Billie Burke
Billie Burke – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes
Learn about Billie Burke (1884–1970), the American stage and film actress best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz. Discover her biography, career, personality, and legacy.
Introduction
Mary William Ethelbert “Billie” Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was a prolific American actress whose career spanned stage, silent film, sound film, radio, and early television.
Though she performed many roles over half a century, she is perhaps best known today for her role as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz.
Burke’s charm, comedic timing, distinctive voice, and persona made her a beloved figure in American entertainment.
Early Life and Family
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Birth name and date: She was born Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke on August 7, 1884 in Washington, D.C.
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Parents: Her father was William “Billy” Ethelbert Burke, a singer and clown associated with the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and her mother was Blanche (née Beatty).
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Childhood & travel: She traveled with her father’s circus, touring across the U.S. and Europe, before the family settled in London.
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Education and exposure to theater: Living in London, Burke was exposed to West End theater, which influenced her decision to pursue acting.
These formative experiences in a performance-oriented family and exposure to theater early on shaped her artistic ambitions.
Career and Achievements
Beginnings & Stage Career
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She made her stage debut in 1903 in London with The School Girl and other early productions like The Duchess of Dantzic and The Blue Moon.
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Later she returned to the U.S. and became active on Broadway, starring in works from 1910 to 1913 such as Mrs. Dot, Suzanne, The Runaway, The “Mind-the-Paint” Girl, and The Land of Promise.
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It was on Broadway that she met producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., whom she married in 1914.
From Silent Films to Hollywood
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Burke made her film debut in Peggy (1915) and shortly after starred in the serial Gloria’s Romance (1916).
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In the silent era, she became a well-liked actress in dramas and comedies and commanded one of the higher salaries of her time.
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After a period of semi-retirement to raise her daughter, Burke returned to acting after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 to help financially.
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In 1932, she made a Hollywood comeback with A Bill of Divorcement (directed by George Cukor), playing a maternal role.
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Her roles in the 1930s often leaned to comedic, eccentric society matron types, aided by her distinctive voice and demeanor.
Iconic Roles & Later Career
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Her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live (1938) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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Her most enduring role came in 1939 when she played Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz.
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She appeared in other popular series like Topper, playing Mrs. Topper and reprising the role in sequels.
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Burke also appeared in Father of the Bride (1950) and Father’s Little Dividend (1951).
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In the 1940s she hosted The Billie Burke Show on radio and later a short television talk show At Home with Billie Burke (1951–1952).
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Her final film was Sergeant Rutledge (1960) directed by John Ford.
Publications
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Burke authored two autobiographies, With a Feather on My Nose (1949) and With Powder on My Nose (1959).
Personal Life & Later Years
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She married Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. in April 1914; they remained married until his death in 1932.
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They had one daughter, Patricia Burke Ziegfeld, born in 1916.
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After Ziegfeld’s death, Burke moved to Beverly Hills, California, and resumed her film career.
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In later decades, she faced memory decline, which led her to withdraw from acting. She once said, “Acting just wasn’t any fun anymore.”
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She died of natural causes on May 14, 1970 in Los Angeles at the age of 85.
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She was interred at Kensico Cemetery in New York, beside her husband.
Legacy and Influence
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Billie Burke is forever remembered for The Wizard of Oz role — many fans still associate her voice and persona with Glinda.
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She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 at 6617 Hollywood Boulevard.
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The Florenz Ziegfeld–Billie Burke Collection is preserved by the Academy Film Archive, containing home movies and materials.
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In 2015, a crater on Mercury was named “Burke” in her honor.
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For many years, a portrait of her was displayed above the exit staircase at New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre.
Personality, Style & Talents
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Burke’s screen persona often embodied a delicate, whimsical, or “ditzy” high-society matron—roles that emphasized comedic, eccentric, gentle qualities.
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She had a light, airy voice and expressive facial manner that lent itself to comic or ethereal roles.
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Her early life in a circus family and her exposure to performance arts gave her strong stage instincts and adaptability.
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Burke was also fashionably attuned: her costumes and wardrobe were often elaborate, and she had strong personal style.
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Her ability to transition across media (stage, silent film, talkies, radio, television) demonstrates her versatility and resilience as a performer.
Memorable Quotes
Billie Burke is not as often quoted as authors or philosophers, but here are a few attributed statements that reflect her humor or self-awareness:
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“Acting just wasn’t any fun anymore.” — explaining her retirement.
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In a lighter vein, she once acknowledged the challenges of memory decline while aging with wit. (though no widely circulated quip is reliably sourced)
Her words reflect a graceful acceptance of the limits of age and shifting passion.
Lessons from Billie Burke’s Life
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Embrace your persona: Burke leaned into the roles that suited her style, turning what might seem typecasting into enduring iconography.
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Adaptability matters in entertainment: Her career survived theatrical shifts, from stage to silent film to talkies, radio, and TV.
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Perseverance through hardship: She resumed her career to support her family after financial setbacks.
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Know when to step back: She eventually retired when the craft no longer brought joy, acknowledging change gracefully.
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Legacy can transcend a single role: Though she did many roles, one iconic performance has cemented her name in cultural memory.