-IRON-MISTRESS?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1953

  • Battle Circus - Capt. Dobbs {{cite web |title=Battle Circus|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50755-BATTLE-CIRCUS?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Mister Scoutmaster - Mrs. Weber {{cite web |title=Mister Scoutmaster|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50946-MISTER-SCOUTMASTER?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The System - Liz Allen {{cite web |title=The System|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/51057-THE-SYSTEM?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1954

  • Men of the Fighting Lady - Mrs. Syzmanski {{cite web |title=Men of the Fighting Lady|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/51277-MEN-OF-THE-FIGHTING-LADY?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1955

  • Good Morning, Miss Dove - Teacher {{cite web |title=Good Morning, Miss Dove|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53694-GOOD-MORNING-MISS-DOVE?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Battle Cry - Mrs. Forrester {{cite web |title=Battle Cry|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/51433-BATTLE-CRY?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • The McConnell Story - Mom Brown {{cite web |title=The McConnell Story|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/51573-THE-MCCONNELL-STORY?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1957

  • An Affair to Remember - Miss Lane {{cite web |title=An Affair to Remember|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/52082-AN-AFFAIR-TO-REMEMBER?cxt=filmography|website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Short Cut to Hell - Adam's secretary {{cite web |title=Short Cut to Hell|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/52364-SHORT-CUT-TO-HELL?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Gunfire at Indian Gap - Bessie Moran {{cite web |title=Gunfire at Indian Gap|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53733-GUNFIRE-AT-INDIAN-GAP?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Stopover Tokyo - Wife of High Commissioner {{cite web |title=Stopover Tokyo|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/52377-STOPOVER-TOKYO?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • No Time to Be Young - Helen Root {{cite web |title=No Time to Be Young|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/52303-NO-TIME-TO-BE-YOUNG?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1962

  • Moon Pilot - Mrs. Celia Talbot {{cite web |title=Moon Pilot|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23728-MOON-PILOT?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}
  • Tower of London - The Queen {{cite web |title=Tower of London|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20434-TOWER-OF-LONDON?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1964

  • Taggart - Maude Taggart {{cite web |title=Maude Taggart |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/22740-TAGGART?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1967

  • Don't Make Waves - Ethyl {{cite web |title=Don't Make Waves |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23713-DONT-MAKE-WAVES?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

1973

  • The World's Greatest Athlete - Woman in jeep who points out cheetah {{cite web |title=The World's Greatest Athlete |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/54850-THE-WORLDS-GREATEST-ATHLETE?cxt=filmography |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films. |access-date=June 3, 2021}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Dunning |first1=John |title=On the Air : The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=1998 |publisher=New York : Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |url=https://archive.org/stream/onairencyclop00dunn#page/n9/mode/2up}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{AFI person|138792-Sarah-Selby}}
  • {{IMDb name}}
  • {{TCMDb name}}
  • [https://cinema.library.ucla.edu/vwebv/search?searchArg=Sarah+Selby&searchCode=KCRD&setLimit=1&recCount=50&searchType=1&page.search.search.button=Search Sarah Selby at UCLA Film & Television Archive catalog]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Selby, Sarah}}

Category:1905 births

Category:1980 deaths

Category:Actresses from Ohio

Category:American film actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:Western (genre) film actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:Western (genre) television actors

Category:Actresses from Los Angeles

Category:Deaths from cancer in California