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Dorothy Devore

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Dorothy Devore
Devore in 1922
Born
Alma Inez Williams

(1899-06-22)June 22, 1899
DiedSeptember 10, 1976(1976-09-10) (aged 77)
Resting placeSan Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1918–1930
Spouse
Albert Wylie Mather
(m. 1925; div. 1933)

Dorothy Devore (born Alma Inez Williams; June 22, 1899 – September 10, 1976) was an American silent film actress and comedian.

Early life

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Born as Alma Inez Williams in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 22, 1899,[1] her family soon moved to Los Angeles when she was still a young girl and completed her education there.

Career

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Before she began working in films, Devore sang at a cafe in Los Angeles.[2]

Devore joined a musical comedy company, with which she appeared for one year. She then went to Lyons and Moran comedies at Universal Pictures. At Universal she was "discovered" by director and producer Al Christie She began playing in small parts in films for Christie, but soon received leads and moved from one-reelers to two-reelers, which would make her a star.

Devore specialized in comedic roles, such as in Know Thy Wife (1918), directed by Christie. Devore was chosen as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1923. During a good deal of her career, she achieved stardom in the comedic two-reel Christie Comedies, released through Educational.

A little time after her career kicked off, Christie loaned her out to play the female lead opposite Charles Ray in 45 Minutes from Broadway (1920). She made her last film, Take the Heir, in 1930 before retiring.

Devore produced films via her company, Dorothy Devore Comedies.[2]

Personal life

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Devore married businessman Albert Wylie Mather on December 18, 1925, and filed for divorce in 1933.[3] She died on September 10, 1976, in Woodland Hills, California, aged 77.[4]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Slide, Anthony (2002). Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813122496. JSTOR j.ctt2jchgq.
  2. ^ a b Wagner, Kristen Anderson (March 5, 2018). Comic Venus: Women and Comedy in American Silent Film. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-4103-2. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Dorothy Devore Asks Divorce". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 24, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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