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Dorothy “Dottie” Coonan Wellman

Actress and Dancer. She appeared in a number of films in the early 1930s, and was the fifth, and last, wife of director William Wellman. Raised in Los Angeles from early childhood, she quit school at 14 to persue her dream of becoming a dancer. After joining the troupe of choreographer Busby Berkeley, she danced in several Warner Brothers movies, making her silver screen debut in the “Show of Shows” (1929).  She was to have roles in more productions including “The Kid from Spain” (1932), “42nd Street” (1933), and “Gold Diggers of 1933” (1933).  Dottie met Wellman on the set of “Gold Diggers”, and married him the next year; the union lasted until Wellman’s death in 1975. After her turn in her husband’s “Wild Boys on the Road” (1934), she retired to raise her eventual seven children, all of whom have had show business careers, though she was to make a final screen bow in the “Story of GI Joe” (1945).  At her death, Dottie was the last Busby Berkeley dancer.

(bio by: Bob Hufford)  Family links:  Spouse:  William A. Wellman (1896 – 1975)

Born

  • November, 25, 1913
  • USA

Died

  • September, 09, 2009
  • USA

Other

  • Cremated

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