Gloria Frances Stuart (July 4, 1910 – September 26, 2010) was an American actress. Over a Hollywood career that has spanned more than 70 years, Stuart appeared on stage, in television and film, and was best known for her roles as Claude Rains’ sweetheart in The Invisible Man and as Old Rose in her Academy Award nominated role in the film Titanic.
Stuart was an activist and became a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild, but her career with Universal was disappointing. She moved to 20th Century Fox, and by the end of the decade had appeared in 42 films, including Busby Berkeley’s Gold Diggers of 1935 and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Among the stars she appeared with was Melvyn Douglas, Lionel Barrymore, Dick Powell, Raymond Massey, Boris Karloff, and Shirley Temple. Stuart was a versatile female lead, but was never given the roles that would make her a major star, a source of great frustration.
1996, Stuart landed the character of 100-year-old Rose, at the heart of James Cameron’s epic Titanic. Stuart was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She is still the the oldest person ever to have been nominated for an Oscar.
Death of Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart died from natural causes in her sleep at her home in West Los Angeles on September 26, 2010. Gloria Stuart was 100 years old at the time of her death.