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Mary Astor

Mary Astor

Actor · Died September 25, 1987, aged 81 · Quincy, Illinois, USA

Mary Astor (May 3, 1906 - September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Most remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941) with Humphrey Bogart, Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s. She eventually made a successful transition to talkies, but almost saw her career destroyed due to public scandal in the mid-1930s. She was sued for support by her parents and was later branded an adulterous wife by her ex-husband during a custody fight over her daughter. Overcoming these stumbling blocks in her private life, Astor went on to even greater success on the screen, eventually winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Sandra Kovak in The Great Lie (1941). She was an MGM contract player through most of the 1940s and continued to act in movies, on television and on stage until her retirement from the screen in 1964. Astor was the author of five novels. Her autobiography became a bestseller, as did her later book, A Life on Film, which was specifically about her career. Director Lindsay Anderson wrote of her in 1990: "...(W)hen two or three who love the cinema are gathered together, the name of Mary Astor always comes up, and everybody agrees that she was an actress of special attraction, whose qualities of depth and reality always seemed to illuminate the parts she played." Description above from the Wikipedia article Mary Astor, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 3, 1906
Died
September 25, 1987 (aged 81)
From
Quincy, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
41 on Motif · 148 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Mary Astor's films like?

Across their 37 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
37%
Morality
25%
Self
15%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Survival
5%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 16 · Serious 14 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 22 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 21 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 4

Easy watch: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their easy watch movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 17 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 6 of 17 analyzed roles.

Shadow
6 of 17
Threshold guardian
3 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Ally
2 of 17
Mentor
2 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
13
Joyful
9
Warm
8
Romantic
10
Other
39

How their films linger

Feel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Mary Astor's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 41 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mary Astor's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

148 credits, 41 with a Motif page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte(1964)

    as Jewel Mayhew

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Youngblood Hawke(1964)

    as Irene Perry

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Florence Roberts

  • Ben Casey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Frances · as Martha Lantzinge

  • The Defenders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Flora Goode

  • Return to Peyton Place(1961)

    as Roberta Carter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Checkmate (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Esther Brack

  • Thriller (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose French

  • Journey to the Day (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Helen May Whitfield

  • The Snows of Kilimanjaro (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Mrs. Leslie

  • A Stranger in My Arms(1959)

    as Virgilnie Beasley

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Rawhide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma Cardwell

  • The Littlest Enemy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mrs. Wickens

  • This Happy Feeling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mrs. Tremaine

  • The Troublemakers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Mattie Gerrity

  • The Devil's Hairpin(1957)

    as Mrs. Jargin

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Ninth Day (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Virginia Jackson

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah Simmons

  • The Power and the Prize(1956)

    as Mrs. George Salt

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • A Kiss Before Dying(1956)

    as Mrs. Corliss

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Dolan · as Mrs. Fenimore

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Thief (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    as Isabelle Lagarde

  • Producers' Showcase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Blake

  • Climax! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Clarissa Bowman · as Ethel Allen · as Martha · as Mrs. Harriss

  • Yesterday and Today (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    as (archive footage)

  • The United States Steel Hour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Isabelle Lagarde

  • General Electric Theater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Bea Hicks

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Eliot · as Mildred Le Brun

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Norma Desmond

  • Any Number Can Play(1949)

    as Ada

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Little Women(1949)

    as Marmee

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Act of Violence(1948)

    as Pat

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Studio One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Harriet Brand · as Ruth Sparling

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cass Timberlane(1947)

    as Queenie Havock

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Cynthia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Louise Bishop

  • Desert Fury(1947)

    as Fritzi Haller

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Fiesta(1947)

    as Señora Morales

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Okay for Sound (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Adriana (archive footage)

  • Claudia and David (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Elizabeth Van Doren

  • Blonde Fever (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Delilah Donay

  • Meet Me in St. Louis(1944)

    as Anna Smith

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Thousands Cheer(1943)

    as Hyllary Jones

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Young Ideas(1943)

    as Josephine Evans

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Across the Pacific(1942)

    as Alberta Marlow

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Palm Beach Story(1942)

    as The Princess Centimillia

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Maltese Falcon(1941)

    as Brigid O'Shaughnessy

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Great Lie(1941)

    as Sandra Kovak

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Brigham Young(1940)

    as Mary Ann Young

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Turnabout (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marion Manning

  • Midnight(1939)

    as Helene Flammarion

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Listen, Darling(1938)

    as Dottie Wingate

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Woman Against Woman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Cynthia Holland

  • Paradise for Three (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mrs. Irene Mallebre

  • There's Always a Woman(1938)

    as Lola Fraser

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • No Time to Marry (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Kay McGowan

  • The Hurricane(1937)

    as Mme. DeLaage

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Prisoner of Zenda(1937)

    as Antoinette de Mauban

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Lady from Nowhere (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Polly Dunlap

  • Dodsworth(1936)

    as Edith Cortright

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Trapped by Television (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Barbara 'Bobby' Blake

  • And So They Were Married (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Edith Farnham

  • The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lillian Cooper

  • Man of Iron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Vida

  • Page Miss Glory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Gladys

  • Dinky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Martha Daniels

  • Straight from the Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Marian Henshaw

  • Red Hot Tires (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Patricia Sanford

  • I Am a Thief (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Odette Mauclair

  • The Case of the Howling Dog(1934)

    as Bessie Foley

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Man with Two Faces (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Jessica Wells

  • Return of the Terror (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Olga Morgan

  • Upperworld (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Hettie Stream

  • Easy to Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Charlotte

  • Convention City(1933)

    as Arlene Dale

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The World Changes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Virginia Claffin Nordholm

  • The Kennel Murder Case(1933)

    as Hilda Lake

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Jennie Gerhardt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Letty Pace

  • The Little Giant(1933)

    as Ruth Wayburn

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Red Dust(1932)

    as Barbara "Babs" Willis

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Successful Calamity (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Emmy 'Sweetie' Wilton

  • Those We Love(1932)

    as May Ballard

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Squadron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Follette Marsh

  • Men of Chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Marthe

  • Smart Woman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Nancy Gibson

  • White Shoulders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Norma Selbee

  • The Sin Ship (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Frisco Kitty

  • Behind Office Doors(1931)

    as Mary Linden

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Other Men's Women(1930)

    as Lily Kulper

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Royal Bed(1931)

    as Princess Anne

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Lash (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dona Rosita Garcia

  • Holiday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Julia Seton

  • Ladies Love Brutes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Mimi Howell

  • The Runaway Bride (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Mary Gray

  • Show of Shows(1929)

    as Performer in 'The Pirate' Number (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Woman from Hell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Dee Renaud

  • New Year's Eve (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Marjorie Ware

  • Romance of the Underworld (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Judith Andrews

  • Dry Martini (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Elizabeth Quimby

  • Heart to Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Princess Delatorre / Ellen Guthrie

  • 3-Ring Marriage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Anna

  • Dressed to Kill (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jeanne

  • Sailors' Wives (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Carol Trent

  • No Place to Go (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Sally Montgomery

  • The Rough Riders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Dolly

  • Rose of the Golden West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Elena

  • Two Arabian Knights (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mirza

  • The Sunset Derby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Molly Gibson

  • The Sea Tiger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Amy Cortissos

  • Forever After (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Jennie Clayton

  • Don Juan(1926)

    as Adriana della Varnese

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Wise Guy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Mary

  • High Steppers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Audrey Nye

  • Scarlet Saint (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Fidele Tridon

  • The Pace That Thrills (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Doris

  • Don Q Son of Zorro(1925)

    as Dolores de Muro

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Playing with Souls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Margo

  • Enticement (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Leonore Bewlay

  • Oh, Doctor! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Dolores Hicks

  • Inez from Hollywood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Fay Bartholdi

  • The Price of a Party (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Alice Barrows

  • To the Ladies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Undetermined Secondary Role

  • Unguarded Women (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Helen Castle

  • The Fighting American (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Mary Brainard

  • Beau Brummel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Lady Margery Alvanley

  • The Fighting Coward (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Lucy

  • Woman-Proof (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Violet Lynwood

  • The Marriage Maker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Vivian Hope-Clarke

  • Puritan Passions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Rachel

  • Hollywood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Mary Astor

  • The Bright Shawl (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Narcissa Escobar

  • Success (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Rose Randolph

  • Second Fiddle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Polly Crawford

  • The Rapids (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Elsie Worden

  • The Man Who Played God (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Young Woman

  • Hope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Joan - the Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter

  • John Smith (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Irene Mason

  • The Young Painter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Helen Seymour

  • The Angelus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Bit Part

  • Wings of the Border (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    Actor

  • The Beggar Maid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Peasant Girl / Beggar Maid

  • My Lady o' the Pines (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Norah Collison

  • Sentimental Tommy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    Actor

  • Brother of the Bear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Marcia Harthorn

  • Bullets or Ballots (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Bit Part

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles from 1921 to 1976.

Biggest box office

Little Women (1949)

$13M worldwide

Highest rated

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

Top draw in 7 Motif titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting148 of 148: 148 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1920s51 · acting1930s44 · acting1940s21 · acting1950s20 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
2742

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Mary Astor's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 40; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Convention City (1933)

87th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 37 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Mary Astor's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 34 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 8 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 9 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 21 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Mary Astor work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mary Astor's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jerome Cowan shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers