An elderly resident of a restrictive rest home, Mary Walker is spirited and openly defiant toward the institution’s petty rules. John Glidden gives her a million-dollar check, and she uses it to reverse the power structure: the staff must sit in rocking chairs while the residents party and dance, restoring joy to their lives and inspiring Glidden.
Maggie is a thief whose bail Billy pays so she can pretend to be Homer's mother and ease his homesickness. She spends much of Homer's money and owes money to gamblers, which leads her to urge him to lose his title fight. After Homer's victory, she reluctantly marries Muscles, becoming one of Homer's new foster parents.
Esther's supportive grandmother; provides financial backing for her dream and emotional salvation at the story's climax.
A wealthy but fiercely miserly widow and mother of Donny, Hannah hoards her fortune and repeatedly lets her avarice damage her relationships. She once planned to marry John Burton, later engineers his loss of control of the railroad by calling in a loan, and eventually returns the stocks and reconciles with her son.
Abigail and Betsy Ann's aunt, Marcia arrives from New York and tries to keep Abigail away from Asa, whom she says she did not marry because of his drinking. She asks the sheriff to pursue Asa for kidnapping and opposes Betsy Ann's relationship with Tom. After the court troubles, she makes up with the girls; the ending says she and Asa will marry.
Patricia 'Patsy' Patterson is a cantankerous older woman sentenced to an old ladies' home after a drunk and disorderly conduct charge. She becomes Alabam Lee's adopted mother, reforms her drinking, exposes Kendall's theft, supports Alabam's training, and finally encourages her romance with Johnny Mills after revealing her own painful past.
An aging New York City fruit vendor who is the biological mother of Louise. She maintains a false identity as a wealthy society matron to protect her daughter's upbringing.
Mrs. Stewart visits the orphanage intending to adopt a child and chooses Mickey after Annie stages an argument to make him seem less attached to her. Mickey is unhappy in his new home and sneaks Annie inside, but Mrs. Stewart later discovers them and sends Annie away. After Mickey's accident, she shares her guilt with Annie and consoles her.
A hard-boiled, middle-aged nightclub hostess. She is the target of Lonnie's romantic advances and firmly refuses Babe's request to cancel the controversial act because of its commercial success.
Van's mother who worries that his secretary Whitey poses a dangerous temptation to her son. She voices her concerns to Linda, who dismisses them due to her trust in Van.
A character present at the Vincents' ball, where Jane collides with her while holding up Irene's dress. The collision spills a pot of Irish stew and ruins the gown Irene was meant to wear, prompting Irene to substitute her mother's blue satin costume. This accident leads directly to the costume's unexpected success at the party.
Mrs. Evans is Sam's mother. After Nina and Sam marry, she tells Nina that insanity runs in the family and that Sam and Nina should not have children. Her warning prompts Nina, who wants a baby, to conceive a child with Ned instead.
May Robson has 68 screen credits in a career dating back to 1908. Their work is anchored in the Four Daughters Collection universe with 3 titles. Signature works include The Captain's Kid, You Can't Buy Everything, Granny Get Your Gun. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Related entry on Wikidata (Q259600), public domain (CC0).
