Doro Merande

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Doro Merande (March 31, 1892– November 1, 1975) was a comic actress who appeared in Hollywood films, on the Broadway stage, and on television. She frequently portrayed sour, witchy old women with her abundant talent as a character actress. She was born Dora Matthews in Columbia, Kansas to parents who thought the theater was evil. When she grew up she headed to New York, New York to become an actress. She found her first part in a small summer company in Massachusetts. She coveted Broadway parts during the Great Depression, but whenever she obtained one, she lost it at rehearsals.

Her first definitive start was with the Jules Levanthal Company. Her Broadway debut came as Sophie Tuttle in Loose Moments in 1935. She soon was cast in One Good Year, Red Harvest, and Angel Island. Her first role of note came in Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Merande appeared with Lee Grant and Leo G. Carroll in Lo and Behold, The Rat Race with Betty Field, and in The Silver Whistle, with Jose Ferrer. Other luminaries with whom she was a featured player include Clifton Webb (in Mr. Belvedere Rings A Bell), Walter Huston (in Apple of His Eye), and Franchot Tone (in Hope For Your Best). In the latter Doro had the role of Tone's Down East housekeeper.

[edit] Television and motion pictures

As a television personality Doro was in episodes of The United States Steel Hour (1957), Valiant Lady (1953), Kraft Television Theater (1953-1954), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958), The Phil Silvers Show (1959), Playhouse 90 (1959), Bringing Up Buddy (1960), The Defenders (1962), Boris Karloff Thriller (1961), Sam Benedict (1963), and The Twilight Zone (1963). Miss Merande's film credits include The Gazebo (1959), The Cardinal (1963), Hurry Sundown (1967), The Seven Year Itch (1954), and The Snake Pit (1948).

Miss Merande resided at 115 East 39th Street in New York. She died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1975. Her final Broadway appearance came in a 1969 revival of The Front Page. She was later in the movie and the television presentation which starred Robert Ryan and George Grizzard. Her performance as the cleaning woman in the filthy press room was considered fantastic. Just prior to her death Doro was in Florida for a Honeymooners anniversary special for television, with Jackie Gleason.