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Esther Howard

Esther Howard

Actor · Died March 8, 1965, aged 72 · Butte, Montana, USA

Esther Howard (April 4, 1892 – March 8, 1965) was an American stage and film character actress who played a wide range of supporting roles, from man-hungry spinsters to amoral criminals, appearing in 108 films in her 23-year screen career. From 1940 to 1949, Howard was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges. From 1937, Howard was a regular player in short-subjects produced at Columbia Pictures, where she was frequently cast opposite comedian Andy Clyde. Her last film was a Columbia comedy short, Caught on the Bounce (1952), in which she played Joe Besser's aunt. From Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 2, 1892
Died
March 8, 1965 (aged 72)
From
Butte, Montana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 77 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 39% in 30 days

What are Esther Howard's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove 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
Morality
43%
Self
17%
Bonds
14%
Power
12%
Society
5%
Ideas
5%
Survival
4%
Deception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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 6 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 2

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 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Melancholic
4
Romantic
3
Joyful
2
Hopeful
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Esther Howard's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Esther Howard's titles on MovieCove; 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

77 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page.

  • Caught on the Bounce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Aunt Tildy

  • All That I Have (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mrs. Dalton

  • Caged(1950)

    as Grace (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • No Man of Her Own(1950)

    as Frowsy Woman in boardinghouse (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hellfire(1949)

    as Birdie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Lady Gambles(1949)

    as Gross Lady

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Crooked Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Hotel Proprietess (uncredited)

  • Champion(1949)

    as Mrs. Kelly

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Homicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mrs. Brucker, Landlady

  • June Bride(1948)

    as Mrs. Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Velvet Touch(1948)

    as Pansy Dupont

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Wedlock Deadlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Lydia - Betty's Mother

  • Song of the Thin Man(1947)

    as Sadie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Born to Kill(1947)

    as Mrs. Kraft

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Dick Tracy vs. Cueball(1946)

    as Filthy Flora, Dripping Dagger Proprietor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • A Letter for Evie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mrs. Edgewaters

  • Without Reservations(1946)

    as Sarah (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Virginian(1946)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Falcon's Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Gloria Peabody

  • Adventure(1945)

    as Woman with Mudgin in bar

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Detour(1945)

    as Hedy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Great Flamarion(1945)

    as Cleo

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Murder, My Sweet(1944)

    as Jesse Florian

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Big Noise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Aunt Sophie

  • The Miracle of Morgan's Creek(1943)

    as Sally (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hail the Conquering Hero(1944)

    as Mrs. Everett J. Noble (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Idle Roomers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Hazel's Roommate (uncredited)

  • True to Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Woman (uncredited)

  • I Married a Witch(1942)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Palm Beach Story(1942)

    as Wife of Wienie King

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Jackass Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Dancehall Girl

  • My Favorite Blonde(1942)

    as Mrs. Topley

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Sappy Birthday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Actor

  • Sullivan's Travels(1941)

    as Miz Zeffie

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Lady from Cheyenne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Landlady

  • San Francisco Docks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Jean-Beauty Shop owner

  • The Great McGinty(1940)

    as Madame Juliette La Jolla

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Social Sea Lions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Singer at Party

  • Boobs in the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Clyde

  • Alex in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Blanche - Fred's Wife

  • Ride, Cowboy, Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Cactus Kate Ramsey

  • The Gracie Allen Murder Case(1939)

    as Florist

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Broadway Serenade(1939)

    as Mrs. Fellows

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Swing, Sister, Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Miss Fredericks

  • Marie Antoinette(1938)

    as Streetwalker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Scandal Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Birdie Brown

  • Stand-In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs, Mack

  • Partners in Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Wagon

  • Dead End(1937)

    as Neighbor with Coarse Voice (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Rhythm in the Clouds(1937)

    as Mrs. Madigan

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • M'Liss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Rose

  • Florida Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Flirtatious Dowager (uncredited)

  • Klondike Annie(1936)

    as Fanny Radler

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Stars Over Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mary Sporesgate

  • It Always Happens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mary Clyde

  • The Misses Stooge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as The Hostess

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

    as Tired Mother

  • The Best Man Wins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mamie

  • Ready for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Aunt Ida

  • Sweepings(1933)

    as Violet's Madame (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Below the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lily

  • Grand Slam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mary

  • The Iron Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mrs. Stillman

  • Second Hand Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mrs. Trumbull (Uncredited)

  • Rackety Rax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as 'Sister' Carrie

  • Tee for Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Louisa

  • Life Begins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Tubby’s Friend (uncredited)

  • Winner Take All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Ann, Joan's Friend

  • Merrily We Go to Hell(1932)

    as Vi

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Maggie Kelly

  • A Fool's Advice(1932)

    as Mrs. Prescott

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Ladies of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Clara Newman

  • The Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Wife

  • The Yellow Ticket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Prisoner

  • Wicked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Extra (uncredited)

  • The Vice Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Josie

  • Ship Ahoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Mother

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 77 titles from 1931 to 1952.

Biggest box office

Detour (1945)

$16K worldwide

Highest rated

Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Detour (1945)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting77 of 77: 77 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

By decade

1930s37 · acting1940s36 · acting1950s4 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
3247

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 MovieCove, 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 Esther Howard's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

A Fool's Advice (1932)

50th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 MovieCove 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.

Who does Esther Howard work with?

People who share at least 2 of Esther Howard's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sid Rogell shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers

Producers