Doris Duranti (1917 - 1995)

Actress. Born Dora Durante, she is remembered for her roles in “Aldebaran,” “Under the Southern Cross,” “The King’s Jester,” “The Lion of Damascus” and “The Countess of Castiglione.” After World War II, Doris Duranti fled to South America after being involved with Corrado Pavolini, a Minister in the fascist government of Italian Social Republic led […]

Louise Duprey (1970 - 2000)

Actress. Appeared in “September Song,” and played ‘Amy Nelson’ on “Coronation Street.” After quitting ‘The Street,’ she became a virtual recluse, and her body was found after being deceased for a number of days. The cause of death was ruled as being a drug overdose.  (bio by: Jeff J)

Minnie Dupree (1873 - 1947)

Actress. A 14-year-old when she made her professional debut with a theatrical touring company in San Francisco in 1887, Dupree went on to impress New York critics with an outstanding performance in William Gillette’s “Held by the Enemy” the following year. Described as a “handsome blonde, and the possessor of a magnificent head of curly […]

Adora Dupree (1949 - 2004)

Actress. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, she is best remembered for the role as Francis’ Mother in the film “Ernest Scared Stupid” (1991). She also was a musician, an ordained minister and a play writer for the Carpetbag Theatre Knoxville, Tennessee. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith) Cause of death: Lung cancer

Martina Von Trapp Dupire (1921 - 1951)

Performer, part of the von Trapp Family singing group who inspired the film and play “The Sound of Music”. The youngest of 7 children of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead von Trapp, and the step-daughter of Maria von Trapp. Born in the town of Klosterneuburg, near Vienna, she lost her mother to scarlet fever […]

Tatzumbie DuPea (1849 - 1970)

Native American Actress. Born a full-blooded Piute Indian, in Lone Pine, California, she was a spokesperson/advocate for the Indian culture her entire life. She began appearing in films during the silent era and was most noted for her role in “Buffalo Bill” (1944). During the 1950s, she was in TV broadcasts of the series “Death […]

Ellen Beatriz Griffin Dunne (1932 - 1997)

Actress/activist. Although she suffered from multiple sclerosis since 1975, “Lenny,” as she was known to friends, became a victim’s rights activist after the murder of her daughter, actress Dominique Dunne. She later founded the organization “Justice for Homicide Victims, Inc.” Ex-wife of author Dominick Dunne. Mother of actor Griffin Dunne and author Alexander Dunne. (bio […]

Dominique Ellen Dunne (1959 - 1982)

Actress, she is best remembered for her role of Dana Freeling in the movie “Poltergeist” (1982).   Born Dominique Ellen Dunne in Santa Monica, California, she was the youngest child and only daughter of Dominick Dunne, a film producer, and Ellen Dunne, an actress.  While growing up, film stars and movie producers were regular guests […]

Vivian Duncan (1897 - 1986)

Actress. American motion picture figure of the 1920s. She performed with her sisters Rosetta and Evelyn (“Topsy and Eva” of radio and film fame) as “The Duncan Sisters”. Married to Nils Asther, she died in 1986 as the result of Alzheimer’s disease.  Family links:  Spouses:  Valentín Parera (1894 – 1986)*  Nils Asther (1897 – 1981)* […]

Rosetta Duncan (1894 - 1959)

Motion picture and radio star of the 1920s. “Topsy” of the “Topsy and Eva” musical comedy team in radio and films. She was also a composer. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Evelyn Duncan (1893 - 1972)

Actress. She was the elder sister of actresses Rosetta and Vivian Duncan of “Topsy and Eva” fame.

Arletta Duncan (1914 - 1985)

Actress. Born Arletta Howe, Duncan was the Bridesmaid in “Frankenstein” (1931), Miss Jones in “Teacher’s Beau” (1935), and ‘Henrietta Allen Dupont’ in “Damaged Goods” (1937).  (bio by: MC) Cause of death: Cardiopulmonary arrest

Louise Dumont-Lindemann (1862 - 1932)

Actress. Founded DŸsseldorf theatre and museum of performing arts. Monument by Ernst Barlach.

Zoe Ducós (1928 - 2002)

Cinema, stage, radio and TV actress. Born in Argentina, she participated in 14 movies. She is especially remembered for her participation in the movie “Dios se lo Pague” (1948). In the 1950s she moved to Venezuela where she developed a successful career in cinema, TV, radio and stage. In the 1980s and 1990s she was […]

Paulette Dubost (1910 - 2011)

Actress. A regular on the French stage and screen, she had a career of nearly 90 years and earned roughly 250 screen credits. Born Paulette Marie Emma Deplanque, she was raised in Paris and started in show business at seven playing child roles at the Paris Opera. At 14 she reportedly had a romance with […]

Berta Drews (1901 - 1987)

Actress. Born in Germany,  she began her career on stage in 1924. After marrying actor Heinrich George she made her film debut in “Schleppzug M 17” (1933).  Drews is best remembered as Gert Fröbe’s wife in Ladislao Vajda’s film “El Cebo” (“Es Geschah am Hellichten Tag”, 1958). Her credits also include “Der Kaiser von Kalifornien” […]

Louisa Lane Drew (1820 - 1897)

Actress. She made her American debut in “Richard III” with Junius Brutus Booth in 1827 at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. She married actor John Drew in 1850, and was the mother of Louisa, John, Jr., and Georgiana Drew. as well as the grandmother of Lionel, Ethel, and John Barrymore, all actors. She managed […]

Mary Dresselhuys (1907 - 2004)

Dutch Actress and Comedienne. She was known as the ‘Grand Lady of comedy’ in her country. She performed more than 150 stage roles and developed into one of the best Dutch comedians ever, continuing to work and attract full theatres well into her elderly years. (bio by: Butterfly)

Helen Richardson Dreiser (1894 - 1955)

Helen Richardson was the cousin of Theodore Dreiser, and from 1919 until they married in 1944, his mistress. Helen wished for a movie career, but after only a few movies (one with Mabel Normand) gave it up to be with Theodore in New York. After his first wife died in 1942, she married him. After […]

Helene Drake (1922 - 1997)

Actress. Appeared in the award-winning 1956 adventure film “Around the World in Eighty Days.” (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Inscription:Rhoda Tomack Odrezin

Jessica Dragonette (1970 - 1980)

Singer, Entertainer. Born in Calcutta, India, educated at Georgian Court Lakewood, New Jersey, she was invited to New York for singing lessons under the renowned teacher Estelle Liebling. Soon as a soprano, she thrilled audiences performing in operas and in Broadway shows. Merging into radio in the late 1920s, she was signed to NBC performing […]

Maxine Doyle (1915 - 1973)

Actress. She was in vaudeville and a radio actress prior to appearing in her first film “Babbitt” (1934). In 1937, she was featured in the Republic Pictures 12-chapter serial “S.O.S. Coast Guard” when she met and later married director William Witney. She spent most of her remaining career in Republic Pictures Westerns to include “The […]

Joan Dowling (1928 - 1954)

British Actress. Film credits include “Women of Twilight,” “24 Hours of a Woman’s Life,” “Pool of London,” “The Magic Box,” “Murder Without Crime,””Train of Events,” “For Them That Trespass,” “Landfall,” “A Man’s Affair,” “No Room at the Inn,” “Hue and Cry,” and “Bond Street.” She was married to British actor Harry Fowler since 1951. Cause […]

Bairbre Dowling (1953 - 2016)

Actress. Born into a family of entertainers, her father was Irish theater actor and director Vincent Dowling, her mother was actress Brenda Doyle. She followed her parent’s career path and marked her motion picture debut playing ‘Star’ in the John Boorman Science Fiction picture “Zardoz” (1974), which starred Sean Connery. She experienced a starring role […]

Mary Dow (1921 - 2004)

Actress. She appeared in the films “Flashing Fangs” (1926), as ‘Baby’, and “Sea Horses” (1926), as ‘Cina Salvia.’ (bio by: K)

Ellen Rose Albertini Dow (1913 - 2015)

American Character Actress. Albertini Dow, a veteran of New York’s Yiddish theater and a former drama teacher in Los Angeles, was known for playing feisty old women after she resumed her acting career in her 70s. She studied acting in New York City, worked with mimes Marcel Marceau and Jacques LeCog in Paris and played […]

Marie Dorval (1798 - 1849)

Actress. Also known as Marie Delaunay. she was a French comedic actress who created the role of Adèle d’Hervey in Alexandre Dumas’ “Antony.” Personal friend of Dumas and George Sand. A movie about her life came out in 1973, starring Rosy Varte in the title role. (bio by: amy7252)

Diana Dors (1931 - 1984)

Actress. One of her generation’s “blonde bombshells”, she was a pinup model, sometimes singer, and film actress with over 100 credits whose full ability was probably not realized due to her relegation to sex-kitten status. Born Diana Mary Fluck, she was educated at Colville House, Swindon, and was expressing her theatrical ambitions as early as […]

Bobbie Dorree (1905 - 1974)

Austrian-born stage and screen actress of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Appeared in many westerns, including “Dakota” (1945) starring John Wayne. She was sometimes credited as Babette Dorree. (bio by: A.J. Marik) Cause of death: Cancer

Marie Doro (1882 - 1956)

Stage actress from 1901 to 1921, she appeared in: “The Billionaire,” “Clarice,” “Oliver Twist” and “Lilies of the Field.”  She also appeared in 17 silent films including: “The White Pearl,” “Oliver Twist,” “Maid of Mystery,” “Beatrice” and “Sally Bishop.” (bio by: TLS)  Family links:  Spouse:  Elliott Dexter (1870 – 1941)