Raised in California

Began career as a stage actress

Signed to movie contract after appearing on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse

Movie contract was the subject of dispute between Paramount and Universal Studios; arbitration by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America settled it in Universal's favor

Made feature film debut in "Street of Women"

Made first of three key films with director James Whale, "The Old Dark House"

Primary association with Universal Studios ended

Worked foremost for Twentieth Century-Fox

Last notable film role, as the Queen in an adaptation of "The Three Musketeers"

Was absent from feature film work; worked occasionally as a stage actress

Returned to films to act in "Enemy of Women"

Retired from screen acting; last feature film for 36 years, "She Wrote the Book"

Took up painting

Had a one-woman show exhibiting her paintings in New York

Resumed acting career with TV appearances in the late 1970s

Returned to feature film acting with a small role in "My Favorite Year"

Received critical notice for her most prominent film role in over 50 years, in "Titanic"; earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; at age 87, became the oldest actress ever to receive a nomination

Co-starred as Kate Capshaw's grandmother in "The Love Letter"

Played a foul-mouthed bag lady in Wim Wenders' "Million Dollar Hotel"; screen at Berlin Film Festival; released theatrically in 2001

Portrayed a retired CIA operative in the Lifetime movie "My Mother the Spy"

Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (September 27)

Made guest appearance as the title character's grandmother on the Sci-Fi Channel series "The Invisible Man"