Claire Dodd
Encyclopedia
Claire Dodd was an American
film actress.
Born as Dorothy Anne Dodd in Baxter, Iowa
, Dodd was born to Walter W. Dodd, a farmer and veterinarian, and Ethel V. Cool Dodd, the daughter of Baxter Postmaster Peter J. Cool. As Dorothy Dodd, she attended school in Baxter. When her parents later separated in Montana, she went to California, where she worked as a model in Los Angeles
and auditioned for minor film roles. Dorothy moved to New York City
to study singing and dancing. . She joined the Ziegfeld Follies
where she was eventually discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck
.
Some confusion has led to Dodd's birthplace being listed as Des Moines, Iowa
. Early in her career, Dodd applied for a passport in preparation for a trip to Europe, and was reported as saying she only knew she was born in Iowa. Whether an attempted bit of publicity, she wound up with plenty in her home state. Dorothy Anne Dodd had many relatives who still lived in and around Baxter when Claire's memory lapse was reported in the Register & Tribune's Iowa News Service on April 29, 1935, and folks there were in an uproar. "She isn't worthy of her birthplace" was the title of one editorial in a local paper the next day, reasoning "No native-born Baxterian has any business forgetting the name of his birthplace". Another Iowa editor offered up the explanation "Maybe Claire Dodd, who forgot her Iowa birthplace, is the type which thinks hard whether to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the word 'Born' on a questionnaire." Deputy Jasper County Clerk John B. Norris quickly sent by registered mail a copy of Claire's birth certificate to Hollywood. The returned receipt was dated May 6, 1935, and signed for her by her husband at the time, J.M. Strauss. According to sources, the birth certificate also listed a birth year of 1911, not 1908, apparently a rare instance of an actress adding years to, rather than subtracting years from, her actual age.
She went on to work for Warner Brothers, Parmount and Universal studios. Her films included Ex-Lady
(1933), The Personality Kid
(1934), The Glass Key
(1935), Three Loves Has Nancy
(1938), and The Black Cat
(1941). She twice played secretary Della Street
to Warren William
's Perry Mason
, in The Case of the Curious Bride
(1935) and The Case of the Velvet Claws
(1936).
She worked in almost sixty films in twelve years from 1930 to 1942. She quit films and married H. Brand Cooper to whom she gave and raised four children (one of whom, Jon Michael Strauss, b. 1936, was from her first marriage).
from cancer
, aged 64. She is buried in the Brand Family Cemetery on the grounds of the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale California. Photo of grave marker
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actress.
Born as Dorothy Anne Dodd in Baxter, Iowa
Baxter, Iowa
Baxter is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,052 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baxter's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.824492, -93.150857...
, Dodd was born to Walter W. Dodd, a farmer and veterinarian, and Ethel V. Cool Dodd, the daughter of Baxter Postmaster Peter J. Cool. As Dorothy Dodd, she attended school in Baxter. When her parents later separated in Montana, she went to California, where she worked as a model in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and auditioned for minor film roles. Dorothy moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to study singing and dancing. . She joined the Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
where she was eventually discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
.
Some confusion has led to Dodd's birthplace being listed as Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. Early in her career, Dodd applied for a passport in preparation for a trip to Europe, and was reported as saying she only knew she was born in Iowa. Whether an attempted bit of publicity, she wound up with plenty in her home state. Dorothy Anne Dodd had many relatives who still lived in and around Baxter when Claire's memory lapse was reported in the Register & Tribune's Iowa News Service on April 29, 1935, and folks there were in an uproar. "She isn't worthy of her birthplace" was the title of one editorial in a local paper the next day, reasoning "No native-born Baxterian has any business forgetting the name of his birthplace". Another Iowa editor offered up the explanation "Maybe Claire Dodd, who forgot her Iowa birthplace, is the type which thinks hard whether to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the word 'Born' on a questionnaire." Deputy Jasper County Clerk John B. Norris quickly sent by registered mail a copy of Claire's birth certificate to Hollywood. The returned receipt was dated May 6, 1935, and signed for her by her husband at the time, J.M. Strauss. According to sources, the birth certificate also listed a birth year of 1911, not 1908, apparently a rare instance of an actress adding years to, rather than subtracting years from, her actual age.
She went on to work for Warner Brothers, Parmount and Universal studios. Her films included Ex-Lady
Ex-Lady
Ex-Lady is a 1933 American comedy film directed by Robert Florey. The screenplay by David Boehm is based on an unproduced play by Edith Fitzgerald and Robert Riskin.-Plot:...
(1933), The Personality Kid
The Personality Kid
The Personality Kid is a 1934 film starring Pat O'Brien as a flamboyant boxer, Glenda Farrell as his bride, and Claire Dodd as the other woman. The movie was directed by Alan Crosland.-Cast:*Pat O'Brien as Ritzy McCarty*Glenda Farrell as Joan McCarty...
(1934), The Glass Key
The Glass Key (1935 film)
-Cast:*George Raft as Ed Beaumont*Edward Arnold as Paul Madvig*Claire Dodd as Janet Henry*Guinn Williams as Jeff*Ray Milland as Taylor Henry-External links:...
(1935), Three Loves Has Nancy
Three Loves Has Nancy
Three Loves Has Nancy is a romantic comedy film starring Janet Gaynor, Robert Montgomery and Franchot Tone. Set in New York City, it was directed by Richard Thorpe.-Cast:*Janet Gaynor as Nancy Briggs*Robert Montgomery as Mal Niles...
(1938), and The Black Cat
The Black Cat (1941 film)
The Black Cat is a 1941 film based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Actor Bela Lugosi also appeared in the 1934 adaptation of the story. The comedy/horror film was directed by Albert S. Rogell, and starred Basil Rathbone.-Main cast:...
(1941). She twice played secretary Della Street
Della Street
Della Street was the fictional secretary of Perry Mason in the long-running series of novels, films, and radio and television programs featuring the fictional defense attorney created by Erle Stanley Gardner.-Description:...
to Warren William
Warren William
Warren William was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, popular during the early 1930s, who was later nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code". He was born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota to parents Freeman E. and Frances Krech. He had a certain physical resemblance to John Barrymore. He attended the...
's Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
, in The Case of the Curious Bride
The Case of the Curious Bride
The Case of the Curious Bride is a 1935 mystery film, the second in a series starring Warren William as Perry Mason. The story is based on the novel of the same name by Erle Stanley Gardner.-Plot:...
(1935) and The Case of the Velvet Claws
The Case of the Velvet Claws
The Cases of the Velvet Claws is a 1936 mystery film, the fourth and final appearance of Warren William as defense attorney Perry Mason. Mason finally marries his longtime secretary Della Street, but has to cut their honeymoon short in order to defend a woman accused of murder.-Cast:*Warren William...
(1936).
She worked in almost sixty films in twelve years from 1930 to 1942. She quit films and married H. Brand Cooper to whom she gave and raised four children (one of whom, Jon Michael Strauss, b. 1936, was from her first marriage).
Death
She died at her home in Beverly Hills, CaliforniaBeverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, aged 64. She is buried in the Brand Family Cemetery on the grounds of the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale California. Photo of grave marker