
Ruth Donnelly
ActingAbout Ruth Donnelly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982) was an American stage and film actress. Her father was the mayor of Trenton, New Jersey. She began her stage career at the age of 17 in 1913, in The Quaker Girl. Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who proceeded to cast her in numerous comic-relief roles in such musicals as Going Up (1917). Though she made her first film appearance in 1913, her Hollywood career began in earnest in 1931 and lasted until 1957. In her films she often played the wife of Guy Kibbee (Footlight Parade, Wonder Bar, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). Among her roles was the part of Sister Michael in The Bells of St. Mary's, starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman.
Ruth Donnelly Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Ruth Donnelly reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Ruth Donnelly's work falls within the Comedy genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 36% of Ruth Donnelly's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Roundup, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Ruth Donnelly Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ruth Donnelly's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Ruth Donnelly has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Autumn Leaves | Liz Eckhart | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Wild Blue Yonder | Maj. Ida Winton | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Secret of Convict Lake | Mary Fancher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | I'd Climb the Highest Mountain | Glory White | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Where the Sidewalk Ends | Martha | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Snake Pit | Ruth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Fighting Father Dunne | Kate Mulvey | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | In Old Sacramento | Zebby Booker | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Bells of St. Mary's | Sister Michael | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Breakdowns of 1944 | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Nurse Hamilton | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | This Is the Army | Mrs. O'Brien | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Rise and Shine | Mame Bacon | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | You Belong to Me | Emma | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Roundup | Polly Hope | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | My Little Chickadee | Aunt Lou | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Amazing Mr. Williams | Effie Perkins | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington | Emma Hopper | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Army Girl | Leila Kennett | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | A Slight Case of Murder | Nora Marko | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | More Than a Secretary | Helen Davis | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Cain and Mabel | Aunt Mimi | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | Mabel Dawson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Behind the Scenes of Cain and Mabel | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Personal Maid's Secret | Lizzie | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Hands Across the Table | Laura | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Red Salute | Mrs. Edith Rooney | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Alibi Ike | Bess | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Traveling Saleslady | Mrs. Twitchell | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The White Cockatoo | Mrs. Byng | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Maybe It's Love | Florrie Sands | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Happiness Ahead | Anna | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Housewife | Dora Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Wonder Bar | Emma Simpson | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Heat Lightning | Mrs. Ashton-Ashley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Mandalay | Mrs. George Peters | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Havana Widows | Mrs. Emily Jones | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Female | Miss Frothingham | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Footlight Parade | Mrs. Harriet Gould | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Bureau of Missing Persons | Gwendolyn 'Pete' Harris | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Private Detective 62 | Amy Moran | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Employees' Entrance | Miss Hall, Anderson's secretary | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk About | Noonan | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Hard to Handle | Lil Waters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Just Around the Corner | Mrs. Sears | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Blessed Event | Miss Stevens | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Jewel Robbery | Berta, Teri's Maid (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Make Me a Star | The Countess | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Spider | Mrs. Wimbledon | Average | Similar → |
Ruth Donnelly - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ruth Donnelly?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ruth Donnelly is "The Roundup" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Ruth Donnelly acted in?
Ruth Donnelly has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ruth Donnelly?
Other notable films include "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town", and "Where the Sidewalk Ends".




