Dorothy Devore
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Devore was a leading and popular American
silent-film actor
and comedian
in her time.
, her family soon moved to Los Angeles
when she was still a young girl. It was there where she completed her education and then joined a musical comedy company, with which she appeared for one year. She then went to Lyons and Moran comedies at Universal Pictures
. It was at Universal where she was "discovered" by director/producer Al Christie
, one of the most famous comedic moviemakers of the era. She began playing in small parts in films for Christie, but soon received leads and moved from one-reelers to two-reelers, which would make her a star.
in 1923.
During a good deal of her career, Dorothy achieved stardom in the comedic two-reel Christie Comedies, released through Educational. When the chance arose for Dorothy to begin making longer, feature films, she decided to stay with what she was doing at that moment : two-reels, where she had already attracted a good deal of attention.
A little time after her career kicked off, Christie loaned Dorothy out to play the female lead opposite Charles Ray
in 45 Minutes from Broadway (1920), in which she had great success. Following this film, she declined several feature film offers and immediately returned to two-reelers. She made several successful films which established her as one of the screen's most talented comedians of the era. She made her last film, Take the Heir, in 1930, and began her retirement from the movies.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
silent-film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
in her time.
Early life
Born as Alma Inez Williams in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, her family soon moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
when she was still a young girl. It was there where she completed her education and then joined a musical comedy company, with which she appeared for one year. She then went to Lyons and Moran comedies at Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. It was at Universal where she was "discovered" by director/producer Al Christie
Al Christie
Al Christie was a Canadian-born motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Career:Born Alfred Ernest Christie, in London, Ontario, Canada, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion...
, one of the most famous comedic moviemakers of the era. She began playing in small parts in films for Christie, but soon received leads and moved from one-reelers to two-reelers, which would make her a star.
Career
Dorothy became very popular in the film industry during the period of 1918 until the late 1920s. She was a talented actress, specializing especially in comedic roles, for which she is remembered, such as in Know Thy Wife (1918), directed by Al Christie. Dorothy was chosen as one of the WAMPAS Baby StarsWAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
in 1923.
During a good deal of her career, Dorothy achieved stardom in the comedic two-reel Christie Comedies, released through Educational. When the chance arose for Dorothy to begin making longer, feature films, she decided to stay with what she was doing at that moment : two-reels, where she had already attracted a good deal of attention.
A little time after her career kicked off, Christie loaned Dorothy out to play the female lead opposite Charles Ray
Charles Ray
Charles Ray was a silent film star. Extremely popular in a series of films casting him in juvenile roles, primarily rural young men, Ray's career faded as he lost his youthful looks- he also had a reputation of being demanding and having an outsized ego...
in 45 Minutes from Broadway (1920), in which she had great success. Following this film, she declined several feature film offers and immediately returned to two-reelers. She made several successful films which established her as one of the screen's most talented comedians of the era. She made her last film, Take the Heir, in 1930, and began her retirement from the movies.
Personal life
She married theater owner Albert Wylie Mather in 1926. Devore died in 1976, aged 77, in Woodland Hills, California.Selected filmography
- Know Thy Wife (1918)
- 45 Minutes from Broadway (1920)
- Magnificent Brute (1921)
- Hazel from Hollywood (1923)
- When Odds are Even (1923)
- The Tomboy (1924)
- The Prairie WifeThe Prairie WifeThe Prairie Wife is a 1925 Western film directed by Hugo Ballin and featuring Boris Karloff. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Dorothy Devore - Chaddie Green* Herbert Rawlinson - Duncan MacKail* Gibson Gowland - Ollie* Leslie Stuart - Percy...
(1925) - The Narrow Street (1925)
- The Man Upstairs (1926)
- Senor Daredevil (1926)
- Mountains of Manhattan (1927)
- No Babies Wanted (1929)
- Take the Heir (1930)