Ellen Corby--Rare 1976 TV Interview, Grandma Walton

[@DRIVEIN101]

This was from May 26, 1976. Sadly, five-and-a-half months later, Ellen Corby suffered a stroke that kept her off "The Waltons" until her comeback in March 1978

[@stephensgate1]

I’m 56, and miss these shows so much. They played a role in who I am today. The Waltons, The Andy Griffith Show, Little House on the Prairie, and even The Johnny Carson Show.....they were clean, and uplifted and made our country better. Today, just about everything on T.V. is total trash. How we took all that for granted. I miss them all! -Stephen, Ohio

[@mikemcgrew65]

Buckeye Bushcrafter you said more than a mouth full, tv today will never be what it was.

[@johnsydney3378]

Amen

[@paulsoddsends8967]

I agree, The Waltons was feel good tv that left you happy unlike the general negative stuff of today.

[@mountainsaunter2061]

Buckeye Bushcrafter ...well said Buckeye.

[@hanklauzon6032]

Agreed

[@johnlevalley521]

Whenever I hear the theme of the Waltons, I feel transported back to the simplicity of my childhood in the 1970s.

[@patweeks4811]

The Walton's reminded me of how i was raised when I grew up back in the 50,s

[@RameyRocks]

@@patweeks4811 you're so lucky if you grew up like the Walton's. I'm mean times were hard but the kids were raised with much love and understanding.

[@RameyRocks]

Me too. Wish I could go back to the '70s. This world is getting so crazy I just want to go back.

[@yolandavega8189]

Same here

[@macedon4049]

When I'm bored at work, I daydream about the same thing all the time. Check out an old Hollies song called "Not That Way At All".

[@Cablecol]

Thank Mr Carson for not rushing or interrupting Ellen Corby's interview--very respectful. 💯👍💞

[@joanneleger7368]

Best Grand-ma on television ---EVER!!!! She resonated with us all. She was everyone's Grand-ma.

[@m.e.d.7997]

So feisty. But you knew there was discipline in that house.

[@juliewheatley8411]

I love her so much .She was so much like my man .She's my tv grandma

[@bettybryant7509]

I disagree. She was a mean grandma in The Waltons.

[@robertwinters9826]

@@m.e.d.7997 is she still alive

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@robertwinters9826 Ellen Corby died. Will Geer and John Waite. The kids and Michael Learned are living.

[@joanneleger7368]

I love Ellen Corby. Grew up watching The Waltons, I'm 53 yrs now and I still love watching this show. Luckily its still in re-runs on TV.

[@plainjayne1981]

I like the values of The Walton's.

[@susancunningham797]

It IS a great show, not hammed up like little house. I remember being in 5th grade and we kids would laugh about the show - g'night John boy etc. We knocked the show but I for one had never really watched it till adulthood

[@stephensgate1]

Joanne Léger I’m 56, and I feel the same way. -Stephen, Ohio

[@romankatz982]

Love Ellen Corby, too. I used to make fun of the series, too, when I was a kid. When I got older, I was really hooked. Beautiful scripts, music. And the acting is superb. The series is on Amazon now.

[@mikemcgrew65]

Roman Katz I get to watch the Walton's Monday thru Friday on INSP which is channel 259 on DishNetwork.

[@74Spirit1]

This is before her stroke had taken her speech. What a treasure.

[@brookehanley3659]

Great actress. Versatile. She had a stroke in November of 1976. I gave her credit for coming back on the show post-stroke. The silencing of Ellen Corby was felt on the show but at least we had her presence back for a time.

[@SandySaunders9142]

What a wonderful video tribute. She sure was a treasure. She was funny too! Her role on The Waltons kind of turned me off as I remember (as a wee child) she seemed so serious and severe. That was just a role though. She seemed like a lady I wish I could have known.

[@roadmaster720]

i remember her stroke in 1976 and her struggle to regain her speech on and off the show. we all "felt" for grandma walton/ellen corby. she was a great actress and i still enjoy the walton reruns today.a clean show w/o f and mf bombs every 3rd breath like some of today's tv shows.

[@hikerdog8562]

@ And you are proof being a prick isn't hard.

[@TheFishdoctor1952]

@ So are you acting like an a__hole or does it just come natural?

[@themandahouse7660]

I’m 28, grew up watching Walton’s with my mom and dad. Now I watch it with my son ❤️ Love grandma Walton

[@billphillips5821]

It's great that you're watching with your son. The show has so much to teach, so many character building lessons. I watched the show (original airings) as a kid with my Pawpaw (that's what we called a grandfather in West Virginia) and it's some of my fondest memories of childhood.

[@LadyMinKansas]

Bless her heart. This is phenomenal. 40+ years later and I still love them and Grandma. It's trying times right now during the pandemic and reruns provide a diversion to the difficulties of the situation. May she Rest In Peace.

[@tomkelly4336]

Also remember that she was in It's a Wonderful Life.

[@christophertiredofbs8514]

She was a crack Snacker

[@tammieparrishmiller3669]

Judy Norton who played Mary Ellen Walton has a channel here on KZbin where she talks about all sorts of things that have to do with the show and interviews the rest of the Walton family as well. It's great to watch and get to converse with her now and then. I believe her channel name is Judy Norton. I hope you get a chance to watch.

[@Irisbaby1-nw6fx]

I love this actress, don't care what her sexual preference was .

[@lisawilliams2013]

This is a particularly significant interview. It took place in May 1976; Corby suffered a stroke in the fall of that year. Great to see her looking and communicating well here. I’d actually not seen an interview with her before this. Great post.

[@constancedenchy9801]

Yes,and she did an amazing job when she came back to the show after her stroke

[@maggiemagoon9496]

When hosts let the guest talk. Love it.

[@corniss]

I loved the waltons. She was so perfect for part of grandma.

[@anastasiabeaverhausen8220]

I don't know why Miss Ellen popped up in my recommends all of a sudden, but I have to thank ME-TV for reshowing The Waltons. I've been watching every day at noon and enjoying it all over again. What a great film-quality show about real people and real genuine human sentiment. Ellen Corby and Will Geer were perfection. Such a great, healing, soothing thing to watch during these awful times in our country.

[@gregberg5559]

So intelligent, articulate, and heartfelt.

[@jessiejames7492]

Many of the old actresses were. Listen to Bette Davis speak. Such beauty. Not the rubbish thats spoken today

[@LectronCircuits]

Johnny Carson & Ellen Corby were class acts all the way. Cheers!

[@kathrynjordan8782]

I'm 53 and watched The Walton's. That show made me into the person who I am today. Ellen Corby always had some wisdom to share on the show through her character of Grandma. Thank you, Ellen!

[@lnl3237]

Ms. Corby's performance as Aunt Trina in the 1948 film "I Remember Mama" moves me deeply every time I see it. Just brilliant. Decades channel had a marathon showing of "The Waltons" last weekend. So wonderful to rediscover the entertainment of your youth, only now you identify with the older characters!

[@soulshaker9018]

Wonderful to see her , thank you. She was such a treasure.

[@valeriemoran842]

Ellen Corby was so real and down to earth. Such an amazing actress!

[@video198712]

She's from my home state of Wisconsin. In Racine, which is a suburb of Milwaukee, WI.

[@denisespurlock]

RIP, Ellen Corby. What an inspiration.

[@afvet5075]

Ellen Corby is an American Treasure. I loved that woman on the Walton's. It was the only time the whole family would sit down and watch something together. Yes even Mom and DAD.

[@grahamshoebridge4741]

Ellen Corby was a genuinely warm,versatile humanitarian,never a prude,shallow or superficially minded actress.Her incredible resourcefulness and natural affability went way beyond most of her era expected anyone to achieve.The Waltons showed some of Ellen's sharpest and best ever acting moment's. Ellen lived life and though confident, she was never complacent. Her relatable experiences showed her own dark moment's throughout her illustrious acting career.

[@lorettascott5477]

She's such a gem of a woman. I'm so happy I got to see this interview! She was a great lady may she RIP. 🙏🌹♥️🕊️

[@JeepGirl.24-7]

Growing up having Grandparents whom had already passed on, Grandpa and Grandma Walton were the next best thing. Loved them both! ❤

[@thomaspiccirillo2864]

Great actress Humble woman ! Fun Fact: Miss Corby was in March of the Wooden Soldiers! Non - credited ! RIP inspirational actress and Woman! Lurch's Mom Too!

[@brianwismer2529]

The Waltons was a great lesson for all of us to see how a family survived the hard years of the post-depression era of the 1930’s and 40’s. These simple life’s lessons are so needed today

[@GreasyBaconMan]

Simple, yet remarkably beautiful! Compared to how people in the family interact or engage through their phones always in hand.

[@kayt9576]

The great depression was between 1929- 1942, the start of war word 2

[@thatjpwing]

Such a classy person. I loved Ellen Corby in everything she's done. I miss so many elements of our past.

[@jasonlindsey9946]

What an actress! They don't come like that anymore. She's played with the greats. Her film history is extraordinary. Loved her short role in Harriet Craig, and she was lovable in the movie Caged. RIP Ellen.

[@normaminieri9024]

Beautiful woman! Her personal life is her business, wonderful actress!

[@TheOnlyOneStanding8079]

All the people in Ellen Corby generation is a treasure because they worked and lived through hard times and it shows us not to take life for granted and to live life full but with MORAL INTEGRITY AND THE AMERICAN WAY.

[@kristinthomas9835]

She lived an amazing life despite her stroke. Lived well into her 90’s.

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Wikipedia says she past at age 87.

[@teresaroberts2580]

What a beautiful woman and still watch the Waltons It was heart breaking when she had her stroke

[@emmylou-y4b]

I was a city girl and my family LOVED The Waltons. We watched every episode; the same for The Andy Griffith Show, Danny Thomas, Donna Reed and other shows that were well written and didn't give you nightmares the way today's shows do.

[@TRoxanne55]

She reminds me so much of my Grandma. A legend!

[@j.a.whittler6983]

Why are some commenters worried about if Ellen Corby was a lesbian? Who cares. Lol... this woman was a phenomenal actress. I truly loved her as the grandma on The Waltons. She played that role to perfection.

[@ibelivinu1]

i guess they don't know that grandpa walton was gay also,still loved him like he was my own grandpa!

[@bentleyr00d]

@@ibelivinu1 They were both bisexual. I don't think it makes a difference but it's still interesting.

[@ibelivinu1]

@@bentleyr00d don't give a damn, they were exceptional actors love their skills!

[@ibelivinu1]

@Chuck blankenship seriously! chuck!

[@ibelivinu1]

@Chuck blankenship her personal life is not your business chuck,grow up and get a life!

[@westvalley411]

Johnny handled the interview so well. He made the most of what she gave him...

[@jessiem276]

So down to earth...nothing fake about her. She truly sounds like a "Grandma". Would loved to have been around her 💙

[@richardmorehouse9369]

I loved and always looked forward for the new episodes of the Waltons. Thanks

[@josie_mary]

I watch the Waltons everyday on Hallmark, love grandma ❤️

[@2Brian]

She was a wonderful actress and an even more interesting woman, I can tell after watching this interview.

[@joecassell9655]

I loved Ellen Corby as grandma Walton

[@laurallewien2165]

Hey, it's Hubcaps Lesch!!!!! Ellen was truly a classy lady and I always held her in high regard along with Thelma Ritter, both ladies are a national treasure....

[@marcusjones2094]

She was a Lovely Woman

[@lauriekester4602]

She was great on Andy Griffith. Thnx for the upload.

[@christopheretzwiler5635]

Loved the Waltons reminded me of my mom and dad who were depression Era parents they are gone now 😢💔died 14 days apart in 2002 in July!!

[@karenleemallonee684]

Oh, she was lovely! lOl, I love her story about the cab!!! Rest in Peace, Ellen🌹

[@crissylinn3103]

Born in 82 and I can not miss an episode on MeTV !

[@shawnchristopherwhite3271]

I never realized how cosmopolitan she was! Charming story!

[@sammyvh11]

Listen to what this lady says young folks.

[@louisechristian7660]

We just bought the complete set of The Waltons and best $259 we have spent . Truly a family show and Christian values . Money well spent.

[@constantreader7944]

Her best performance was as the Irene Dunne’s old maid sister in “I Remember Mama.” Great movie, must see. One of George Stevens’ best. She’s a fine comedian.

[@robynowen2583]

Good movie

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@robynowen2583 I will try to watch that soon!

[@MTknitter22]

Constant Reader oh yes indeed. I agree.

[@jackimccall4483]

Do you remember her in "It's A Wonderful Life "

[@RameyRocks]

I never heard of that movie I'm going to have to look it up.

[@bellesparks4374]

She is lovely. Very sweet that she loved her dress so she wore it. Before everyone wore something new at every event.

[@denisenadeau5243]

im 66 and i miss these shows too. thankyou soo much

[@beckyobrien539]

she was an awesome grandma on the waltons I'm watching the show now I feel like I have a grandma when I watch the show since I don't have my grandparents anymore

[@2legit64]

What a neat lady!

[@jamesdavis5729]

One of the most talented persons in film and tv. I remember her from so many old movies and tv . Talented lady and lovely person.

[@marcdewey3848]

Ellen was a very versatile actress she could also play bad characters too,she guest starred on the Andy Griffith show as a car hustler who sold Barney a lemon,and played a pick pocket on Gomer Pyle USMC .

[@mainman.9551]

marc dewey also was with don knots again in the ghost and mr chicken.

[@jonlate4581]

Mrs. Lesh!?

[@lynnedonaldson4010]

I had forgotten that

[@danbasta3677]

Also as a judge in the old Joey Bishop show with Joe Besser of The Three Stooges fame.

[@MegaTmarshall]

I also remember Ellen Corby playing the role of Humphrey Bogart's secretary in the movie "Sabrina" starring Audrey Hepburn.

[@orlandoblake5012]

She was such a sweet lady. Miss her. Waltons were blessed to have her

[@meganconnell6853]

RIP Ellen Corby (1911-1999).

[@robertwaid3579]

Ellen Corby, As Grandma Walton, she was fantastic. But don't overlook all the other great stuff she did!! What a talent she had? May God Bless Her, & RIP. Wyo, Robert, 🙏🙏💯💯🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🎭🎭🌈🌈

[@sh2362]

I am also 53. Love Ellen Corby. I also love and miss ronnie claire edwards. Rest in peace both Ellen and ronnie😌

[@m.e.d.7997]

Ronnie added immensely to the show.

[@SummerRain368]

I agree ... also adding "the Baldwin Sisters" to this list of great ladies contributing immensely to the show! 💞

[@maryannnoriega7216]

I love watching the reruns of the Waltons...Grandma was a great grandma

[@BellaFirenze]

Ellen Hansen Corby (June 3, 1911 - April 14, 1999) was an American actress and screenwriter. She played the role of Esther "Grandma" Walton on the CBS television series The Waltons, for which she won three Emmy Awards. She was also nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Aunt Trina in I Remember Mama (1948).

[@rubiconentertainment]

Wonderful actress.

[@dxmxo9427]

Wise Woman Rest in peace

[@dreamlookautodetailingauto3353]

What a beautiful lady... shes so kind hearted, lovable human being! Great actress... Miss her !

[@smittymcjob2582]

she's so wholesome in a comforting way.

[@MovieJon]

She worked with James Stewart (and for Hitchcock!) in "Vertigo," Joan Crawford in "Harriet Craig" (in which she was a nervous maid) and "The Caretakers" (as a mental patient) and in "Caged" and "I Remember Mama," among many others. "The Waltons" was just a very sweet cherry on top of a sundae sort of very busy career.

[@m.e.d.7997]

Yes, in "Caged". I thought she was an inmate. Such a good actress.

[@Elle-mq8ij]

Ms. Corby was participant and witness to major 20th century cinema.

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@Elle-mq8ij Great character actress. She always worked.

[@m.e.d.7997]

Harriet Craig was a good movie

[@TheWanderingWife]

MovieJon she also had a very small part in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” She was the little lady in the bank that Jimmy Stewart kissed because she only asked for a little bit of money.

[@matthewronsson]

She had a stroke in November 1976 from which she recovered and returned to her role on The Waltons in March 1978.

[@nashvilletennessee3194]

Well she never really got her voice back and still had some paralysis throughout her body!

[@dalemccartney]

A bittersweet return to the show; her first episode returning from her stroke was Will Geer's (Grandpa) final performance.

[@irish89055]

Not quite....

[@guidokuwas]

thank you so much for this clip! it's hard finding old analogue TV interviews 😃

[@leehpsl2264]

She was in i Remember Mama AND Vertigo! Amazing!

[@aimee2014]

I love love love the Walton's! I think all the cast members was absolutely amazing and talented

[@plainjayne1981]

So nice to see Ellen

[@leomawalker4354]

Wow love Walton used to watch them in 70 my time have changed over year they don't make show like that anymore

[@dlamancha5697]

Love this! Loved Ellen Corby on the Walton's, and she seems like such a wonderfully creative, fun woman. It was great seeing the Walton's episodes with Belulah Bondi as Martha Corrine. Both she and Ellen Corby were in It's a Wonderful Life together.

[@jessiejames7492]

its so nice to see older actresses like this. so hard to see that nowadays on tv shitty shows. all those plastic looking women ...all young. hollywood doesnt have old people !

[@iwantthetruthandnothingbut6521]

Because they've all had Botox injections, and wear enough makeup to paint a large canvas... Hahaha!

[@kennyscivally8939]

Betty White

[@jamesoldham22]

Best family made program ever. Mrs Ellen Corby played a good role as grandma on the Walton's.

[@shanesimpson4407]

I absolutely loved that story she told. The world has changed so much. Some people still live that way and that are good things, but overall I just really get disheartened. I’m 32 years old as of this writing and I get told ok boomer and all sorts of nonsense. My wife and I don’t even watch new tv shows. The most recent thing we watched was Longmire. Just longing for how the world was.

[@justicejones5025]

This woman may very well be my all-time favorite character actor. Incredible woman, and what a role model..

[@Blue-moon12]

Great interview and thank you for the upload.

[@ReadingwithMrsInlow]

Omg she is such a classic. Loved watching her all my life

[@chriscanale9535]

love grandma

[@glyndajenkins3581]

Chris Canale so did I. Love you Elle.

[@helmsrobert1958]

Her careacter on the Waltons was so much like my oun grand ma ! It brings me to a good place in my life

[@davidfischer5576]

A truly great lady and actress, the perfect Grandma Walton, one of a kind. She also appeared in many memorable roles in movies and on TV including Batman. Thanks for the many memories of your great performances, you will always be remembered. RIP

[@marthashaffer7943]

I absolutely love this sweet lady. I’m 52 and my fiancé bought me the waltons so I can watch anytime I want to.

[@cynthiaennis3107]

Great lady, actress & advice! ❤️

[@sallyclay1974]

She was great! Had that period of history down! RIP! Blesdings and prayers to her family!

[@martynewell1181]

Ellen Corby was the perfect Grandma Walton I still watch her and the rest of the Walton 's everyday

[@jimkey920]

She was a wonderful actress. I remember a lot of her appearances on "Dragnet", with Jack Webb.

[@endoramia8142]

Ellen really loved wearing that dress as she wore it at the Emmys the year before ( 1975) when she won best supporting Actress in a Drama

[@LiveINyourGood54]

It was her good luck charm :)

[@m.e.d.7997]

Loved when she called The Walton cast her family.

[@ms.sonshine8878]

She was such a natural.

[@jessiem276]

She said she went on most trips alone ...and I figured she took her live in love ...can't remember the lady's name, but they were together 45 years. You can tell that Miss Corby is a very sweet & humble lady. Loved her on "The Waltons"!

[@stevenmills142]

Fills my heart with joy .how lucky we were to have grown up with The Walton's, looked forward to every Sunday morning 😊

[@VictoryinChrist24]

Why in the world do people click “unlike” on this kind of video?

[@lauraarcher6996]

Because they don't like it?!!

[@CrazyGreeneyedCraftylady]

Ignorant

[@Garkenrat]

It’s not so much the video but the ignorance in the comments. Older people have their experience but sometimes they could stand to learn from the next generations. Bible thumpers aren’t the only moral people in the world.

[@debbie189]

@@Garkenrat actually they are, who would want to learn anything from crazy later generations

[@donnapearson7674]

Ellen Corby also starred in the movie ‘I Remember Mama’. Ms. Corby was really good in this classic movie. Comes on TCM every Mother’s Day.

[@lauraaugust2138]

I love her dress n her beauty

[@stephanierowan8752]

I love "The Waltons".❤️😊 Brings back great memories watching the series as a kid.

[@uniform131]

She was such a beautiful treasure.

[@sandymatza]

I love watching the Waltons. I’ve been watching them for years and Grandma Walton was my grandma too . I’m still watching the Waltons. Best Family Show Ever . Real Life Down To Earth Family. 🙋‍♀️🙏🙌♥️😘.

[@troyalcorn1184]

I felt so much for her when I was maybe 4 years old. I still feel for her when I am 50 years old today. She was and still is part of my life and almost a family member to me. I saw her discomfort with her finger play and other body language. I can only understand and that is why I saw. She is Grandma to me.

[@yosofunnybunny4623]

Saw that too about her fingers!

[@kathydoyle9939]

Ellen Corby and Edgar Bergin had been in a movie, "I Remember Mama", in 1948. Corby had played shy Aunt Trina, and Bergin had played Peter Thorkelson, a sincere, shy, awkward young man who'd married her character. I often wonder what it had been like, being cast as husband and wife, AGAIN, so many years later. GOOD MOVIE!

[@mahasw777]

Ellen was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress) and received a Golden Globe for that movie.

[@jasongilmore8595]

Edgar Bergen*

[@L70s]

I love watching old shows like Andy Griffith and Gunsmoke, and being able to pick her out in the cast. She was such a constant in tv shows and movies and I'm glad to hear she was such a well travelled person in private life. p.s. love Johnny Carson too!