Dorothy McGuire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothy McGuire
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Publicity photo of McGuire, 1940s
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| Born |
Dorothy Hackett McGuire
June 14, 1916 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Died | September 13, 2001 (aged 85) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Dorothy McGuire Swope |
| Years active | 1943–1990 |
| Known for | Swiss Family Robinson Gentleman's Agreement Friendly Persuasion The Enchanted Cottage Rich Man, Poor Man |
| Spouse(s) |
John Swope
(m. 1943; died 1979) |
| Children | 2, including Topo Swope |
Dorothy Hackett McGuire (born June 14, 1916 – died September 13, 2001) was a talented American actress. She was famous for her roles in many movies and TV shows. She was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the movie Gentleman's Agreement (1947). She also won an award for her acting in Friendly Persuasion (1956). Many people remember her as the mother in the popular adventure film Swiss Family Robinson (1960).
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life
Dorothy McGuire was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the only child of Isabelle Flaherty McGuire and Thomas Johnson McGuire. She started acting on stage when she was just 13 years old. Her first play was A Kiss for Cinderella at her local community theater. A famous actor named Henry Fonda was her co-star in that play.
After her father passed away, Dorothy went to a special school in Indianapolis. Later, she attended Pine Manor Junior College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She was even the president of the drama club there! She finished college when she was 19.
Starting in Theatre and Modeling
Before becoming a big star, Dorothy McGuire was a popular model. She also acted in summer plays in Maine in 1937 before moving to New York City.
She acted on the radio, playing a character named Sue in a show called Big Sister in 1937. She even took part in an early television broadcast in 1938. Dorothy got her first role on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in New York, in 1938. She was an understudy for another actress in the play Our Town, and eventually took over the role.
She traveled with a play called My Dear Children. In 1939, she was in a show with the famous musician Benny Goodman. Dorothy became well-known on Broadway when she starred in the play Claudia. This play was very popular and ran for a long time, from 1941 to 1943.
Becoming a Film Star
Because of her great acting on stage, a movie producer named David O. Selznick brought Dorothy to Hollywood. He thought she was a "born actress." Her first movie was Claudia (1943), which was based on her successful Broadway play. In the movie, she played a young wife who learns important lessons about marriage.
Dorothy's co-star in Claudia was Robert Young. They worked together again in The Enchanted Cottage (1945), which was also a hit.
When she was 28, Dorothy played a mother in the movie A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945). This film was a big success. She also starred in The Spiral Staircase (1946), where she played a character who couldn't speak.
Dorothy and Robert Young made another movie together, Claudia and David (1946), which was a follow-up to Claudia. She also starred in Till the End of Time (1946), which was popular with audiences.
Dorothy McGuire was nominated for an Academy Award, one of the biggest awards in movies, for her role in Gentleman's Agreement (1947). This movie was directed by Elia Kazan and was a huge surprise hit. After this, Dorothy helped start the La Jolla Playhouse, a theater company, and acted in several plays there. She then lived in Italy for a year.
Later Films and Mother Roles
After some time away, Dorothy returned to movies in the early 1950s. She appeared in Mother Didn't Tell Me (1950) and Mister 880 (1950). She also started acting on television in a show called Robert Montgomery Presents.
Dorothy had a very successful movie with Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). She also appeared in TV shows like The United States Steel Hour and Climax!.
In 1956, Dorothy was cast as the wife of Gary Cooper in the movie Friendly Persuasion. Her great performance in this movie led her to play many "mother" roles. She continued this trend in the popular Disney film Old Yeller (1957).
She played a wife and mother in The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959). She also starred in other family dramas like This Earth Is Mine (1959) and A Summer Place (1959), which was a big success. She then appeared in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960).
Dorothy returned to Disney for Swiss Family Robinson (1960), playing the mother. This movie was one of the most popular films of that year. She continued playing mother roles in films like Susan Slade (1961) and Disney's Summer Magic (1963). In 1965, she played the Virgin Mary in The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Television Work
Most of Dorothy McGuire's later acting career was on television. She appeared in many TV movies, including She Waits (1972) and Another Part of the Forest (1972). She also lent her voice to the movie Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973).
She starred in the popular TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). She also appeared in the pilot episode for Little Women (1976) and other TV movies like The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel (1979) and Amos (1985).
Dorothy also made guest appearances in many popular TV shows. These included Fantasy Island, Hotel, The Love Boat, Glitter, St. Elsewhere, and Highway to Heaven. Her final acting roles were in TV movies in 1990.
Dorothy once said that she loved her acting career, but she didn't always plan it out. She felt her career was "erratic" and that she "had no image," meaning she wasn't known for just one type of role.
Personal Life and Death
Dorothy McGuire was married to John Swope, a photographer for Life magazine, for over 35 years. They had two children: a son named Mark, who became a photographer, and a daughter named Topo Swope, who became an actress. Dorothy was also the aunt of Cindy May McGuire, an Indonesian-American actress and doctor.
Dorothy McGuire passed away on September 13, 2001, at the age of 85. She died from a heart attack after a short illness.
Recognition
For her amazing contributions to the movie industry, Dorothy McGuire has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find her star at 6933 Hollywood Boulevard. It was placed there on February 8, 1960.
Images for kids
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Dorothy McGuire and Spring Byington in the short film Reward Unlimited (1944)
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Dorothy McGuire and John Garfield in Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
See also
In Spanish: Dorothy McGuire para niños
