Susan French
Susan French Moultrie (January 23, 1912 – April 6, 2003) was an American stage, television, and film actress and puppeteer
Also recorded as Susan French Moultrie
Susan French
- Name
- Susan French
- Birth Name
- Susan French Moultrie
- Born
- 23 January 1912
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Died
- 6 April 2003
- Place of death
- Santa Monica, California, U.S.
- Education
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Occupation
- * Actress
- Spouse
- Donald Richard French Eliot (or Eliott) William Smith
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Susan French Moultrie (January 23, 1912 – April 6, 2003) was an American stage, television, and film actress and puppeteer
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Note VALÉORINE
Susan French (1912–2003) was an actress and marionetteist, of American nationality. The actress was born in Los Angeles and died in Santa Monica. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q1370941 · wikipedia · Susan French
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Susan French • Birth Name — Susan French Moultrie • Born — 23 January 1912 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 6 April 2003 • Place of death — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Education — American Academy of Dramatic Arts • Occupation — * Actress • puppeteer • Years Active — 1965–1997 • Spouse — Donald Richard French Eliot (or Eliott) William Smith
Early years
Early years
French was born in 1912 in Los Angeles, and was the daughter of Lloyd Moultrie, a show-business lawyer. She was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Marlborough School in Los Angeles.
Career
Career
French appeared in two Broadway plays early in her career and worked in radio, as well as a photographic stylist for three national magazines. She and her sister worked as riveters for the Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, and she helped start a theater group there. French appeared in the TV movie People Like Us (1990). She also played the roles of Mrs. Shaw in the 1979 TV movie Captain America II: Death Too Soon, and Bessie Gilmore in The Executioner's Song (1982). French acted in the soap opera Bare Essence (1982–1983) and appeared in episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Dallas, Falcon Crest, The Colbys, L.A. Law, Little House on the Prairie, Moonlighting, Quantum Leap, Perfect Strangers, Remington Steele, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her final television appearance was in an episode of Picket Fences. In addition, she had a recurring role on the CBS TV series Cagney & Lacey as Mrs. Skimmins. French appeared in Universal's 1980 film Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, and her other film credits include The Impossible Years (1968), Jaws 2 (1978), House (1985), The Verne Miller Story (1987), Flatliners (1990) and Younger and Younger (1993). Her last film role was in the live-action version of Fist of the North Star (1995).
Recognition
Recognition
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films designated her as the best supporting actress for her performance in Somewhere in Time.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
After her divorce from Donald Richard French, she married Eliot (or Eliott) William Smith in New York City on September 17, 1943. She died in Santa Monica, California, on April 6, 2003, aged 91.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1968 — The Impossible Years — Miss Hammer • 1969 — Justine — Clerk — Uncredited • 1973 — The Sting — Landlady — Uncredited • 1974 — Airport 1975 — Violet - Passenger — Uncredited • 1975 — The Hindenburg — Miss Grant — Uncredited • 1978 — Jaws 2 — Old Lady • 1980 — Somewhere in Time — Older Elise • 1985 — House — Aunt Elizabeth • 1987 — The Verne Miller Story — Bearded Lady • 1990 — Flatliners — Terminal Woman • 1992 — Exiled in America — Old Lady • 1993 — Younger and Younger — Grace • 1995 — Fist of the North Star — Old Woman
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1980 — Honor Thy Elders — Mrs. Morgan • 1988 — Perfect Strangers — Mrs. Van Wisser — S3, E20 • 1992 — Star Trek: The Next Generation — Sev Maylor • 1993 — Grace Under Fire — Lady in bathroom
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1912
Susan French was born on 23 January 1912.
2003
Susan French died at Santa Monica.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Los Angeles.
Birth place
Santa Monica.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1370941: Susan French
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Susan French”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.North, Gary. Susan French. Variety. April 20, 2003.
- 2.Lentz, Harris M. III. Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. 2004. 9780786417568.
- 3.Film Festivals. Hollywood Studio Magazine. 45. March 1981.
- 4.Lieut. Eliot Smith Wed in New York. Sunday New Yorker. 1 A. September 19, 1943.
- 5.Mrs. S. M. French Army Man's Bride: Former Susan Moultrie Wed to Lieut. Elllott W. Smith in Church of St, Nicholas. The New York Times. 18. September 18, 1943.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Susan French is recorded with the occupation television actor. Recorded as a citizen of United States.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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