Dorothy Burgess | |
|---|---|
 Burgess in 1930 | |
| Born | (1907-03-04)March 4, 1907 Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 1961(1961-08-20) (aged 54) |
| Resting place | Chapel of the Pines Crematory, Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1926–1943 |
Dorothy Burgess (March 4, 1907 – August 20, 1961) was an American stage and motion-picture actress.
Born inLos Angeles in 1907, Burgess was a niece ofFay Bainter.[citation needed] On her father's side, she was related toDavid C. Montgomery of Montgomery and Stone. Her grandfather was Henry A. Burgess Sr. He came to Los Angeles in 1893, establishing a business atTerminal Island. His home was at 637 West 41st Place. He was born in England.[1] Her dad was H.A. (Burgie) Burgess, a pioneer air-transport executive. For a decade, he was an assistant to Harris M. (Pop) Hanshue, who founded Western Air Express (Western Airlines), and was its first president.[2] Burgess studied drawing, painting, and sculpture atMrs. Dow's School inBriarcliff Manor, New York. Her talent in the three artistic disciplines was evident in the creative objects that decorated herHollywood apartment. Burgess and her mother, Grace, resided in a home inMalibu, California, in 1932.[3]
Burgess made her stage debut in a walk-on role in support of her mother's sister, Bainter.[4] She first came to light as a specialty dancer inThe Music Box Revue.[5] Burgess played a 17-year-old in the comedy,The Adorable Liar, which was staged at the 49th Street Theater in August 1926. It was her first appearance in New York City.
Her knowledge of the stage was proficient and she combined this with ample charm and attractiveness.[6] Burgess was co-featured in a stock company managed byGeorge Cukor andGeorge H. Kondolf at the Lyceum Theatre inRochester, New York, during the summer of 1928. Her co-star wasHenry Hull. The actors opened on Broadway on April 30.[7] She learned about being acharacter actor in stock, along with adapting her voice and mannerisms to each new role.[4]
Burgess was onBroadway inThe Squall and played the title role inLulu Belle;.[5] she was given star billing byDavid Belasco. The play was performed at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles in October 1929.[8] Burgess depicted a Mexican girl inThe Broken Wing, a Paul Dickerson romantic comedy, staged at El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles, in July 1931.[9] She was typecast as a Spanish woman so much that one reviewer commented that perhaps a Spanish onion or a Mexican chili pepper was in her family tree, but offstage, she was much more a typical American co-ed than the Carmenesque young ladies she often played.[10] She made Hollywood her permanent home, living at 210 South Fuller Avenue.[11]
Fox Film acquired her services and she debuted inIn Old Arizona (1928), the first of the outdoor talking films. Burgess portrayed the Mexican minx, who was desired by bothEdmund Lowe andWarner Baxter.[4] A reviewer noted that her voice was good.[12] The first film made with theMovietone sound system, it was a romance of the old Southwest.[13]
In May 1929, two large lamps mounted on a tripod toppled over on a sound stage where Burgess was working at theFox Movietone Studio. She was cut severely over her left eye by one of the incandescent lamps. Burgess was rushed to a studio hospital, where several stitches were taken in her wound.[14]
Burgess won the feminine lead inBeyond Victory (1931) afterAnn Harding decided not to make the movie. ThePathé Pictures release featuredWilliam Boyd as the leading man.[15] In December 1931 Burgess signed withFirst National Pictures for a significant role inPlay Girl (1932), which had a screen story by Maude Fulton. The movie was produced byWarner Bros. and First National.[16]
Burgess had a featured role as a romantic rival ofJean Harlow inHold Your Man (1932), also starringClark Gable. Burgess also appeared inSwing High (1930),Taxi! (1932),Ladies They Talk About (1933),Strictly Personal (1933),Headline Shooter (1933),Night Flight (1933),Black Moon (1934), andMiss Fane's Baby Is Stolen (1934).[5] Burgess acted with Lowe andNancy Carroll in theParamount Pictures release,I Love That Man (1933), directed byHarry Joe Brown and produced byCharles R. Rogers.[17] Burgess strained ligaments in her back and shoulders during filming atUniversal Pictures studio in July 1933. She was performing fight scenes withMary Carlisle andSally O'Neil.[18]
Burgess appeared withRichard Barthelmess andJean Muir inA Modern Hero (1934), which deals with a young circus rider.[19]Gambling (1934) starredGeorge M. Cohan, and was produced by Harold B. Franklin at the Eastern Services Studios inAstoria, Queens. Burgess played the part of Dorothy Kane.[20] Her role as Trixie inThe Lone Star Ranger (1942) represented a return to playing a dance-hall girl, as she did inIn Old Arizona. The film was produced by20th Century-Fox.[21]
Burgess became engaged to movie directorClarence Brown in 1932.[3] She was involved in a romance with wealthy New York jeweler Jules Galenzer in 1934.[22]
Burgess was charged withmanslaughter following an auto accident in which she was driving; 17-year-old Louise Manfredi died in the wreck, inSan Francisco, on the night of December 23, 1932. Burgess, driving alone, collided with a car driven by 18-year-old Andrew Salz, a student at theUniversity of California-Berkeley. Burgess's hearing was postponed and her bail was fixed at $50. She suffered from shock and was placed in a San Francisco sanitarium. Salz and Burgess each accused the other of responsibility for the accident.[23]
Burgess was sued by Louise Manfredi's parents, Italo and Marie Manfredi, in January 1933. They sought $25,000 in damages.[24] A compromise payment of $6,150 was approved by the San Francisco Superior Court in August 1933. Earlier, a compromise amounting to $6,000 was agreed upon for damages claimed by 18-year-old swimmer Betty Lou Davis, who was injured in the same accident.[25]
Dorothy Burgess was living inPalm Springs, California in May 1961 when she was hospitalized.[26] On August 20, 1961, she died of lung cancer at the Motion Picture Country Home inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.[27] She was 54. Her remains are in vaultage at Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.[28]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
