Doris Dowling
Encyclopedia
Doris Dowling was an American actress of film, stage and television.
After her time as a chorus-girl on Broadway
, Detroit-born Doris Dowling followed her elder sister Constance
to Hollywood. Her first credited film role was that of Gloria, barfly and drinking companion to fellow alcoholic Ray Milland
in the 1945 film The Lost Weekend. She next appeared in The Blue Dahlia
, which starred Alan Ladd
and Veronica Lake
. As post-war work became more scarce, she emigrated to Italy
to revive her career, as her sister had done.
In Italy, Dowling starred in several acclaimed films including Bitter Rice
. She appeared in Orson Welles
's European production of Othello
in 1952, playing Bianca. Upon returning to the US, much of her work was in theatre and on television. She appeared in such television shows as Alfred Hitchcock Presents
, Bonanza
, Perry Mason
, The Andy Griffith Show
, and, late in her career, The Incredible Hulk, Kojak
and finally, The Dukes of Hazzard
in 1984.
In 1973, Dowling shared an Outer Critics Circle award for her performance in a revival of The Women on Broadway.
's 7th wife, by whom she had a son, Jonathan
, a tattoo artist who reportedly owned Manhattan
's oldest tattoo parlour until 2004. Her other husbands were Robert F. Blumofe (1956–1959) and Leonard B. Kaufman (1960 until her death in 2004).
After her time as a chorus-girl on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, Detroit-born Doris Dowling followed her elder sister Constance
Constance Dowling
Constance Dowling was an American model turned actress of the 1940s and 1950s.-Early life and career:...
to Hollywood. Her first credited film role was that of Gloria, barfly and drinking companion to fellow alcoholic Ray Milland
Ray Milland
Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
in the 1945 film The Lost Weekend. She next appeared in The Blue Dahlia
The Blue Dahlia
The Blue Dahlia is a 1946 film noir, directed by George Marshall and written by Raymond Chandler. The film marks the third pairing of stars Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.-Plot:...
, which starred Alan Ladd
Alan Ladd
-Early life:Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the only child of Ina Raleigh Ladd and Alan Ladd, Sr. He was of English ancestry. His father died when he was four, and his mother relocated to Oklahoma City where she married Jim Beavers, a housepainter...
and Veronica Lake
Veronica Lake
Veronica Lake was an American film actress and pin-up model. She received both popular and critical acclaim, most notably for her role in Sullivan's Travels and her femme fatale roles in film noir with Alan Ladd during the 1940s, and was well-known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle...
. As post-war work became more scarce, she emigrated to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to revive her career, as her sister had done.
In Italy, Dowling starred in several acclaimed films including Bitter Rice
Bitter Rice
Bitter Rice is a 1949 Italian film made by Lux Film, written and directed by Giuseppe De Santis. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Silvana Mangano, Raf Vallone, Doris Dowling and Vittorio Gassman, Bitter Rice was a commercial success in Europe and America. It was a product of the Italian...
. She appeared in Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
's European production of Othello
Othello (1952 film)
Othello is a 1952 drama film based on the Shakespearean play, made by Mercury Productions Inc. and Les Films Marceau and distributed by United Artists . It was directed and produced by Orson Welles, who also played the title role . The screenplay was adapted by Welles and an uncredited Jean Sacha...
in 1952, playing Bianca. Upon returning to the US, much of her work was in theatre and on television. She appeared in such television shows as Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
, Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
, and, late in her career, The Incredible Hulk, Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
and finally, The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
in 1984.
In 1973, Dowling shared an Outer Critics Circle award for her performance in a revival of The Women on Broadway.
Personal life
Dowling was married three times. She was band leader Artie ShawArtie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
's 7th wife, by whom she had a son, Jonathan
Jonathan Shaw (tattooist)
Jonathan D. Shaw is a New York-born tattoo artist and writer, best known for his innovative tribal tattoos in the early nineties and his contributions as founder and managing editor of International Tattoo Art Magazine for several years...
, a tattoo artist who reportedly owned Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's oldest tattoo parlour until 2004. Her other husbands were Robert F. Blumofe (1956–1959) and Leonard B. Kaufman (1960 until her death in 2004).