Doe Avedon

Dorcas Marie Avedon (née Nowell; April 7, 1925 – December 18, 2011), known professionally as Doe Avedon, was an American model and actress.

Early life Doe Avedon was born Dorcas Marie Nowell in Old Westbury, New York, Long Island ,on April 7, 1925. Her mother died when she was three years old, after which she was raised by her father who worked as a butler. When Doe was 12 years old her father died; she was raised by the wealthy family for whom her father had worked.

Career At the age of 19, she began working at a bank in New York City. It was there that she met up and coming photographer Richard Avedon. They were married in 1944 and Avedon set about making his new wife a top model. He also changed her name from "Dorcas" to "Doe" because he felt her wide set, brown eyes looked like those of a doe. While Avedon appeared in numerous photographs shot by her husband, she did not enjoy modeling and turned to acting in the late 1940s. In 1948, she made her Broadway debut in The Young and Fair. The following year, she cast in My Name Is Aquilon, starring Jean-Pierre Aumont and Arlene Francis. That same year, she made her film debut (under the name "Betty Harper") in the 1949 film noir Jigsaw. After her husband's death, Avedon returned to acting.

In 1957, Avedon married director Don Siegel. After her marriage, she retired to raise the couple's four children. Avedon and Siegel were divorced in 1975. She briefly returned to acting in 1984 with a role in John Cassavetes' Love Streams. Her funeral was held on December 22 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. 1957 The Ford Television Theatre Ruth Harding Episode: "The Idea Man" 1958 Alcoa Theatre Ruth Episode: "The Victim" 1958 Climax! Alice Peters Episode: "Albert Anastasia - His Life and Death" 1984 Love Streams Mrs. Kiner (final film role)