Imitation of Life
Imitation of Life
Drama
Romance

Imitation of Life

111 minutes
11/23/1934
7.0

Overview

A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter. The two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.

Cast

Claudette Colbert
Claudette ColbertBeatrice 'Bea' Pullman
Louise Beavers
Louise BeaversDelilah Johnson
Warren William
Warren WilliamStephen 'Steve' Archer
Rochelle Hudson
Rochelle HudsonJessie Pullman, Age 18
Ned Sparks
Ned SparksElmer Smith
Fredi Washington
Fredi WashingtonPeola Johnson, Age 19
Juanita Quigley
Juanita QuigleyBaby Jessie Pullman, Age 3
Alan Hale
Alan HaleMartin the Furniture Man
Henry Armetta
Henry ArmettaThe Painter
Wyndham Standing
Wyndham StandingBeatrice's Butler Jarvis
Joyce Compton
Joyce ComptonYoung Woman at Party (uncredited)
Noel Francis
Noel FrancisMrs. Eden (uncredited)
Jane Withers
Jane WithersPeola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
Marcia Mae Jones
Marcia Mae JonesPeola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
Henry Kolker
Henry KolkerDr. Preston (uncredited)
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDanielWoman at Funeral (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
William B. DavidsonMan Buying Cigar (uncredited)
William Austin
William AustinEnglishman at Party (uncredited)
G.P. Huntley
G.P. HuntleyJames (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke
Tyler BrookeTipsy Man at Party (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing
Sayre DearingParty Guest (uncredited)
Claire McDowell
Claire McDowellTeacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick
Jean FenwickMinor Role (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
Dick GordonParty Guest (uncredited)
Jesse Graves
Jesse GravesPallbearer (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Harold MillerParty Guest (uncredited)
David Newell
David NewellParty Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe
Dennis O'KeefeParty Guest (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn
Franklin PangbornMr. Carven (uncredited)
Clarence Wilson
Clarence WilsonMr. Bristol, Landlord (uncredited)
Marilyn Knowlden
Marilyn KnowldenJessie Pullman, Age 8 (uncredited)
Lenita Lane
Lenita LaneMrs. Dale (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi
Paul PorcasiJackson's Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
Barry Norton
Barry NortonYoung Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
Edgar Norton
Edgar NortonButler at Party (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell
Ronald R. RondellParty Guest (uncredited)
Gay Seabrook
Gay SeabrookParty Guest (uncredited)
Teru Shimada
Teru ShimadaCustomer in Pancake Shop (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Larry SteersParty Guest (uncredited)
Libby Taylor
Libby TaylorWoman at Funeral (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Madame Sul-Te-WanCook (uncredited)
Alma Tell
Alma TellMrs. Craven (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Fred 'Snowflake' ToonesMan at Funeral (uncredited)
Walter Walker
Walter WalkerHugh (uncredited)
Dorothy Black
Dorothy BlackPeola Johnson, Age 10 (uncredited)
Alyce Ardell
Alyce ArdellFrench Maid (uncredited)
Monya Andre
Monya AndreParty Guest (uncredited)
Edna Bowdoin
Edna BowdoinSecretary (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford
Daisy BuffordWaitress (uncredited)
Norma Drew
Norma DrewTeacher (uncredited)
Paullyn Garner
Paullyn GarnerMrs. Ramsey (uncredited)
Reverend Gregg
Reverend GreggMinister (uncredited)
Sebie Hendricks
Sebie HendricksPeola Johnson, Age 4 (uncredited)
Stuart Johnston
Stuart JohnstonUndertaker (uncredited)
Tiny Jones
Tiny JonesFuneral Spectator (uncredited)
Curry Lee
Curry LeeChauffeur (uncredited)
Bessie Lyle
Bessie LyleWoman at Funeral (uncredited)
Julius Molnar
Julius MolnarFootman (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Bert MoorhouseMan at Funeral (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer
Edmund MortimerParty Guest (uncredited)
Hayes Robinson
Hayes RobinsonMan at Funeral (uncredited)
Ethel Sykes
Ethel SykesParty Guest (uncredited)
Martin Turner
Martin TurnerMan at Funeral (uncredited)
Bruce Warren
Bruce WarrenParty Guest (uncredited)
Hazel Washington
Hazel WashingtonMaid (uncredited)