Constance Dowling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Constance Dowling (July 21, 1920 – October 28, 1969) was a model turned film actress of the 1940s and 1950s.

Born in New York City, Constance Dowling was a model and chorus girl before moving to California in 1943. She was the elder sister of actress Doris Dowling. Constance Dowling began her screen career appearing in Up in Arms (1944) for Samuel Goldwyn. She appeared in a few films after that, including the film noir Black Angel (1946) but her film career did not advance.

Dowling lived in Italy in 1947 through 1950 and appeared in some unmemorable Italian films. Dowling returned to Hollywood in the 1950s and landed a part in the sci-fi film Gog, her last film. In 1955 she married film producer Ivan Tors, with whom she had three sons: Steven, David and Peter Tors, as well as a foster child, Alfred Ndwego of Kenya. She retired from acting after this marriage.

[edit] Romances

Dowling had been involved in a long affair with married director Elia Kazan in New York. He couldn't bring himself to leave his wife and the affair ended when Dowling went to Hollywood under contract to Goldwyn.

She was later linked with Italian poet/novelist Cesare Pavese who committed suicide in 1950 after being rejected by Dowling. One of his last poems is entitled "Death Will Come and She Will Have Your Eyes".