What Happened to Grandma on The Waltons? Who Played Her Role?

Grandma On The Waltons

Ellen Corby, known for her role as Grandma Walton on the TV show “The Waltons,” had an interesting personal life beyond the series. According to an article from AmoMama, Corby had a lifelong friendship with a woman named Stella Luchetta. While they were initially reported to be friends, it was speculated that their relationship went beyond friendship. In fact, the two women lived together for over 50 years.

Before her relationship with Luchetta, Corby was married to Francis Corby, whom she later divorced in 1944. They did not have any children together. Despite her personal life, Corby’s professional achievements were noteworthy. Her portrayal of Esther Walton on “The Waltons” earned her three Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award, highlighting her exceptional talent.

During her time on “The Waltons,” Corby worked closely with Will Geer, who portrayed Zebulon Walton, until his death in 1978. Following a severe stroke on November 10, 1976, Corby was forced to leave the show. The stroke significantly affected her speech and mobility. However, she made a limited return to the series during the 1977-78 season, portraying Grandma Walton as someone who was also dealing with the effects of a stroke.

Despite her health challenges, Corby remained connected to “The Waltons.” She appeared in five out of six reunion TV movies between 1982 and 1997, demonstrating her enduring commitment to the show. Sadly, Ellen Corby passed away on April 14, 1999, at the age of 87. She was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

In addition to her iconic role on “The Waltons,” Corby had a prolific career appearing in numerous TV shows and movies. Some of her TV appearances included popular shows like “I Love Lucy,” “Peter Gunn,” “Perry Mason,” “Bonanza,” “Lassie,” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” She also appeared in notable films such as “The Glass Bottom Boat,” “The Gunfighter,” “Sabrina,” “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer,” and “Fearless Fagan.”

Corby’s bond with her co-star Jon Walmsley, who portrayed Jason Walton, was also noteworthy. In a 1974 interview, Corby mentioned their close relationship, stating that since Jon had no grandparents and she had no grandson, they had adopted each other in a way. Ellen Corby’s legacy as Grandma Walton on “The Waltons” and her impressive career will always be remembered and celebrated.

What Happened to Grandma on The Waltons?

Ellen Corby, the actress who portrayed Grandma Esther Walton on the TV show The Waltons, faced some challenges during her time on the series. In November 1976, she suffered a stroke, which greatly impacted her health and ability to continue working on the show. Her dedication and punctuality on set made her absence noticeable to her fellow cast members, and when she didn’t arrive on time, Will Geer, one of her co-stars, accompanied producers to her home. There, they discovered her after the stroke had occurred.

Following her stroke, Corby had to significantly reduce her involvement in The Waltons due to her health condition. However, she did make sporadic appearances in certain episodes and specials, such as A Waltons Easter. Despite her declining health, Corby remained beloved by fans, and in 1989, she was honored with the Golden Boot Award from the Motion Picture and Television Fund for her extensive contributions to Western-themed productions.

Unfortunately, Ellen Corby’s health continued to decline, and she passed away on Wednesday, April 14, 1999, at the age of 87. She died at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Her portrayal of Grandma Esther Walton left a lasting impact on audiences, and she is fondly remembered for her role in the series.

Who Plays Grandma on The Waltons?

Ellen Corby, born Ellen Hansen on June 3, 1911, in Racine, Wisconsin, was an American actress and screenwriter known for her role as Grandma Esther Walton on the television series “The Waltons.” Her career spanned several decades, during which she received critical acclaim and numerous accolades.

Ellen Hansen’s interest in amateur theater during her high school years led her to Atlantic City, where she briefly worked as a chorus girl. In 1932, she moved to Hollywood and began working as a script girl at RKO Studios and Hal Roach Studios. It was during this time that she crossed paths with cinematographer Francis Corby, whom she would later marry. Ellen held the position of a script girl for 12 years while pursuing acting lessons on the side.

Corby’s acting career started with bit parts in over 30 films in the 1930s and 1940s. Some notable films she appeared in include “Babes in Toyland” (1934) and “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Her first credited acting role was in RKO’s “Cornered” (1945), followed by an uncredited speaking role in “The Locket” (1946). Additionally, she worked as a writer at Paramount Studios, contributing to the western film “Twilight on the Trail” (1941).

Her breakthrough came when she received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Aunt Trina in “I Remember Mama” (1948). Throughout her career, Corby often portrayed maids, secretaries, waitresses, and gossips, frequently appearing in Westerns. She had a recurring role as Henrietta Porter, a newspaper publisher, in the TV series “Trackdown.”

Corby made guest appearances on various popular television shows, including “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Wagon Train,” “Cheyenne,” “The Rifleman,” “Bonanza,” “The Big Valley,” and many others. However, her most prominent role came as Grandma Esther Walton in the made-for-TV film “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story” (1971), which served as the pilot for “The Waltons.”

She reprised her role in the subsequent TV series, which ran from 1972 to 1981, and in six sequel films. Her on-screen husband, Zebulon Walton, was portrayed by actor Edgar Bergen in the pilot and later by Will Geer in the series. For her portrayal of Grandma Esther Walton, Corby received three Emmy Awards and three additional nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

She also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV series for her work on “The Waltons.” Unfortunately, on November 10, 1976, Corby suffered a severe stroke that affected her speech and mobility, forcing her to temporarily leave the show. She made a limited return in the 1977-78 season, with her character depicted as recovering from a stroke as well.

Corby continued to appear on “The Waltons” until the end of the 1978-79 season, portraying Esther Walton while dealing with her own stroke deficits in real life. Her role transitioned to recurring during the final two seasons of the show. However, she returned to play Grandma Walton in five out of the six Waltons reunion movies released between 1982 and 1997.

Ellen Corby Family

In 1934, Ellen Hansen married Francis Corby, a film director/cinematographer who was twenty years older than her. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1944, and they did not have any children together. Following the divorce, Ellen met Stella Luchetta in 1954, and they remained close friends for the rest of Ellen’s life.

In 1969, Ellen Corby received training in Transcendental Meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India. She had already been practicing the technique for several years prior to that.

In November 1976, Ellen suffered a stroke, but she was able to recover and return to her role on the TV series “The Waltons” in March 1978. Michael Learned, who played Olivia Walton on the show, mentioned that Will Geer, the actor who portrayed Ellen’s on-screen husband, Zebulon Walton, may have saved her life.

Geer became concerned when Ellen didn’t show up for work, as she was always punctual and professional. Geer accompanied the show’s producers to her home, where they discovered that she had experienced a stroke.

Ellen’s final acting role was in the TV movie “A Walton Easter” in 1997. After several years of declining health, she passed away at the age of 87 in 1999. She died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Her memorial site is located at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

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