Dorothy Gish

Birthday: March 11, 1898 in Massillon, Ohio, USA

Birth Name: Dorothy Elizabeth Gish

Height: 157 cm

Dorothy Gish was born into a broken family where her restless father James Lee Gish was frequently absent. Mary Robinson McConnell a.k.a. Mary Gish, her mother, had entered into acting to make money to support the family. As soon as Dorothy and her sister Lillian Gish were old enough, they became part of the act. To supplement their income, the two sisters also posed for pictures and acted in melodramas of the time. In 1912 they met fellow child actress Mary Pickford, and she got them extra work with Biograph Pictures. Director D.W. Griffith was impressed by both the girls and cast them in An Unseen Enemy (1912), their first picture. Dorothy would go on to star in over 100 two-reel films and features over the years. She would appear in the very successful Judith de Béthulie (1914) with Blanche Sweet. She and her sister Lillian made a number of films together, including the extremely successful Coeurs du monde (1918) and Les Deux Orphelines (1921). In both films Dorothy would play French girls, but in different periods of time. Lillian would try her hand at directing, with a movie called L'arène conjugale (1920), which starred Dorothy and an actor named James Rennie, whom Dorothy would marry and later divorce. While she would excel in pantomime and light comedy, her popularity would always be overshadowed by that of her sister Lillian, who was considered to be one the silent screen's greatest stars. Dorothy would only make a handful of movies in the 1920s, and in Romola (1924)--a costume picture about Italy in the Middle Ages--she would again co-star with Lillian. By 1926 Dorothy had moved to England, where she would star as the title role in Nell Gwyn (1926). Her last silent film would be Madame Pompadour (1927). In 1928 Dorothy would retire from the screen, except for a few occasional roles, and enjoy a long career on the stage. Hide

I wanted to be a tragedienne. I only wanted sad parts. When mother read the press notices when I was Show more I wanted to be a tragedienne. I only wanted sad parts. When mother read the press notices when I was on the road, saying I was a 'comedienne', the tears rolled down my cheeks. I thought comedians had to have black on their faces or red beards. Hide

One producer told me of an experience he had when he was showing a picture of the French Revolution. Show more One producer told me of an experience he had when he was showing a picture of the French Revolution. He overheard one girl say to another that she did not want to be educated about the French revolution and that she was fed up until the love scenes came along. The little servant girl and the little shop-girl of America want see pictures where 'Lady Mary' comes majestically into a room full of servants with disdain and has a tray full of bath salts brought to her in her magnificent bathroom so she may select that which pleases her for the day. Hide

[on why she turned down a million dollar offer from Paramount in 1919] At my age all that money woul Show more [on why she turned down a million dollar offer from Paramount in 1919] At my age all that money would ruin my character. Hide

Dorothy Gish's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (9)

Ben Hur A Tale of the Christ

The Whistle at Eaton Falls

American Masters - Season 39

The Cardinal

American Masters - Season 40

American Masters - Season 36

Orphans of the Storm

Romola

American Masters - Season 38