Born Patti Woodward in Palmyra, MO, she was the daughter of a railroad president who claimed to be a direct descendant of Andrew Jackson. She made her debut in 1906. She began appearing in films in 1913 and for the next 50 years played some 200 character roles, often in kind, motherly roles. Won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Ma Joad in THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940). Other notable films include 1913: THE CAPTURE OF AQUINALDO, AT SHILOH, THE HEAD HUNTERS, THE COWBOY MAGNET, WAR OF THE CATTLE RANGE, WHITE SQUAW; 1930: TOM SAWYER; 1931: HUCKLEBERRY FINN; 1932: BACK STREET; 1933: ONLY YESTERDAY, DESIGN FOR LIVING; 1934: DAVID HARUM, ONE NIGHT OF LOVE, THE WHITE PARADE; 1935: CURLY TOP, METROPOLITAN; 1936: CAPTAIN JANUARY, POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL; 1938: LITTLE MISS BROADWAY, UP THE RIVER; 1939: JESSE JAMES, THE RAINS CAME, GONE WITH THE WIND (as Dolly Merriwether); 1940: BRIGHAM YOUNG - FRONTIERSMAN; 1941: THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER; 1942: ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, IT HAPPENED IN FLATBUSH; 1943: THE OX-BOW INCIDENT, THE GREAT GUILDERSLEEVE; 1946: MY DARLING CLEMENTINE; 1948: 3 GODFATHERS; 1950: WAGON MASTER, CAGED; 1951: THE LEMON DROP KID; 1952: WE'RE NOT MARRIED; 1956: THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW; 1958: THE LAST HURRAH; 1964: MARY POPPINS (as the Bird Woman). She once said, "I've played Henry Fonda's mother so often that, whenever we run into each other, I call him 'son' and he calls me 'Ma', just to save time."  Supporting Actress 1940: THE GRAPES OF WRATH 1 nomination, 1 Award