Dorothy Ford (April 4, 1922 – October 15, 2010) was an American actress and

model A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

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 for the swimming chorus in his Aquacade at the

Golden Gate International Exposition The Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) (1939 and 1940), held at San Francisco's Treasure Island, was a World's Fair celebrating, among other things, the city's two newly built bridges. The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 ...

in San Francisco. She studied at the Actors' Laboratory Theatre. After seven months with the Aquacade, she became a showgirl at

Earl Carroll Earl Carroll (September 16, 1893 – June 17, 1948) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, songwriter and composer. Early life Carroll was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1893. He lived as an infant in the Nunnery Hill ( Fine ...

's, where she worked for a year and a half. In 1944, she made her screen debut in ''

Lady in the Dark ''Lady in the Dark'' is a musical with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book and direction by Moss Hart. It was produced by Sam Harris. The protagonist, Liza Elliott, is the unhappy female editor of a fictional fashion magazine ...

''. She continued her acting career, including roles in the Andy Hardy movie '' Love Laughs at Andy Hardy'' (1946) and in Abbott and Costello'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 Co ...

'' (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'' (1943) - Dancer in Don Liper Number / Bathing Beauty in Red Skelton Skit (uncredited) * ''

'' (1944) - Model (uncredited) * ''

Broadway Rhythm ''Broadway Rhythm'' (1944) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Technicolor musical film. It was produced by Jack Cummings and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film was originally announced as ''Broadway Melody of 1944'' to follow MGM's ''Broadway Melody' ...

'' (1944) - Co-ed in Drugstore (uncredited) * '' Two Girls and a Sailor'' (1944) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) * ''

Meet the People ''Meet the People'' (1944) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film, musical comedy film made, and set, during World War II, and starring Lucille Ball and Dick Powell and featuring Virginia O'Brien, Bert Lahr, Rags Ragland and June Allyson. The film ...

'' (1944) - Tall Girl (uncredited) * ''

Bathing Beauty ''Bathing Beauty'' is a 1944 musical film starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone, and Esther Williams, and directed by George Sidney. Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be ...

'' (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 ...

'' (1944) - Tall Girl with Dog (uncredited) * ''

Here Come the Co-Eds ''Here Come The Co-Eds'' is a 1945 American comedy film starring the comedy team Abbott and Costello. Plot Oliver Quackenbush, Molly McCarthy and her brother Slats who acts as her publicity agent work for the Miramar Ballroom as taxi dancers. Sla ...

'' (1945) - Bertha (uncredited) * ''

The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a 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''.''The Picture of Dorian G ...

'' (1945) - Tall Chorine (uncredited) * '' Thrill of a Romance'' (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) * '' Love Laughs at Andy Hardy'' (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 lis ...

'' (1948) - Lola Maxim * '' 3 Godfathers'' (1948) - Ruby Latham * '' One Sunday Afternoon'' (1948) - Daisy (uncredited) * '' Sands of Iwo Jima'' (1949) - Tall Girl (uncredited) * ''

Key to the City The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...

'' (1950) - Miss Construction (uncredited) * ''

Let's Go Navy! ''Let's Go Navy!'' is a 1951 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on July 29, 1951 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-third film in the series. Plot A local charity has raised sixteen hundred dollars and entrusted the ...

'' (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. ...

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

'' (1952) - Receptionist / Polly * '' Feudin' Fools'' (1952) - Tiny Smith * '' Limelight'' (1952) - Patrician Lady in Dress Circle (uncredited) * '' A Perilous Journey'' (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 ''Indestructible Man'' is a 1956 American crime horror science fiction film, an original screenplay by Vy Russell and Sue Dwiggins for producer-director Jack Pollexfen and starring Lon Chaney Jr., Ross Elliott and Robert Shayne. The picture ...

'' (1956) - Tall Stripper (uncredited) * ''

Pardners ''Pardners'' is a 1956 American comedy western film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. It was released on July 25, 1956 by Paramount Pictures. A western spoof directed by Norman Taurog, this was the penultimate film of the 16 screen c ...

'' (1956) - Amanda Wentworth (uncredited) * '' Beyond a Reasonable Doubt'' (1956) - Tall Burlesque Blonde (uncredited) * '' Gun Brothers'' (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