Doreen Lang
New Zealand-born American character actress
About Doreen Lang
Lived 1915 – 1999 (aged 84). Doreen Lang was an American and New Zealand actor, film actor and television actor.
Doreen Lang (February 15, 1915 – April 21, 1999) was a New Zealand-born American character actress, remembered for roles in theatre, television and films.
Life and career Lang was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, and studied drama in London.
She played Edith in Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit on Broadway from 1941 to 1943. Other Broadway shows included Make Way for Lucia (1948), I Know My Love (1949), Season in the Sun (1950) and Faithfully Yours (1951).
Lang's live TV performances included the title role in The Story of Mary Surrat (1955) for Kraft Television Theatre; among her other television appearances were episodes of Studio One from 1954 to 1957 and the daytime drama The Nurses (1965). Later, she appeared as a guest star on numerous TV dramas, such as Hawaii Five-O (1968), Mod Squad (1969), Gunsmoke (1970), Mannix (1971) and The Waltons (1973)
Lang was married to Richard B. Rudy from 1939 to 1956, with whom she had a daughter, and, after a divorce, to Arthur Franz from 1964, with whom she had three stepchildren.
She died in Malibu, California, at the age of 84 after a long battle with cancer.
Selected filmography The Wrong Man (1956) as Ann James Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 3 Episode 35: "Dip in the Pool") as Emily North by Northwest (1959) as Maggie (uncredited) The Birds (1963) as Hysterical Mother in Diner
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Important facts
People in Doreen Lang's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Doreen Lang's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Doreen Lang?
New Zealand-born American character actress (1915–1999)
When was Doreen Lang born?
Doreen Lang was born on 15 February 1915 in Gisborne.
When did Doreen Lang die?
Doreen Lang died on 21 April 1999 in Malibu.
What was Doreen Lang's occupation?
Doreen Lang was an actor, film actor and television actor.
What nationality was Doreen Lang?
Doreen Lang was American and New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Doreen Lang. https://biography.guide/doreen-lang/
MLA: "Doreen Lang." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/doreen-lang/.
Chicago: "Doreen Lang." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/doreen-lang/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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