Alma Kruger
Alma Kruger was an American actress.
Career
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kruger had a long career on stage before appearing in films. From 1907 to 1935, she featured in theatre plays on Broadway, mostly in Shakespearean plays such as Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, and The Merchant of Venice.
Kruger was brought to Hollywood by Samuel Goldwyn. She appeared in her first film These Three while in her 60s. She then proceeded to act in over 40 films in the space of little more than a decade. Among her notable roles was Nurse Molly Byrd, the superintendent of nurses in the popular Dr. Kildare/Dr. Gillespie film series, appearing in all but the first two of the 16 movies.
She portrayed Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in Marie Antoinette and the almost mother-in-law of Rosalind Russell's lead character in His Girl Friday, after already playing an in-law to Russell's character four years earlier in Craig's Wife. In 1942, she appeared as the subversive society matron Henrietta Sutton in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur. Kruger's last film appearance was in the film Forever Amber.
On radio, Kruger played Emily Mayfield on Those We Love and the captain's wife on Show Boat.
Death
Kruger died of natural causes on April 5, 1960 in a nursing home in Seattle, Washington. She is believed to have been 88 years old.
Filmography
These Three – Mrs. Amelia TilfordCraig's Wife – Ellen AustenLove Letters of a Star – Veronica ToddThe Mighty Treve – Mrs. DavisBreezing Home – Mrs. EvansThe Man in Blue – Mrs. DunneVogues of 1938 – Sophie MillerOne Hundred Men and a Girl – Mrs. TylerThe Toy Wife – Madame VallaireMarie Antoinette – Empress Maria TheresaMother Carey's Chickens – Aunt BerthaTarnished Angel – Mrs. Harry StocktonThe Great Waltz – Mrs. StraussMade for Each Other – Sister MadelineCalling Dr. Kildare – Molly ByrdThe Secret of Dr. Kildare – Head Nurse Molly ByrdBalalaika – Mrs. DanchenoffHis Girl Friday – Mrs. BaldwinDr. Kildare's Strange Case – Molly Byrd, Superintendent of NursesAnne of Windy Poplars – Mrs. Stephen PringleDr. Kildare Goes Home – Molly ByrdYou'll Find Out – Aunt MargoDr. Kildare's Crisis – Molly ByrdBlonde Inspiration – VictoriaThe Trial of Mary Dugan – Dr. SaundersThe People vs. Dr. Kildare – Molly ByrdPuddin' Head – Molly ByrdDr. Kildare's Wedding Day – Molly ByrdDr. Kildare's Victory – Molly ByrdSaboteur – Mrs. SuttonCalling Dr. Gillespie – Molly ByrdDr. Gillespie's New Assistant – Molly ByrdThat Other Woman – Grandma BordenDr. Gillespie's Criminal Case – Molly ByrdThree Men in White – Molly ByrdOur Hearts Were Young and Gay – Mrs. LambertonBabes on Swing Street – Martha CurtisMrs. Parkington – Mrs. Jacob Livingstone Between Two Women – Nurse Molly ByrdCrime Doctor's Warning – Mrs. Wellington Lake Colonel Effingham's Raid – Mrs. Clyde Manadue Do You Love Me – Mrs. Joshua Frederick Crackleton A Scandal in Paris – Marquise De PierremontFun on a Weekend – Mrs. Van OrsdaleDark Delusion – Molly ByrdForever Amber – Lady Redmond