Marjorie Main Overview:

Legendary character actress, Marjorie Main, was born Mary Tomlinson on Feb 24, 1890 in Acton, IN. Main appeared in over 85 film roles. Her best known films include Meet Me in St. Louis, The Women, The Egg and I, and the Ma and Pa Kettle films. Main died at the age of 85 on Apr 10, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA .

MINI BIO:

Unique, crow-voiced Marjorie Main had a bundled-up nest of dark hair and a sack-of-Potatoes figure. She became a film regular after the early death of her husband and delighted audiences with a great series of haranguing harridans both comic and tragic; most memorably in partnership with Wallace Beery and later on, in the Ma and Pa Kettle series. She was Oscar nominated for The Egg and I. Died from cancer.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Main was nominated for one Oscar, she never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1947Best Supporting ActressThe Egg and I (1947)Ma KettleNominated
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Marjorie Main BlogHub Articles:

Know Your Character Actor – Marjorie Main

By smumcountry on Feb 24, 2016 From Smum County

February 24, 2016 by smumcounty Marjorie Main was born Mary Tomlinson on February 24th, 1890 in Acton Indiana. Marjorie caught the acting bug at an early age. She attended Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana for a year but then convinced her father to allow her to attend the Hamilton School of Dra... Read full article


Know Your Character Actor – Marjorie Main

By smumcountry on Feb 24, 2016 From Smum County

February 24, 2016 by smumcounty Marjorie Main was born Mary Tomlinson on February 24th, 1890 in Acton Indiana. Marjorie caught the acting bug at an early age. She attended Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana for a year but then convinced her father to allow her to attend the Hamilton School of Dra... Read full article


Marjorie Main, Happy Birthday! Born February 24th; 1890-1975 (2)

By C. S. Williams on Feb 24, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

Funny lady, Marjorie Main, born?Mary Tomlinson, in?Acton, Indiana, on Monday, February 24th, 1890, made her feature film debut in 1931 with ?A House Divided; she had 88 film credits and?was nominated for 1 Academy Award for?Best Actress in a Supporting Role,?as?Phoebe ‘Ma’ Kettle in The ... Read full article


Marjorie Main, Happy Birthday! Born February 24th; 1890-1975

By C. S. Williams on Feb 24, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

Funny lady, Marjorie Main, born?Mary Tomlinson, in?Acton, Indiana, on Monday, February 24th, 1890, made her feature film debut in 1931 with ?A House Divided; she had 88 film credits and?was nominated for 1 Academy Award for?Best Actress in a Supporting Role,?as?Phoebe ‘Ma’ Kettle in The ... Read full article


Marjorie Main, Happy Birthday! Born February 24th; 1890-1975

By C. S. Williams on Feb 24, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

Funny lady, Marjorie Main, born?Mary Tomlinson, in?Acton, Indiana, on Monday, February 24th, 1890, made her feature film debut in 1931 with ?A House Divided; she had 88 film credits and?was nominated for 1 Academy Award for?Best Actress in a Supporting Role,?as?Phoebe ‘Ma’ Kettle in The ... Read full article


See all Marjorie Main articles

Marjorie Main Quotes:

Mrs. McKessic: Well, bust my britches!


[she holds a rifle on her son, William, to prevent him from going upstairs after his wife]
William Cantrell: Say, what's the matter with you? What's that gun for?
Mrs. Cantrell: It's for you, Will. I thought I'd borned a man-child when I first hear'd you squallin'. But I didn't. I borned a dirty murderin' snake that's broke my heart to see it crawlin' along. You're no good, Will.
William Cantrell: I've killed a lot of men for saying less than that.
Mrs. Cantrell: You've killed a lot of men for sayin' nuthin' at all! Kansas is red with their bleedin'. I curse the day I ever had you.


Mrs. Phineas Hill: And when you leave, take Buffalo Bill with you!


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Best Supporting Actress Oscar 1947





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Marjorie Main Facts
She attended Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.

Long-time companion of actress Spring Byington.

Her husband, Stanley Lefevre Krebs, was born February 14, 1864 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

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