Gloria Stuart Dies: Older Kate Winslet in Titanic Dies at 100

by Amy Judd | September 27, 2010 at 10:03 am

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Gloria Stuart, Known For Her Role as the Older Kate Winslet 'Rose' Character in Titanic, Has Died at the Age of 100

Gloria Stuart appeared in many more films in her long career, but it was her role as the older Rose in James Cameron's Titanic that brought her back into the mainstream and made a whole new generation of film-goers aware of her talent.

She appeared in the film as a 101-year-old survivor and narrated the Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet epic. As a result she was the oldest person to be nominated for an Oscar.

James Cameron had been looking for an actress from Hollywood's golden era, and Gloria Stuart had appeared in such films as Gold Diggers of 1935 and Poor Little Rich Girl. She also appeared in The Old Dark House and The Invisible Man, and appeared in over 40 films.

She had turned 100 last July 4, but passed away on Sunday September 26 in Los Angeles.

Her daughter Sylvia Thompson confirmed her mother's death, and revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago.

She married Arthur Sheekman who wanted her to stay home more, but she did not leave acting for good and took small parts here and there. However, it was her role in Titanic that will remain in most minds.

In her 1999 memoir, "I Just Kept Hoping" (1999), Ms. Stuart said of her late blooming career, "When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed. I didn't realize it would take so long."

She is survived by her daughter, her four grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.