Doris Davenport
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2010) |
Doris Davenport | |
|---|---|
 Davenport in a still from the 1940 film The Westerner | |
| Born | January 17, 1917 Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 18, 1980 (aged 63) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Doris Jordan (model) |
| Occupation(s) | actor, writer, poet |
| Years active | 1934-1940 (movies) |
| Notable work | The Westerner |
| Spouse | Garland Weaver (1938-1941) (divorced)[1] |
Doris Davenport, also known as Doris Jordan (January 1, 1917 – June 18, 1980) was an American film actress during the 1930s and early 1940s.
Davenport was born in Moline, Illinois, but raised in Hollywood, California. She started auditioning for acting roles, and performed in her first film in 1934, titled Kid Millions.
From 1934 to 1939, she appeared in only five films, supporting herself by working in New York City as a fashion model between films. However, when she auditioned under the screen name Doris Jordan for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, the lead role in the now classic Gone with the Wind, she did well enough to become one of the finalists for the role, but lost out to actress Vivien Leigh.
Despite not winning that major role, Davenport impressed MGM executive Samuel Goldwyn. In 1940, he gave a lead role to Davenport in the film The Westerner, starring opposite Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan. That same year, she starred in the film Behind the News opposite Lloyd Nolan. It was her last role. With no other offers following that film, she soon retired from acting.
She eventually settled in Santa Cruz, California, where she lived until her death on June 18, 1980, age 63.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Kid Millions | Nora aka 'Toots' | |
| 1935 | George White's 1935 Scandals | Chorine | Uncredited |
| 1935 | The Girl Friend | Chorus Girl in Play | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Born to Dance | Chorus Girl | Uncredited |
| 1937 | Thin Ice | Member of Girls Band | Uncredited |
| 1939 | Sorority House | Neva Simpson | |
| 1940 | The Westerner | Jane Ellen Mathews | |
| 1940 | Behind the News | Barbara Shaw | (final film role) |
References
- ^ "Rhinelander Daily News Archives, Jul 18, 1941, p. 6". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
External links
