Lucille La Verne Mitchum (November 7, 1872 – March 4, 1945) was an American actress known for her appearances in early sound films, as well as for her triumphs on the American stage. She is most widely remembered to modern audiences as the voice of the first Disney villain, the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature film, serving as her final film role.
Biography
Lucille La Verne Mitchum was born near Nashville, Tennessee, on November 7, 1872 (although some sources say 1869). She began her career as a child in local summer stock. As a teenager, she performed in small touring theater troupes. When she was 14, she played both Juliet and Lady Macbeth back to back. Her ability to play almost any part quickly caught the attention of more prolific companies, and she made her Broadway debut in 1888. She then became a leading lady with some of the best stock companies in America, scoring triumphs in San Francisco, Boston, and other cities. She eventually ran her own successful stock company.
On the New York stage, she was known for her range and versatility. Among her hits on Broadway were principal roles in Uncle Tom's Cabin, Seven Days and Way Down East. She was also known for her blackface roles. Her biggest stage triumph came in 1923 when she created the role of Widow Caggle in the hit play Sun Up. With her Broadway run, US tour, and European tour, La Verne gave over 3,000 performances. She also worked on Broadway as a playwright and director. In the late 1920s, a Broadway theater was named for her for a short period of time.
In 1934, La Verne experienced a life-threatening medical emergency and needed the muscles along her rib cage to be reconstructed by Los Angeles surgeons, from which she recovered.
She made her motion picture debut in 1915 in the movie Over Night directed by James Young. She also performed small parts in the movies Polly of the Circus, directed by Charles Thomas Horan and Edwin L. Hollywood, and Orphans of the Storm, directed by D.W. Griffith. Her best known part is that of the voice of the Evil Queen, and her alter ego of the old witch from Disney's 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which was her final film performance.
Death Lucille La Verne died at the age of 72 in Culver City, California, on March 4, 1945, after suffering from lung cancer. She was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery. Her grave remained unmarked for seven decades until a GoFundMe was set up in 2020.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes 1915Over NightMinor Role1916Sweet Kitty BellairsLady MariaCredited as "Lucille Lavarney"The Thousand-Dollar HusbandMme. BataviaCredited as "Lucille La Varney" 1917Polly of the CircusMandy1918The Life MaskSarah HardenTempered SteelOld Mammy 1919The Praise AgentMrs. Eubanks 1921Orphans of the StormMother Frochard1923The White Rose'Auntie' EasterCredited as "Lucille Laverne"ZazaAunt RosaAmong the MissingThe Mother1924AmericaRefugee MotherHis Darker SelfAunt Lucy 1925Sun-UpMother 1928The Last MomentInnkeeper1930Abraham LincolnMid-wifeSinners' HolidayMrs. DelanoCredited as "Lucille LaVerne"Du Barry, Woman of PassionMinor RoleVoice; uncreditedThe ComebackUnknownShort film1931Little CaesarMa MagdalenaUncreditedThe Great MeadowElvira JarvisAn American TragedyMrs. Asa Griffiths24 HoursMrs. DacklehorseThe Unholy GardenLucie Villars1932Union DepotLady with pipeUncreditedShe Wanted a MillionaireMother NortonAlias the DoctorMartha Brenner, Karl's foster motherCredited as "Lucille LaVerne"While Paris SleepsMme. Golden BonnetHearts of HumanityMrs. SneiderBreach of PromiseMrs. FlynnA Strange AdventureMiss SheenWild Horse MesaMa [The General] Melberne1933PilgrimageMrs. Kelly HatfieldThe Last TrailMrs. Wilson1934BelovedMrs. BriggsSchool for GirlsMiss KeebleKentucky KernelsAunt HannahCredited as "Lucille LaVerne"The Mighty BarnumJoice Heth 1935A Tale of Two CitiesThe VengeanceCredited as "Lucille LaVerne"1936Hearts of HumanityMinor RoleEllis IslandRadioVoice; uncredited 1937Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven DwarfsQueen GrimhildeVoice; uncredited
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