Image of Doro Merande

Doro Merande

Plain, angular Doro Merande was one of those delightful character actresses you couldn't take your eyes off of, no matter how minuscule the part. She excelled at playing older than she was -- doting aunts, inveterate gossips, curt secretaries and small-minded townspeople -- all topped with an amusing warble in her voice and bristly eccentric edge. Too bad then that she wasn't used more in films, but she preferred live theater and based herself for the most part on the East Coast. She was born Dora Matthews in Kansas in 1892 and orphaned as a child. Growing up in boarding schools, she headed to New York and pursued an acting career immediately after finishing her education. She appeared long and hard on the stock stage before making it on Broadway at age 43. She settled there sparking over 25 Broadway plays in her lifetime, including a scene-stealing turn in the classic Thorton Wilder play "Our Town" which brought her to Hollywood to preserve the role on film. On and off she remained a delightful film and TV cameo player with roles in The Gazebo (1959), _Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, The (1966)_ and The Front Page (1974). She and star Enid Markey (Jane of the "Tarzan" film silents) starred together as pampering aunts in the sitcom Bringing Up Buddy (1960), but, despite promising ratings, the two veteran actresses did not get along and the series folded after only a season. Ms. Merande was also a recurring presence for Jackie Gleason on his variety show. She died, in fact, of a stroke while there in Miami to film an episode. Date of Birth 31 March 1892, Columbia, Kansas Date of Death 1 November 1975, New York City, New York  (stroke)


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Born:
Mar 31, 1892
Movie/TV Credits:
33
First Appeared:
In the movie Personal Maid 1931-09-12
Latest Project:
Movie The Front Page 1974-11-01
Known For
Poster of The Gazebo
Poster of The Twilight Zone
Poster of Tales of Tomorrow
Poster of Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Filmography
Movie The Front Page Jennie 1974-11-01
Movie Making It Librarian 1971-03-21
Movie Change of Habit Rose 1969-11-10
Movie Skidoo The Mayor 1968-12-19
Movie Hurry Sundown Ada Hemmings 1967-02-09
Movie The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! Muriel Everett 1966-05-25
Movie Kiss Me, Stupid Mrs. Pettibone 1964-12-22
Movie The Cardinal Picket 1963-12-12
Series Sam Benedict Unknown 1962-09-15
Series The New Breed Unknown 1961-10-03
Movie The Gazebo Matilda 1960-01-15
Series Thriller Unknown 1960-09-13
Series Bringing Up Buddy Aunt Iris Flower 1960-10-10
Series The Twilight Zone Unknown 1959-10-02
Movie The Seven Year Itch Waitress at Vegetarian Restaurant (uncredited) 1955-06-03
Series The Honeymooners Unknown 1955-10-01
Series Alfred Hitchcock Presents Unknown 1955-10-02
Movie The Man with the Golden Arm Vi 1955-12-26
Series Omnibus Unknown 1952-11-09
Movie Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell Mrs. Hammer 1951-08-01
Series Tales of Tomorrow Unknown 1951-08-03
Movie The Whistle at Eaton Falls Miss Pringle 1951-08-02
Movie Cover Up Hilda 1949-02-25
Movie The Snake Pit Asylum Patient (uncredited) 1948-11-04
Movie Our Town Mrs. Soames 1940-05-24
Movie Bad Boy Mrs. Jackson 1935-10-25
Movie Navy Wife Nurse Sharpe 1935-09-17
Movie Strictly Personal Club Member 1933-03-17
Movie State Fair Mrs. Metcalfe's Acquaintance at Food Contest (Uncredited) 1933-02-10
Movie Bondage Boarding House Matron (uncredited) 1933-04-22
Movie Moonlight and Pretzels 1933-08-01
Movie Wayward Maid (uncredited) 1932-02-19
Movie Personal Maid Mrs. Wurtz's Maid (uncredited) 1931-09-12