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IMDbPro

Doris Dowling(1923-2004)

  • Actress
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Doris Dowling
Mike Hammer: I Remember Sally
Play trailer1:05
I Remember Sally (1959)
4 Videos
53 Photos
One of four children, lovely Detroit-born actress Doris Dowling (born May 15, 1923) would follow older sister Constance Dowling (who died relatively young in 1969) into show business. Raised in New York City, she briefly spent some time with a San Francisco Folies Bergère company before returning to New York and studying at Hunter College.

Following several years as a singing/dancing Broadway chorine in such musicals as Panama Hattie (debut at age 17), Banjo Eyes, Beat the Band and New Faces of 1943, Doris decided to pattern sister Constance's career formula by relocating to Hollywood and pursue films. After a couple of bit parts, she scored with the second femme role of a barfly, prostitute and enabler to fellow alcoholic Ray Milland in the sobering classic film The Lost Weekend (1945). That movie, which won "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" for Milland, was the first to deal with the harrowing effects of alcoholism. This success led to an equally choice victimy part in the Raymond Chandler film noir The Blue Dahlia (1946) starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake as Ladd's ill-fated wife. From there she was relegated to "B"-level post-war films. She co-starred with Kent Taylor in the crime mystery The Crimson Key (1947), but then found herself uncredited a year later in the Bing Crosby musical romancer The Emperor Waltz (1948).

Seeing the writing on the wall, Doris (like sister Constance) decided to move and continue her movie career abroad. With her dark, earthy, exotic-eyed beauty, she complemented several dramas, including a starring role in the Italian classic Bitter Rice (1949) that also starred Vittorio Gassman and made an international sex star out of Silvana Mangano. Filmed entirely in Cuba, she then starred in the minor musical drama Sarumba (1950) playing a singer and love interest to handsome sailor Michael Whalen, followed by a second femme role in the Italian drama Alina (1950) starring rising goddess Gina Lollobrigida. Doris' last starring film was in the romantic adventure Cuori sul mare (1950) (Hearts at Sea) with handsome Jacques Sernas. Before departing Italy, she also played Bianca in Orson Welles' troubled European production of Othello (1951), which was filmed in Italy and Morocco.

Returning to the US by 1952, theater and TV would comprised much of Doris' later work. She appeared on several anthology programs, including "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Goodyear Playhouse" and "Schlitz Playhouse," and guested on the popular dramatic shows of the day such as "Medic," "Cheyenne," "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," Mike Hammer," "Have Gun--Will Travel," "Checkmate," Shirley Temple's Storybook," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Perry Mason," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Bonanza," "Barnaby Jones," "The Dukes of Hazzard," and the mini-series "Scruples." She also enjoyed a regular role on the Julie Newmar-hyped female robot sitcom My Living Doll (1964).

In 1973, Doris returned to the stage and shared an Outer Critics Circle award for her performance in the all-star stage production of "The Women" on Broadway. Her final film roles were in The Car (1977) and Separate Ways (1981)

Married three times, she was wife #7 to band leader Artie Shaw, her first husband, with whom she had a son, Jonathan Shaw. Doris died June 18, 2004 at age 81, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles.
BornMay 15, 1923
DiedJune 18, 2004(81)
BornMay 15, 1923
DiedJune 18, 2004(81)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos53

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Known for

Ray Milland, Doris Dowling, Phillip Terry, and Jane Wyman in The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Lost Weekend
7.9
  • Gloria
  • 1945
The Blue Dahlia (1946)
The Blue Dahlia
7.1
  • Helen Morrison
  • 1946
Cuori sul mare (1950)
Cuori sul mare
5.6
  • Doris
  • 1950
Bitter Rice (1949)
Bitter Rice
7.6
  • Francesca
  • 1949

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress



  • Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Denver Pyle, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)
    The Dukes of Hazzard
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Jenny
    • Stacy Williams
    • 1980–1984
  • Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)
    Simon & Simon
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Annette - Boutique Owner
    • 1982
  • Separate Ways (1981)
    Separate Ways
    4.6
    • Rebecca Stevens
    • 1981
  • Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)
    The Incredible Hulk
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Mrs. Grasso
    • 1980
  • Scruples (1980)
    Scruples
    6.5
    TV Mini Series
    • Sally Reuters
    • 1980
  • Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)
    Barnaby Jones
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Miss Kelly
    • Margaret Singer
    • 1974–1979
  • Vincent Price, Coral Browne, Woodrow Parfrey, William Phipps, and James Reynolds in Time Express (1979)
    Time Express
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Sister Bertelli
    • 1979
  • Wonder Woman (1975)
    Wonder Woman
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Mrs. Wilson
    • 1979
  • The Car (1977)
    The Car
    6.2
    • Bertha Clements
    • 1977
  • Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973)
    Kojak
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Rosemary
    • 1976
  • Medical Story (1975)
    Medical Story
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Marjorie Lister
    • 1975
  • Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)
    Adam-12
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Mrs. Faye Jamison
    • 1975
  • Teresa Graves in Get Christie Love! (1974)
    Get Christie Love!
    6.4
    TV Series
    • Dr. Bussey
    • 1975
  • Tell Me Where It Hurts (1974)
    Tell Me Where It Hurts
    6.8
    TV Movie
    • Reva
    • 1974
  • The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
    The Streets of San Francisco
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Miss Ryan
    • 1972

Writer



  • Daktari (1966)
    Daktari
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Writer
    • 1968

Videos4

Mike Hammer: I Remember Sally
Trailer 1:05
Mike Hammer: I Remember Sally
Mike Hammer: The New Look
Trailer 1:03
Mike Hammer: The New Look
Mike Hammer: The New Look
Trailer 1:03
Mike Hammer: The New Look
Mike Hammer: Lead Ache
Trailer 1:21
Mike Hammer: Lead Ache
Cheyenne: The Outlander
Trailer 1:24
Cheyenne: The Outlander

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 5′ 3¾″ (1.62 m)
  • Born
    • May 15, 1923
    • Detroit, Michigan, USA
  • Died
    • June 18, 2004
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouses
      Leonard B. KaufmanApril 21, 1960 - June 18, 2004 (her death)
  • Children
    • Jonathan Shaw
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Dowling was her mother's maiden name.

FAQ

Powered by Alexa
  • When did Doris Dowling die?
    June 18, 2004
  • How did Doris Dowling die?
    Natural causes
  • How old was Doris Dowling when she died?
    81 years old
  • Where did Doris Dowling die?
    Los Angeles, California, USA
  • When was Doris Dowling born?
    May 15, 1923

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