Dorothy Coonan Wellman was an American actress and dancer, born on November 25, 1913. She was married to renowned film director William Wellman from 1934 until his passing in 1975. During their marriage, Wellman frequently cast his wife in several of his films.
Dorothy's career as a dancer began at the tender age of 14 when she joined Warner Brothers Studios. Her early film credits as an on-screen dancer and actress included small, uncredited roles in several early talkies, such as The Broadway Melody (1929),Whoopee! (1930),Kiki (1931),Palmy Days (1931),and The Kid from Spain (1932).
As her career progressed, Dorothy appeared in several notable films, including 42nd Street (1933) and Gold Diggers of 1933. Many of the films she appeared in were choreographed by the renowned director Busby Berkeley.
Notably, William Wellman cast Dorothy as "Sally" in his 1933 film Wild Boys of the Road, which was the only role she played with a credited character name. Additionally, Dorothy made an uncredited appearance in Wellman's The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) as an army nurse nicknamed Red who marries a soldier on the battlefield, only to be widowed shortly afterwards.
Dorothy Coonan Wellman passed away on September 16, 2009, leaving behind a legacy as a talented actress and dancer who appeared in numerous films during Hollywood's Golden Age.
