Doretta Morrow was born Doretta Marano on January 27, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York. She attended New Utrecht High School. She made her stage debut in Shooting Star, a musical that closed out of town in 1946. Later that year she replaced Ann Andre in the revival of The Red Mill. She is best remembered for originating major roles in three classic musicals: Where's Charley ?(1948), The King and I (1951), and Kismet (1953). Morrow also appeared in the 1955 London production of Kismet and the 1957 national tour of Fanny. In 1959 she appeared in Cole Porter's Aladdin in London.

During the 1950s Morrow appeared on various television shows and televised productions of musicals such as Knickerbocker Holiday (1950), Miss Liberty (1951), and The Beggar's Opera (1952), as well as the original television musical The Adventures of Marco Polo (1956). She appeared in one film, Because You're Mine (1952).

Morrow retired from performing in 1960 and married London insurance underwriter Albert Hardman, with whom she had one daughter. Morrow had previously married and divorced airline executive Fred A. Miller during the 1950s. Doretta Morrow died of cancer in London on February 28, 1968.