Celebrities
Ellen Corby Net Worth 2025, Early Life, Movies, Kids, & More
Do you remember Walton’s Mountain? Not really, let’s walk down memory lane, shall we? But before starting, I want you to look back and tell if you still get these vibes of the 20th century: a rocking chair, the glow of a fireplace, and a straight-talking granny knitting with laser intensity while at the same time judging your looks and life choices. Yes, that’s what I was talking about.
America’s granny, Ellen Corby, was one of the finest TV matriarchs of the 20s.
But under all those cozy cardigans and that adorable scowl, Ellen was a firecracker. She was the best screenwriter, actress, and general Hollywood scrappy. Still wanna know how much money this trailblazer makes in a lifetime?
Let’s read what else you don’t know about her by diving deep into Ellen Corby net worth, childhood, career, children, and all the rest of the salacious details in between.
Ellen Corby Net Worth & Sources
Have you got your fix of nostalgia yet? Well, if you suddenly crave a warm apple pie, a cozy quilt, and catching up on a classic 1970s family soap opera, you’re definitely not alone!
The most amazing female at the very moment, Ellen Corby, wasn’t just an actress; she was truly something special. Even in 2025, her legacy lives on and continues to bring smiles to many faces!
Starting her talks by numbers because we’re nosy like that. As of 2025, Ellen Corby net worth is estimated at between $1 million and $2 million, and some reports suggest $5 million. Not bad for someone who wasn’t exactly making Marvel movie money or doing TikTok brand deals, right?
So, where did the cash come from?
Her long tenure as Grandma Esther Walton brought her steady money in her show’s prime time and residuals since the lady was The Waltons, and thus she was a Television Royalty. She had secondary roles in blockbuster Hollywood movies, most of which were hits at the box office.
She was a great screenwriter. Before showing up in front of the camera, she wrote scripts in the back of the camera.
This lady had range! Likewise, she made some investments. While facts aren’t as strong as your uncle’s cryptocurrency investments, she was said to have been pinched for cash.
Well, you can’t count her as Hollywood royalty by any means of style-living, but she lived well and died with a reasonable estate behind her.
Ellen Corby Bio
| Bio | Details |
| Full Name | Ellen Hansen Corby |
| Date of Birth | June 3, 1911 |
| Date of Death | April 14, 1999 |
| Place of Birth | Racine, Wisconsin, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, Screenwriter |
| Best Known For | Grandma Esther Walton on The Waltons |
Early Life of Ellen Corby
Growing up with Danish immigrants in good old Wisconsin, Ellen Hansen (before she became “Corby”) had that classic Midwest charm. Her upbringing included hard work and discipline. It’s more like the more casseroles she must have enjoyed to host her own Tupperware party.
She was raised in Philadelphia, where her love for drama began to blossom. After high school, she made the bold move to Los Angeles in the early 1930s, seeking Hollywood fame while the rest of womankind were expected to settle down, find husbands and bake pies. But Ellen was busy whipping delicious treats and screenplays, all while building an amazing career.
Career
Ellen’s past as a Hollywood girl is scriptwriting material in itself but her overall career spans over five decades. She started out as a script girl.
Yes, that really was her actual job title and no, it had nothing to do with writing love letters to the director.
She literally had scripts and scenes to deliver on location. She began her career as a writer at Paramount Studios, working on the Western Twilight on the Trail (1941)
A decade of camera experience to her credit, she made the transition to acting. She had bit parts in more than 30 films in the 1930s and 1940s.
Her big break came in the guise of the 1948 film ‘I Remember Mama’, where she played Aunt Trina. She was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe. Not bad at all for a script wrangler who started from scratch.
But of course, the role that placed her on everyone’s living room TV screen is Grandma Walton.
Ellen portrayed her from 1972 to 1981. She brought warmth, humor, and some real side-eye zing to The Waltons. She won three Emmys and a Golden Globe for it.
She suffered a stroke in 1976, but was back on the show because giving up just wasn’t in her makeup.
Ellen Corby Partner & Childrens
Looking into her private life, it was peaceful, enigmatic, and somewhat Hollywood hush-hush, but not as much as today’s fancy living.
She was wed to cinematographer Francis Corby from 1934 until their divorce in 1944. They had no children.
Later in life, Ellen had a long-term, close partnership with Stella Luchetta, whom she first met in the early 1950s. They shared life together for after years.
While Ellen never publicly discussed her relationship, everyone is reasonably certain they were something more than just partners and friends. Either way, they were most certainly each other’s ride-or-die.
And children nope, Ellen never had biological children. But since so many people considered her their TV grandma, she effectively did have a million and more grand kids.
Ellen Corby Movies & TV Shows
| TV Shows | Movies |
| The Waltons (of course!) | It’s a Wonderful Life (sure enough!) |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | Sabrina |
| I Love Lucy | Vertigo |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | I Remember Mama (Oscar-nominated!) |
| The Andy Griffith Show | The Gunfighter |
| Please Don’t Eat the Daisies | The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters |
| Trackdown | The Big Trees |
| The Restless Gun | The Strangler |
| Wagon Train | The Family Jewels |
| The Virginian | The Night of the Grizzly |
| The Big Valley | Macabre |
| The Guns of Will Sonnett | Harriet Craig |
| Four Star Playhouse | Angels in the Outfield |
| The Tattered Web | Illegal |
| The Homecoming: A Christmas Story | On Moonlight Bay |
| A Walton Easter | Caged |
Other movies are Visit to a Small Planet, Goodbye – My Fancy, A Fine Pair and Fearless Fagan.
Regardless of whether she was playing a wacky neighbor, a grumpy aunt, or a respectable granny, Ellen dominated every scene she was in-even if all she had were five lines and a knitting needle.
Ellen Corby Cause of Death
Ellen passed away on April 14, 1999, at the age of 87. The reason was natural causes, and she peacefully passed away at the hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Even as she was mourned by the fans as well as the co-workers, her memory still continues to remain alive in the many reruns of The Waltons and in the hearts of everyone who loved her.
Some Interesting Facts About Ellen Corby
She wasn’t always a pro actress as she started out behind the scenes, proving that women can do and she did directed the show.
Ellen suffered a debilitating stroke in 1976 that partially stole her speech. But she made it back to The Waltons, blending the actual recovery process into the show.
She had her first credited appearance when she was in her 30s, such success doesn’t come early but never too late, either, if you set your sights on something.
She wasn’t a showoff type. When talking about her off-stage presence, even, she was renowned for bluntness, having a wicked sense of humor, and laser intensity.
She never allowed fame to change her, despite Ellen being successful, she remained humble and kept her private life, well, private.
Final Words
Ellen Corby was a character actress to the core, but she was also the heart of one of America’s best-loved family television dramas.
She brought authenticity, and a sprinkle of sass to every role she played. Her life is a proof that talent, persistence, and a good old-fashioned measure of grit can carve out an enduring legacy.
Whether you remember her from The Waltons or spot her in a black-and-white movie on TCM, you just keep this in mind: you’re witnessing a legend doing her thing. A chrish to this old granny, a survivor, and general badass.
FAQs
Who is Ellen Corby’s partner?
Ellen had been married to Francis Corby for ten years but afterwards lived with a life-long friend-partner Stella Luchetta.
Did Ellen Corby recover from her stroke?
Yes! Ellen had a stroke in 1976 that impaired her ability to speak. But as big of a trooper as she was, she was back on The Waltons, with her rehabilitation blend into the show itself.
What is Ellen net worth today?
As of 2025, Ellen Corby net worth is around $1 million to $2 million because of a long career as an actor, smart investments, and perhaps a dash of Midwestern money.
Why was Ellen Corby absent from The Waltons?
Ellen missed a few shows after her 1976 stroke. She made a full recovery and returned to the series soon thereafter, acting as Grandma Walton and showing the amazing character of Ellen Corby herself.
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