Dorothy Kirsten

Dorothy Kirsten (July 6, 1910, Montclair, New Jersey – November 18, 1992, Los Angeles, California) was an American operatic soprano who was the first singer in the Metropolitan Opera's history to perform on that stage for 30 consecutive years, and the first opera star to appear on the cover of Life magazine. In addition, she was the founder of the John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation, named in honor of her husband, John "Jack" Douglas French, MD, who died from Alzheimer's disease in 1989.

Career By the late 1930s she had an ongoing professional career as a radio singer on WINS, a member of the Kate Smith Chorus, and as a vocalist for pop orchestras. She mentored under Grace Moore from 1938, who had her study in Rome with Astolfo Pescia. Her time in Europe was cut by the outbreak of World War II, and she returned in 1939, debuting at the New York World's Fair. ), Bing Crosby, Nelson Eddy, Jack Benny, Gordon MacRae, and Perry Como. She also appeared in two films, Mr. Music (1950) and The Great Caruso (1951). In 1965, she appeared on the Firestone album series Your Favorite Christmas Music, Volume 4, singing "I Wonder as I Wander" and "Joy to the World".

John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation

In 1982, Kirsten's husband, John "Jack" Douglas French, MD, a neurosurgeon who co-founded and served as the first director of the UCLA Brain Research Institute, Kirsten ended her operatic career, and spent the rest of her life working to find a cure for her husband's degenerative brain disorder. Dr. French, Kirsten's husband, died at the John Douglas French Center for Alzheimer's Disease in 1989.

Personal

Kirsten French was married three times. Her first marriage was to Edward MacKayes Oates, a radio executive, with a divorce in 1949. In 1955, she married John "Jack" Douglas French, MD, a neurosurgeon, who died in 1989.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1929 Happy Days Chorus Woman 1950 Mr. Music Dorothy Kirsten 1951 The Great Caruso Louise Heggar

Publications Kirsten, Dorothy (1982). A Time To Sing (Doubleday).