Yolande Donlan

Yolande Donlan (June 2, 1920 – December 30, 2014) was an American-born British-based actress who worked extensively in the United Kingdom.

Early life and career Donlan was the Jersey City, New Jersey-born daughter of James Donlan, a character actor and singer Teresa Donlan (née Mollot).

Later life and career After her run in Peter Pan ended, Donlan remained in the United Kingdom and began accepting film work. After Traveller's Joy (1949), Donlan worked for the director Val Guest as the female lead in several films including Miss Pilgrim's Progress (1949) with Michael Rennie, The Body Said No! (1950), with Michael Rennie; Mister Drake's Duck (1951), with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Penny Princess (1952) in the title role co-starring with Dirk Bogarde. In 1950, British exhibitors voted her the most promising female newcomer.

As well as acting in films Donlan continued her career in theatre during this period. Plays that enjoyed notable success were Cage me a Peacock by Noel Langley (1948) and To Dorothy, a Son by Roger MacDougall (1950).

In 2004, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her and Guest.

She died in London on December 30, 2014, aged 94.

Selected filmography

Turnabout (1940) – Marie Cross-Country Romance (1940) – Jennie – Diane's maid (uncredited) The Devil Bat (1940) – Maxine Dark Streets of Cairo (1940) – Maggie Malone, aka Margo Molina Road Show (1941) – nurse (uncredited) Under Age (1941) – Lily Fletcher Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941) – drugstore waitress (uncredited) Miss Pilgrim's Progress (1949) – Laramie Pilgrim Traveller's Joy (1949) – Lil Fowler The Body Said No! (1950) – Mikki Brent Mr Drake's Duck (1951) – Penny Drake Penny Princess (1952) – Lindy Smith They Can't Hang Me (1955) – Jill Wilson Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957) – Gamage Dean Expresso Bongo (1959) – Dixie Collins Jigsaw (1962) – Jean Sherman 80,000 Suspects (1963) – Ruth Preston The Adventurers (1970) – Mrs. Erickson Seven Nights in Japan (1976) – American wife

Theatre credits 1942 'Dodie' in "Goodnight Ladies", Blackstone Theatre, Chicago. 1944 'Julie' in "School for Brides", Royale Theatre, New York. 1947 'Billie Dawn' in "Born Yesterday" by Garson Kanin, Garrick Theatre, London. 1948 "Rocket to the Moon" by Clifford Odets, St Martin's Theatre, London. 1948 'Lucrece' in "Cage me a Peacock" (with Lionel Blair) by Noel Langley, Strand Theatre, London. 1950 To Dorothy, a Son (with Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim), Savoy Theatre, London. 1953 "Redheaded Blonde", Vaudeville Theatre, London. 1954 "It's Different for Men", Golders Green Hippodrome, London. 1957 "Olive Ogilvy", Aldwych Theatre, London. 1958 'Lizzie' in "The Rainmaker", Olympia Theatre, Dublin. 1959 "Suddenly it's Spring" (with Margaret Lockwood), Duke of Yorks, London. 1965 "Dear Wormwood" (with Donald Wolfit and Hywel Bennett), Golders Green Hippodrome, London. 1971 "Chorus of Murder", (with Irene Handl and Robert Cawdron) Edinburgh. 1972 "Cut-Throat" Theatre Royal, Windsor.