Dorothy Provine

Dorothy Michelle Provine (January 20, 1935 – April 25, 2010) was an American singer, dancer and actress. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle, from which she graduated with a degree in Theater Arts in 1957. While there, she joined the women's fraternity Alpha Gamma Delta. In Washington, she handed out prizes for a quiz program on a local television station until she was hired by Warner Bros. at $500 per week. In Hollywood, she starred in the titular role as the cigar-chomping, machine-gun firing heroine of the 1958 film The Bonnie Parker Story directed by William Witney. That same year, she performed in a credited walk-on part in the NBC Western television series Wagon Train, in the episode "The Marie Dupree Story." In 1959, she was in the cast of The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock, which was Lou Costello's last screen appearance. In that same year she again appeared in Wagon Train in the episode "Matthew Lowry Story", this time having a part that ran the full episode.

On January 3, 1959, Provine appeared as Laura Winfield in the episode "The Bitter Lesson" of the NBC Western series Cimarron City. Laura Winfield is a newly arrived schoolteacher with false credentials who is plotting with a male companion to rob a stage shipment of gold, but not before Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple (series star John Smith) falls in love with her. Dan Blocker and Gregg Palmer also appear in this episode as interested suitors of the new teacher. A few weeks thereafter, she was cast in a supporting role in the episode "The Giant Killer" of the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series Sugarfoot, with Will Hutchins in the title role.

In 1959, Provine appeared as Ann Donnelly in the episode "The Confession" of another ABC/WB Western series, Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston. Charles Aidman was cast in this episode as Arthur Sibley; Don C. Harvey as Sheriff Clinter. About this time she was also cast in an episode of the ABC sitcom The Real McCoys starring Walter Brennan.

Another 1959 appearance was as "Chalmers" in the episode "Blood Money" of the CBS televised Western The Texan starring Rory Calhoun as Bill Longley and Ralph Meeker in the guest cast as Sam Kerrigan. She also guest starred in the syndicated Western series Man Without a Gun starring Rex Reason.

She guest-starred in the 25th episode of The Gallant Men called "Tommy", which aired in March 1963. Her character name was Joyce Adams, a singer who entertained the troops.

In 1968, Provine married the film and television director Robert Day and retired from acting, apart from occasional guest roles on television. About 1990 the couple moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, where they resided with their son. Provine was reclusive in retirement, indulging her love of reading and movies, occasionally driving around the island with her husband.

Provine died of emphysema on April 25, 2010, in Bremerton, Washington.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1958 Live Fast, Die Young Jackie Uncredited 1958 The Bonnie Parker Story Bonnie Parker 1959 Riot in Juvenile Prison Babe 1959 The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock Emmy Lou Rossiter 1963 Wall of Noise Ann Conroy 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Emeline Marcus-Finch 1964 Good Neighbor Sam Minerva Bissell 1965 The Great Race Lily Olay 1965 That Darn Cat! Ingrid Randall 1966 One Spy Too Many Tracey Alexander 1966 Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die Susan Fleming 1967 Who's Minding the Mint? Verna Baxter 1968 Never a Dull Moment Sally Inwood

Television Year Title Role Notes 1957 Man Without a Gun Episode: "Man Missing" 1958 The Millionaire Rosemary MacIntyre Episode: "The David Barrett Story" 1958 Lawman Julie Preston Episode: "Lady in Question" 1958–1959 Wagon Train Marian Pruitt / Susie 2 episodes 1958–1962 77 Sunset Strip Nora Shirley / Betty 3 episodes 1959 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Suzy Keeler Episode: "Coney Island Baby" 1959 Cimarron City Laura Winfield Episode: "The Bitter Lesson" 1959 The Real McCoys Glory Episode: "The McCoys Visit Hollywood" 1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Sharon Trotter Season 4 Episode 14: "The Morning After" 1959 Sugarfoot Miss Bonnie / Ada 2 episodes 1959 The Rough Riders Holly Morrow Episode: "Lesson in Violence" 1959 The Texan Chalmers Episode: "Blood Money" 1959 Colt .45 Ann Donnelly Episode: "The Confession" 1959 Bronco Gilda Harper Episode: "Red Water North" 1959–1960 The Alaskans Rocky Shaw 36 episodes 1960–1962 The Roaring 20's Pinky Pinkham 45 episodes 1962 Hawaiian Eye Nora Stewart / Arnel Wade 2 episodes 1962 The Red Skelton Show Piper Novak Episode: "The Bride of Bolivar" 1962 You're Only Young Once Mildred Offenbach Television film 1963 The Gallant Men Joyce Adams Episode: "Tommy" 1965 Dr. Kildare Sally Boles Episode: "Music Hath Charms" 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Julie Episode: "Simon Says Get Married" 1965 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Tracey Alexander Season 2 Episode 1: "Alexander the Greater Affair: Part 1" 1965 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Tracey Alexander Season 2 Episode 2: "Alexander the Greater Affair: Part 2" 1968 The Danny Thomas Hour Laura Merrill Episode: "My Pal Tony" 1968 The F.B.I. Irene Minnock Episode: "Breakthrough" 1968 The Sound of Anger Marge Carruthers Television film 1970 Love, American Style April Segment: "Love and Those Poor Crusaders' Wives" 1973 Police Story Harriett Bonner Episode: "The Big Walk" 1976 Police Woman Episode: "The Trick Book"

Discography The Roaring 20's, 1960 Warner Bros.: WM 4035 (W1394). Musical direction by Sandy Courage. Included two songs which were A sides of hit singles: Don't Bring Lulu and Crazy Words - Crazy Tune. The Vamp of The Roaring 20s - Vol. 2, 1961 Warner Bros.: WM 4053. Musical direction by Sandy Courage. Oh You Kid!, 1962 Warner Bros.: 1962 Warner Bros.: W 1466. With Joe "Fingers" Carr.