Dorothy Ford (April 4, 1922 – October 15, 2010) was an American actress and model active from the 1940s through the 1960s. She began her career as a model, largely owing to her height of and a 38-26-38-and-a-half figure. She went on to be the first woman signed by showman

Billy Rose Billy Rose (born William Samuel Rosenberg; September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with sh ...

for the swimming chorus in his Aquacade at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. She studied at the

Actors' Laboratory Theatre The Actors' Laboratory Theatre was a politically active theatre company and acting school founded in January 1941 by Roman Bohnen, Jules Dassin, Dick Flake, Lloyd Bridges, Danny Mann, Jeff Corey, Mary Virginia Farmer and J. Edward Bromberg. During ...

. After seven months with the Aquacade, she became a showgirl at Earl Carroll's, where she worked for a year and a half. In 1944, she made her screen debut in '' Lady in the Dark''. She continued her acting career, including roles in the

Andy Hardy Andrew "Andy" Hardy is a fictional character best known for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer series of 16 films in which he was played by Mickey Rooney. The films were released from 1937 to 1946, except for a final one made in 1958 in an unsuccessful att ...

movie ''

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy ''Love Laughs at Andy Hardy'' is a 1946 American film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone. The film is also known under its American promotional title ''Uncle Andy Hardy''. Th ...

'' (1946) and in

Abbott and Costello Abbott may refer to: People *Abbott (surname) *Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American painter and naturalist * Abbott and Costello, famous American vaudeville act Places Argentina * Abbott, Buenos Aires United States * Abbott, Arkansas ...

's ''

Jack and the Beanstalk "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean" in 1734 4th edition On Commons and as Benjamin Tabart's moralized "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. Henry Cole ...

'' (1952). She appeared in 39 movies from 1943 to 1962..

Personal life

Ford and James Sterling wed in Las Vegas in April 1949. The marriage was annulled two months later. On April 23, 1952, she married Tommy Chambers, a tennis player. She had a miscarriage the next year and divorced. Her third and final husband was Hollis Bane, an actor who was also billed as Mike Ragan. They remained married until his death.

Partial filmography

* ''

Thousands Cheer ''Thousands Cheer'' is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by George Sidney and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Produced at the height of the Second World War, the film was intended as a morale booster for American troops and their fam ...

'' (1943) - Dancer in Don Liper Number / Bathing Beauty in Red Skelton Skit (uncredited) * '' Lady in the Dark'' (1944) - Model (uncredited) * '' Broadway Rhythm'' (1944) - Co-ed in Drugstore (uncredited) * ''

Two Girls and a Sailor ''Two Girls and a Sailor'' is a 1944 American musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Van Johnson, June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven. Set on the American homefront during World War II, it's about two singing sisters who create a lavish ...

'' (1944) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) * '' Meet the People'' (1944) - Tall Girl (uncredited) * '' Bathing Beauty'' (1944) - Dorothy (uncredited) * ''

The Thin Man Goes Home ''The Thin Man Goes Home'' is a 1945 comedy-mystery film directed by Richard Thorpe. It is the fifth of the six '' Thin Man'' films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Dashiell Hammett's dapper ex-private detective Nick Charles and his wif ...

'' (1944) - Tall Girl with Dog (uncredited) * '' Here Come the Co-Eds'' (1945) - Bertha (uncredited) * ''

The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical fiction, philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''Th ...

'' (1945) - Tall Chorine (uncredited) * ''

Thrill of a Romance ''Thrill of a Romance'' (also known as ''Thrill of a New Romance'') is an American Technicolor romance film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1945, starring Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by Tommy D ...

'' (1945) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) * '' Ten Cents a Dance'' (1945) - Hat Check Girl * ''

Nob Hill Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highes ...

'' (1945) - Tall Showgirl in Sally's Act (uncredited) * '' Lover Come Back'' (1946) - Tall Brunette (uncredited) * ''

'' (1946) - Coffy Smith * ''

On Our Merry Way ''On Our Merry Way'' is a 1948 American comedy film produced by Benedict Bogeaus and Burgess Meredith and released by United Artists. At the time of its release, King Vidor and Leslie Fenton were credited with its direction, although the DVD list ...

'' (1948) - Lola Maxim * ''

3 Godfathers ''3 Godfathers'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and filmed (although not set) primarily in Death Valley, California. The screenplay, written by Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings, is based on the 1913 novelette '' Th ...

'' (1948) - Ruby Latham * ''

One Sunday Afternoon One Sunday Afternoon may refer to: * One Sunday Afternoon (1933 film), an American pre-Code romantic comedy-drama film * One Sunday Afternoon (1948 film) ''One Sunday Afternoon'' is a 1948 musical film directed by Raoul Walsh, starring Dennis Mor ...

'' (1948) - Daisy (uncredited) * ''

Sands of Iwo Jima ''Sands of Iwo Jima'' is a 1949 war film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The film, which also features John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker, was w ...

'' (1949) - Tall Girl (uncredited) * '' Key to the City'' (1950) - Miss Construction (uncredited) * '' Let's Go Navy!'' (1951) - Kitten * ''

Flame of Araby ''Flame of Araby'' (a.k.a. ''Flame of the Desert'') is a 1951 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Charles Lamont starring Maureen O'Hara and Jeff Chandler. British film star Maxwell Reed made his American film debut in the picture. Lo ...

'' (1951) - Naja (uncredited) * ''

'' (1952) - Receptionist / Polly * ''

Feudin' Fools ''Feudin' Fools'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys, Anne Kimbell and Dorothy Ford. The film was released on September 21, 1952 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-seventh film in the serie ...

'' (1952) - Tiny Smith * ''

Limelight Limelight (also known as Drummond light or calcium light)James R. Smith (2004). ''San Francisco's Lost Landmarks'', Quill Driver Books. is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when ...

'' (1952) - Patrician Lady in Dress Circle (uncredited) * ''

A Perilous Journey ''A Perilous Journey'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Richard Wormser. The film stars Vera Ralston, David Brian, Scott Brady, Charles Winninger, Hope Emerson, Eileen Christy and Leif Erickson. Th ...

'' (1953) - Rose * '' The High and the Mighty'' (1954) - Mrs. Wilson (uncredited) * ''

The Seven Year Itch ''The Seven Year Itch'' is a 1955 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, from a screenplay he co-wrote with George Axelrod from the 1952 three-act play. The film stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, who reprised his stage role. ...

'' (1955) - Indian Girl / Tall Beauty at Train Station (uncredited) * '' Indestructible Man'' (1956) - Tall Stripper (uncredited) * '' Pardners'' (1956) - Amanda Wentworth (uncredited) * ''

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Beyond a reasonable doubt is a legal standard of proof required to validate a criminal conviction in most adversarial legal systems. It is a higher standard of proof than the balance of probabilities standard commonly used in civil cases, beca ...

'' (1956) - Tall Burlesque Blonde (uncredited) * ''

Gun Brothers ''Gun Brothers'' is a 1956 American Western film starring Buster Crabbe and Ann Robinson. It was Crabbe's first feature film in six years. Plot Wyoming, 1879: Chad Santee, a former Cavalry sergeant, is a passenger on a stagecoach bound for Chey ...

'' (1956) - Molly MacLain * ''Pagan Island'' (1961) - Pagan Woman

References

External links

* * 1923 births 2010 deaths 20th-century American actresses American television actresses Actresses from California Female models from California People from Perris, California 21st-century American women {{US-actor-stub