Dolores Dorn

Dolores Dorn
Dorn in 13 West Street (1962)
Born
Dolores M. Heft

March 3, 1934
Died October 5, 2019 (aged 85)
Other names Dolores Dorn-Heft
Occupation Actress
Years active 1954–1980
Spouses
(m. 1956; div. 1959)
(m. 1967; div. 1979)

Dolores Dorn (March 3, 1934 – October 5, 2019) was an American film and television actress, who was the co-star of The Bounty Hunter (1954), Uncle Vanya (1957), Underworld U.S.A. (1961), and several other films through 1985. On Broadway, she was billed as Dolores Dorn-Heft.

Early years

Dolores M. Heft was born in Chicago, the daughter of an automobile dealer. A graduate of the Goodman Art Theatre in Chicago, she finished third in the Miss Chicago contest in 1950 and second in the same contest in 1951.

Stage

Before appearing in films, Dorn acted with the Shaffner Players in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. She appeared in Hide and Seek (1957) on Broadway and in the off-Broadway production Between Two Thieves.

Film

Dorn had second billing in The Bounty Hunter, a Western starring Randolph Scott, in which her character, Julie Spencer, ends up married to Scott's. She played the wife of Alan Ladd in the actor's last Hollywood film in which he played a leading-man role, 13 West Street, and was featured as Cuddles, the moll of convict Cliff Robertson, in the crime film Underworld, U.S.A.

Television

Dorn appeared in a number of made-for-TV films and as a guest star in series such as Ironside, Charlie's Angels, Simon & Simon, Run for Your Life, and The Untouchables.

Additional filmography

Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954 Phantom of the Rue Morgue Camille Film
1954 Lucky Me Troupe Member Film, Uncredited
1954 The Bounty Hunter Julie Spencer Film
1957 Uncle Vanya Elena Andreevna
1961 Underworld U.S.A. Cuddles Film
1962 13 West Street Tracey Sherill Film
1962 The Untouchables Mady Collins aka Mady Kerner TV, Episode: "The Monkey Wrench"
1973 The Candy Snatchers Katherine Film
1974 Truck Stop Women Trish Film
1977 Intimate Strangers Dolores TV movie
1980 Tell Me a Riddle Vivi Film

Teaching

Dorn became an acting teacher with the American Film Institute in 1977 and later with the Lee Strasberg Institute.

Personal life

Dorn was married to actors Franchot Tone (1956–1959), and Ben Piazza (1967–1979). She died on October 5, 2019, at the age of 85.

Dorn's name is featured on the Tony Award's "In Memoriam 2020" list.