Doro Merande

Doro Merande
Born	March 31, 1892(1892-03-31) Columbus, Kansas, USA
Died	November 1, 1975(1975-11-01) (aged 83) Miami, Florida, USA
Occupation	actress
Years active	1928–1974

Doro Merande (March 31, 1892 – November 1, 1975) was an American actress who appeared in Hollywood films, onstage and on television. A well-regarded character actress, she frequently portrayed "sour, witchy old women". She was born as Dora Matthews in Columbus, Kansas (some sources indicate Dorothy Matthews) and orphaned at a young age.

Stage actress

Born in Columbus, Kansas and named Dora Matthews, the girl was orphaned at a young age. When old enough, she headed to New York City to become an actress. She found her first part in a small summer company in Massachusetts.

Merande coveted Broadway parts during the Great Depression. Her career began with the Jules Levanthal Company. She debuted on Broadway as "Sophie Tuttle" in Loose Moments in 1935. Soon she was cast in One Good Year, Red Harvest, and Angel Island. Her first important role was playing the gossip in Our Town by Thornton Wilder (in which role she made her film debut in 1940 in the film by the same name).

Merande later appeared with Leo G. Carroll in Lo and Behold, The Rat Race with Betty Field, and in The Silver Whistle, with Jose Ferrer. She also performed with Clifton Webb (in Mr. Belvedere Rings The Bell), Walter Huston (in Apple of His Eye), and Franchot Tone (in Hope For Your Best). In the latter play, Merande played Tone's "Down East Housekeeper".

Her final Broadway appearance was in a 1969 revival of The Front Page, playing the cleaning woman. She recreated the same character in the movie and television versions. They starred Robert Ryan and George Grizzard.

Films/TV

Merande debuted in films in 1940, reprising her role as the gossip in the film adaptation of Our Town. Other film credits include:

• The Snake Pit (1948)
• The Seven Year Itch (1954)
• The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
• The Gazebo (1959)
• The Cardinal (1963)
• The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
• Hurry Sundown (1967)
• Change of Habit (1969)
• The Front Page (1974)

Television

• The Jackie Gleason Show (2 episodes, 1967–1970, as Aunt Ethel)
• The United States Steel Hour (1957)
• Valiant Lady (1953)
• Kraft Television Theater (1953–1954)
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958)
• The Phil Silvers Show (1959)
• Playhouse 90 (1959)
• Steve Canyon, as Mrs. Turtin, a housekeeper (1959)
• Bringing Up Buddy (1960–1961) as Aunt Iris Flower; co-starring Frank Aletter and Enid Markey
• The Defenders (1962)
• Thriller (1961)
• Sam Benedict (1963)
• The Twilight Zone (1963, in the episode "The Bard")

She appeared regularly during the first season of NBC-TV's That Was the Week That Was (1964).

Death

Doro Merande attended The Honeymooners anniversary special with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney in Florida. A short time later, she died of a stroke in Miami, aged 83.

Links

• Doro Merande at the Internet Movie Database
• "Doro Merande, Comedian of Stage and Films, Dead", New York Times, November 3, 1975, p. 38.