Doris Dowling

Doris Dowling (May 15, 1923 – June 18, 2004) was an American actress. She is best known for the films The Crimson Key and Bitter Rice (1949). She is also known for playing Irene Adams on My Living Doll (1964–1965) and other TV show appearances such as The Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason, and The Incredible Hulk.

Early years Dowling was born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in New York City with siblings Robert, Richard, and Constance (who also became an actress). After graduating from Hunter College High School, she spent a short time with a Folies Bergère group in San Francisco before her mother brought her back to New York to attend Hunter College.

Film After her time as a chorus girl on Broadway, Dowling followed her elder sister Constance to Hollywood. Her first credited film role was that of Gloria, an apparent escort who takes a shine to Ray Milland in the 1945 film The Lost Weekend.

She next appeared in The Blue Dahlia, which starred Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. Dowling portrayed Ladd's wife.

As work grew scarce after the war, she emigrated to Italy to revive her career as her sister had done.

In Italy, Dowling starred in several acclaimed films, including Bitter Rice. She appeared in Orson Welles's European production of Othello in 1951, playing Bianca.

Television Upon returning to the United States, much of Dowling's work was in theater and on television. She appeared in such television shows as One Step Beyond, Have Gun – Will Travel, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Cheyenne, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Science Fiction Theater, Adam 12, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Daktari,The Andy Griffith Show and, late in her career, Kojak, Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and The Dukes of Hazzard. She co-starred with Bob Cummings and Julie Newmar in the sitcom My Living Doll.

Stage Dowling shared the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble Performance in 1972–1973 for her performance in a revival of The Women on Broadway. Her other Broadway credits include Panama Hattie (1942), Banjo Eyes (1942), Beat the Band (1942), and New Faces of 1943 (1943).

Personal life Dowling dated Billy Wilder during the 1940s and married three times. In 1952, she became bandleader Artie Shaw's seventh wife. They had a son, Jonathan, before divorcing in 1956. Later that year, on April 27, 1956, Dowling married film executive Robert F. Blumofe; they divorced in 1959. She married Leonard Kaufman on April 20, 1960, to whom she remained married until her death in 2004.

Death Dowling died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, on June 18, 2004, at age 81.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1944 And Now Tomorrow Maid of Honor Uncredited 1945 Bring On the Girls Girl Uncredited The Lost Weekend Gloria 1946 The Blue Dahlia Helen Morrison 1947 The Crimson Key Margaret Loring 1948 The Emperor Waltz Tyrolean Girl Uncredited 1949 Bitter Rice Francesca 1950 Sarumba Hildita Alina Marie Hearts at Sea Doris 1951 Othello Bianca 1956 Running Target Smitty 1958 Wink of an Eye Myrna Duchane The Party Crashers Mrs. Hazel Webster 1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Angie Season 6 Episode 9: "The Money" 1966 Birds Do It Congresswoman Clanger 1977 The Car Bertha 1981 Separate Ways Rebecca Stevens