Dorothy Malone (who is Dorothy Malone?)
Dorothy Malone was an American actress known for her work in both film and television, with a career spanning several decades. Born as Dorothy Eloise Maloney on January 30, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, she grew up in Dallas, Texas, and started acting in school plays and modeling for Neiman Marcus.
Malone began her film career in the early 1940s, signing a contract with RKO Pictures and subsequently with Warner Bros. Her early roles were often small and uncredited. However, she continued to work steadily, gaining recognition for her talent.
Her breakout role is arguably that of the bookish, bespectacled salesgirl in "The Big Sleep" (1946) starring Humphrey Bogart, where she made a strong impression in her brief appearance. From this point onward, Malone began to secure more substantial parts.
In the 1950s, Malone's career took a decisive turn when she starred in Douglas Sirk's melodrama "Written on the Wind" (1956). For her performance as the oil heiress Marylee Hadley, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This role established her as a significant actress in Hollywood.
Following her Oscar win, Malone continued to appear in leading roles in movies such as "Man of a Thousand Faces" (1957), "Too Much, Too Soon" (1958), and "Warlock" (1959). She also worked in television, appearing in several TV series and TV movies.
In the 1960s, Dorothy Malone achieved further television success with her role as Constance MacKenzie in the primetime soap opera "Peyton Place," which aired from 1964 to 1968. Her character was a central figure in the show, which was one of the first nighttime serial dramas on American television.
Malone's career slowed down in the 1970s, yet she continued to make sporadic appearances in film and television. She battled breast cancer in the early '70s but made a full recovery.
Later in life, Malone lived quietly away from the limelight. Her film and television work in the later years included fewer roles, with some appearances in the 1980s and 1990s, including a role in "Basic Instinct" in 1992.
Malone was married and divorced three times, and she had two children. She lived through various health issues in her later years and eventually passed away on January 19, 2018, at the age of 93.
For those interested in exploring Dorothy Malone's life and career further, the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) website often offers detailed biographies and filmographies for classic actors. Moreover, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is a comprehensive resource for filmography details and credits. Here are two links to explore: