Dorothy Malone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorothy Malone
Dorothy Malone in 1963
Born	Mary Dorothy Maloney (1924-01-29)January 29, 1924 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	January 19, 2018(2018-01-19) (aged 93) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Southern Methodist University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1943–1992
Spouse(s)	Jacques Bergerac ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1964)​ Robert Tomarkin ​ ​ (m. 1969; annul. 1969)​ Charles Huston Bell ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1973)​
Children	2
Relatives	Robert B. Maloney (brother)

Dorothy Malone (born Mary Dorothy Maloney; January 29, 1924 – January 19, 2018) was a famous American actress. She had a long career in movies and television.

Dorothy started acting in 1943. At first, she played small roles in many films. Later, she became well-known for her role in the movie Written on the Wind (1956). For this film, she won an Oscar.

Her career was very successful in the early 1960s. She also became famous for her TV role as Constance MacKenzie in the show Peyton Place (1964–1968). Dorothy Malone's last movie was Basic Instinct in 1992. She passed away in 2018.

Early Life and Discovery

Dorothy Malone was born Mary Dorothy Maloney in Chicago, Illinois, on January 29, 1924. She was one of five children. When she was six months old, her family moved to Dallas, Texas.

In Dallas, she worked as a model for a store called Neiman Marcus. She went to several schools, including Highland Park High School and Southern Methodist University (SMU). She even thought about becoming a nurse.

While performing in a play at SMU, a talent scout noticed her. Dorothy later remembered that she was just helping a boy audition. A few weeks later, she received a movie contract in the mail.

Becoming a Star

Early Movies with RKO and Warner Bros.

Dorothy signed with RKO Pictures at age 18. Her first movie was Gildersleeve on Broadway in 1943. She was known as Dorothy Maloney back then. She appeared in several films, often in small parts. She even acted with Frank Sinatra in Higher and Higher (1943).

After RKO, she signed a contract with Warner Bros.. The studio changed her last name from Maloney to Malone. She got bigger roles, like the smart bookstore clerk in The Big Sleep (1946) with Humphrey Bogart. She also starred in Westerns like Two Guys from Texas (1948).

Becoming a Freelancer

After leaving Warner Bros., Dorothy Malone worked for different movie studios. She appeared in many Westerns and thrillers. She also started acting on television shows. Some of her early TV appearances were on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Kraft Theatre.

She acted with famous stars like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in Scared Stiff (1953). She also worked with Ronald Reagan in the Western Law and Order (1953). Dorothy was in the popular movie Battle Cry (1955).

She even starred in a movie directed by Roger Corman, called Five Guns West (1955). She continued to appear in many Westerns and musicals.

Winning an Oscar

Dorothy Malone in Written on the Wind, 1956

In 1956, Dorothy Malone changed her look and her image. She became a platinum blonde. She co-starred with Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, and Robert Stack in the drama Written on the Wind.

Her role in this movie was very powerful. It earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This award helped her get more important roles in films.

After her Oscar win, she starred in movies like Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) with James Cagney. She also reunited with Rock Hudson and Robert Stack in The Tarnished Angels (1957). Dorothy also appeared in the movie Warlock (1959).

She continued to work a lot in television during this time. She appeared on shows like Route 66 and Dr. Kildare.

Peyton Place and Later Career

Starring in Peyton Place

Dorothy Malone in Peyton Place

From 1964 to 1968, Dorothy Malone played the main role of Constance MacKenzie in the popular TV show Peyton Place. She was very dedicated to the role. She even made sure her filming schedule allowed her to be home with her two daughters every evening.

She enjoyed playing mothers in her roles. She said she never turned down a mother role. In 1968, she left the show due to disagreements about her character's storyline. She later returned for two TV movies based on Peyton Place: Murder in Peyton Place (1977) and Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985).

Later Acting Roles

After Peyton Place, Dorothy Malone continued to act in movies and TV shows. She went to Italy to make a thriller called The Insatiables (1969). She also appeared in TV movies like The Pigeon (1969) with Sammy Davis Jr..

She had a role in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). She also guest-starred on popular shows like Ironside and The Streets of San Francisco.

In the 1980s, she continued to act in films like The Being (1983). Her very last screen appearance was in the movie Basic Instinct in 1992.

Personal Life

Dorothy Malone was married three times and had two daughters, Mimi and Diane. She moved her daughters from California to Dallas, Texas, where she grew up.

Death and Legacy

Dorothy Malone passed away on January 19, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. She was 93 years old. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to motion pictures. It was given to her on February 8, 1960.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Dorothy Malone para niños