Esther Howard

Switching from Broadway to Hollywood in 1931, actress 'Esther Howard' (qv) was an expert at portraying frumpy old crones, man-hungry spinsters and oversexed dowagers. Utilizing her wide, expressive eyes and versatile voice for both broad comedy and tense drama, Howard was equally at home portraying slatternly toss-pot Mrs. Florian in _Murder, My Sweet (1944)_ (qv) as she was in the role of genteelly homicidal Aunt Sophie in Laurel and Hardy's _The Big Noise (1944)_ (qv). She was a regular participant in the films of writer/director 'Preston Sturges' (qv), playing everything from an addled farm woman in _Sullivan's Travels (1941)_ (qv) to the bejeweled wife of "The Wienie King" in _The Palm Beach Story (1942)_ (qv). From 1935 to 1952, 'Esther Howard' (qv) was a fixture of Columbia's short-subject unit, usually cast as the wife or sweetheart of comedian 'Andy Clyde' (qv).::Anonymous