Overview

Mae Laborde (born Mae Shamlin; May 13, 1909 – January 9, 2012) was an American movie and television actress who became widely known for beginning her screen career late in life. She is often cited as an example of a performer who achieved visibility and steady work after age 90, usually portraying elderly characters with warmth and comic timing.

Early life and background

Laborde was born in Fresno, California on May 13, 1909. Little is widely published about her early years in the public record beyond family details: she was married to Nicholas Laborde for many years and the couple raised one daughter. Laborde lived most of her life outside the entertainment industry before taking up acting in her nineties.

Career

Unusually, Laborde launched an on‑screen career at the age of 93 in 2002 and continued to work professionally until shortly before her death in 2012. Casting directors frequently placed her in small but memorable supporting parts that called for an authentically elderly presence. Her performances were noted for a direct, unpretentious style that made brief appearances stand out in both comedies and dramas.

Selected appearances and legacy

  • Pineapple Express (2008) — Laborde is best known to film audiences for her role as Mrs. Mendelson in this comedy feature.
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia — she appeared as Gladys in episodes of the long‑running television comedy.
  • Other work included guest spots and brief roles across television and film, where she typically played grandmotherly or elderly neighbor characters.

Laborde’s late start and decade of steady work have been noted in discussions about age and opportunity in Hollywood. She is remembered both for specific comic turns and as an inspiring example of pursuing new paths late in life.

Personal life and death

Mae Laborde lived to be 102. She died of natural causes on January 9, 2012, in Santa Monica, California. Her longevity and decade‑long acting career left a small but distinctive body of work and a public image as a beloved character actress.