Dorothy Short (Dorothy Short)

Dorothy Short

Actress. A cute brunette who starred in numerous low-budget westerns and short features, she shall be remembered for her part in the 1936 cult classic “Reefer Madness”. Though little is recorded of her early days, it is known that she received an MGM contract, moved to Hollywood in 1934, and that same year made her silver screen debut in “Student Tour”. Dorothy was seen in 1935’s “The Call of the Savage” prior to landing the main role of Mary in “Reefer Madness”, an anti-marijuana film originally titled “Tell Your Children” which has retained a following ever since. Seen in another anti-drug effort, the 1937 “Assassin of Youth”, she married actor Dave O’Brien and kept busy by joining him in a succession of comedy shorts, westerns, and horror flicks including the 1940 “Phantom Rancher” and 1941’s “Spooks Run Wild”. Dorothy’s 1953 divorce ended her career; she earned her final credit in the short feature “Things We Can Do Without”, remained in Southern California, died of cancer, and was buried under the name ‘Barclay’ which was one of O’Brien’s several screen aliases. Today, “Reefer Madness” is preserved on DVD and is still seen on television. (bio by: Bob Hufford)  Family links:  Spouse:  Dave O’Brien (1912 – 1969)

Born

  • June, 29, 1914
  • USA

Died

  • June, 06, 1963
  • USA

Cemetery

  • Inglewood Park Cemetery
  • California
  • USA

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