Ethel Wales (April 4, 1878 – February 15, 1952) was a prolific American actress who appeared in more than 130 films over a three-decade career, becoming a familiar face in both silent films and early “talkies.”
Originally a stage actress, Wales began a professional relationship with the legendary DeMille brothers, working as a secretary and casting director for them before being signed to a long-term acting contract. She appeared in numerous silent films, including the epic Western The Covered Wagon (1923), the Lon Chaney horror classic The Monster (1925), and Cecil B. DeMille’s Manslaughter (1922).
She transitioned smoothly into the sound era, often playing spinsters, neighbors, and society women. Her memorable sound-era roles include Mrs. Harper in the first film adaptation of Tom Sawyer (1930) and a part in the all-star historical epic The Sign of the Cross (1932), cementing her legacy as a dependable and versatile actress of Hollywood’s formative years.
