Dorothy Wilson (actress)
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Wilson was an American film actress of the 1930s.
Wilson was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, moving to Los Angeles, California
after her high school graduation. Ironically, she had no interest in acting, and had moved to Los Angeles due to an urge to travel. In 1930 she began working as a secretary, and applied at several employment agencies. She received a job at RKO Pictures
, and for two years she worked there as a secretary. While often taking notes for director
Gregory La Cava
, he noticed her and had her do a screen test for his upcoming 1932 film The Age of Consent. She won one of the two lead coed roles, placing her opposite Richard Cromwell
. Her performance in the film received good reviews.
That same year she was selected as one of fifteen girls to be "WAMPAS Baby Stars
", a list which that year included future Hollywood legends Gloria Stuart
and Ginger Rogers
. She would go on to star opposite some of Hollywood's biggest names, to include Harold Lloyd
, Richard Dix
, Tom Keene, Preston Foster
and Will Rogers
. She would star in twenty films between 1932 to 1937.
In 1936 she had married scriptwriter Lewis R. Foster
, whom she had met while filming the 1934 movie Eight Girls in a Boat. Foster would win an Oscar for his script Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
, released in 1939 and starring James Stewart
and Jean Arthur
, and based on Foster's book The Gentleman From Montana. She would star in only two films after the marriage, her last being the 1937 film Speed to Spare, after which she retired from acting to devote time to her family. She returned to acting only once, an uncredited role in the 1943 film Whistling in Brooklyn
. However, she was asked to test for the part of "Melanie Hamilton" in the epic movie Gone With the Wind
, which she did, but she did not win the role, with it being awarded to Olivia de Havilland
.
She and Foster remained together, and raised a family of two children. Foster died in 1974. Dorothy never remarried, and was residing in Lompoc, California
at the time of her death on January 7, 1998.
Wilson was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, moving to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
after her high school graduation. Ironically, she had no interest in acting, and had moved to Los Angeles due to an urge to travel. In 1930 she began working as a secretary, and applied at several employment agencies. She received a job at RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
, and for two years she worked there as a secretary. While often taking notes for director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Gregory La Cava
Gregory La Cava
Gregory La Cava was an American film director best known for his films of the 1930s, including My Man Godfrey and Stage Door....
, he noticed her and had her do a screen test for his upcoming 1932 film The Age of Consent. She won one of the two lead coed roles, placing her opposite Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell (actor)
Richard Cromwell, born LeRoy Melvin Radabaugh , was an American actor. His family and friends called him Roy, though he was also professionally known and signed autographs as Dick Cromwell. Cromwell's career was at its pinnacle with his work in Jezebel with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda and again...
. Her performance in the film received good reviews.
That same year she was selected as one of fifteen girls to be "WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
", a list which that year included future Hollywood legends Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Frances Stuart was an American actress, activist, painter, bonsai artist and fine printer. Over a Hollywood career which spanned, with a long break in the middle, from 1932 until 2004, she appeared on stage, television, and film, for which she was best-known...
and Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
. She would go on to star opposite some of Hollywood's biggest names, to include Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
, Richard Dix
Richard Dix
Richard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
, Tom Keene, Preston Foster
Preston Foster
Preston Foster was an American stage and film actor, and singer. Foster entered films in 1929 after appearing as a Broadway stage actor. He was appearing in Broadway plays as late as October 1931 when he acted in a play titled Two Seconds starring Edward J. Pawley...
and Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
. She would star in twenty films between 1932 to 1937.
In 1936 she had married scriptwriter Lewis R. Foster
Lewis R. Foster
Lewis R. Foster was an American screenwriter, film/television director, and film/television producer. He directed and wrote over one hundred films and television series between 1926 and 1960.-Director:...
, whom she had met while filming the 1934 movie Eight Girls in a Boat. Foster would win an Oscar for his script Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American drama film starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart about one man's effect on American politics. It was directed by Frank Capra and written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story. Mr...
, released in 1939 and starring James Stewart
James Stewart (actor)
James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
and Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur was an American actress and a major film star of the 1930s and 1940s. She remains arguably the epitome of the female screwball comedy actress. As James Harvey wrote in his recounting of the era, "No one was more closely identified with the screwball comedy than Jean Arthur...
, and based on Foster's book The Gentleman From Montana. She would star in only two films after the marriage, her last being the 1937 film Speed to Spare, after which she retired from acting to devote time to her family. She returned to acting only once, an uncredited role in the 1943 film Whistling in Brooklyn
Whistling in Brooklyn
Whistling in Brooklyn is the third and last film starring comedian Red Skelton as radio personality and amateur detective Wally "The Fox" Benton. Wally prepares to marry his girlfriend, but gets sidetracked when he is mistaken for a serial murderer...
. However, she was asked to test for the part of "Melanie Hamilton" in the epic movie Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
, which she did, but she did not win the role, with it being awarded to Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
.
She and Foster remained together, and raised a family of two children. Foster died in 1974. Dorothy never remarried, and was residing in Lompoc, California
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
at the time of her death on January 7, 1998.