Doris Nolan
Doris Nolan (July 14, 1916 – July 29, 1998) was an American actress best known for her Broadway roles and her appearance in the 1938 movie Holiday. She appeared in a number of plays and Hollywood movies during the 1930s and 1940s. Later she moved to Britain, where she made guest appearances on British television shows.
Doris Nolan | |
|---|---|
 Nolan in 1937 | |
| Born | July 14, 1916 New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 1998 (aged 82) Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England, U.K. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1936-1981 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
Early years
Nolan was the daughter of Frank J. Nolan, whose business was importing woolen goods. Her entry into dramatics came when she was in high school in New Rochelle, New York. After graduation, she joined the Provincetown Players in 1933, working as the director's secretary to pay her tuition. The following summer, she joined the Clinton Hollow Theatre in Poughkeepsie, New York. Her acting as the female lead in The Late Christopher Bean there was seen by a talent scout, and that led to her getting a contract with Fox Studios.[1]
Career
Nolan's first professional acting contract was with Fox Film Corporation, when she was 16 years old. She was given a small role in Our Little Girl with Shirley Temple, but after she botched her scene several times, Fox dropped her from the movie and gave her no further work.[2]
She then switched to Broadway, where she achieved greater success. Although she was just 17, Nolan was cast as the female lead in Night of January 16th, which was being produced by her manager, Al Woods. She was very nervous about playing the part of an older femme fatale who was the mistress (and possibly murderer) of a rich businessman.[3] Despite her jitters, the show was a success and Nolan got positive reviews.[4]
When Nolan left the play, Woods sent her back to Hollywood, getting her a contract with Universal Pictures.[5] She continued to move back and forth between movies and theater throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Her most prominent film appearance was in the 1938 version of Holiday, where she played alongside Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Her subsequent film roles went downhill, but she reinvigorated her Broadway career with an 18-month stint in The Doughgirls, a popular comedy play about the difficulties of life during World War II.[6] It was later made into a film. Her final Broadway appearance was in The Closing Door, alongside her husband, who had also written the play. It got poor reviews and closed after just a few weeks.[7]
After moving to Britain in the early 1950s, Nolan worked in regional stage productions and took guest parts on television series, such as The Saint, where she appeared in 1962 in "The Latin Touch", the second episode of the first season. Her final television appearance was in an episode of ITV's Brideshead Revisited serial in 1981.
Personal life
Nolan married Canadian actor Alexander Knox in a civil ceremony on December 30, 1944. The judge presiding over the wedding almost mistakenly pronounced her married to Knox's best man, but they stopped him and redid the vows.[8] They had a son Andrew Joseph Knox (born 1947; committed suicide in 1987) who became an actor and appeared in Doctor on the Go, and who was married to Imogen Hassall.[9]
Knox's political activity caused him trouble during the Hollywood blacklist, and the couple moved to Britain so he could continue working. She stayed in Britain after his death in 1995, until her own death on July 29, 1998.
Credits
Broadway
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Night of January 16th | Karen Andre | Broadway debut |
| 1936 | Arrest that Woman | Marie Smith | |
| 1937 | Tell Me Pretty Maiden | Margo Dare | |
| 1938 | Lorelei | Karen Von Singall | |
| 1940 | Cue for Passion | Vivienne Ames | |
| 1942 | The Cat Screams | Gwen Reid | |
| 1942 | The Doughgirls | Nan | |
| 1949 | The Closing Door | Norma Trahern |
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | The Man I Marry | Rena Allen | Film debut |
| 1937 | As Good as Married | Sylvia Parker | |
| 1937 | Top of the Town | Diana Borden | |
| 1938 | Holiday | Julia Seton | |
| 1939 | One Hour to Live | Muriel Vance | |
| 1940 | Moon Over Burma | Cynthia Harmon | |
| 1940 | Irene | Lillian | |
| 1943 | Follies Girl | Francine La Rue | |
| 1966 | Bindle (One of Them Days) | American tourist | |
| 1974 | Juggernaut | Mrs. Corrigan | |
| 1975 | The Romantic Englishwoman | 2nd Mealticket Lady |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Sunday Night Theatre | Mrs. Chisholm | |
| 1954 | Colonel March of Scotland Yard ("The Abominable Snowman") | Mary Gray | |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Aggie | Mrs. de Witt | |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Robin Hood | Prince John's Wife | |
| 1956 | Colonel March of Scotland Yard ("The Case of the Kidnapped Poodle") | Mrs. Linda Brewster | |
| 1958 | ITV Play of the Week ("The Myth Makers") | Mrs. Brawley | |
| 1959 | The Third Man | Miss Nolan | |
| 1959 | ITV Play of the Week ("The Last Hours") | Eleanor | |
| 1959 | ITV Play of the Week ("The Winner") | Irma Mahler | |
| 1959 | Armchair Theatre | ||
| 1962 | The Saint | Maude Inverest | |
| 1964 | Emergency – Ward 10 | Lydia Stock | 5 episodes |
| 1966 | Play of the Month | Mrs. Markham | |
| 1968 | Boy Meets Girl | Mrs. Bloemendal | |
| 1969 | Strange Report | Miss Gray | |
| 1981 | Brideshead Revisited | Mrs. Stuyvesant-Oglander |
References
- Harrison, Paul (February 27, 1937). "Doris Nolan Seeks Film Stardom of Her Own". The Winnipeg Tribune. Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 19. Retrieved October 31, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Slide 1999, pp. 88–89
- Slide 1999, pp. 90–91
- Baker 1987, p. 34
- Slide 1999, p. 90
- Slide 1999, pp. 93–101
- Slide 1999, pp. 106–107
- Slide 1999, pp. 103–104
- Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries, Paul Donnelley, Omnibus Press, 2000, pp. 315-6
Works cited
- Baker, James T. (1987). Ayn Rand. Boston, Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers. ISBN 0-8057-7497-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Slide, Anthony (1999). Actors on Red Alert: Career Interviews With Five Actors and Actresses Affected by the Blacklist. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3649-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- Doris Nolan on IMDb
- Doris Nolan at the Internet Broadway Database
- Doris Nolan at Find a Grave
- Doris Nolan papers, 1930-1944, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
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