Beginning in the early 1940s, Howard was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by him.
Her husband Arthur Albertson died in 1926 from undisclosed causes. She never remarried nor had any children.
She started her career on the New York stage in 1917 playing a supporting role in a show called "Eve's Daughter", which was a tremendous flop.
Is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California Plot: Eventide, L-724.