Dorothy Kathleen Gulliver (September 6, 1908 – May 23, 1997) was an American silent film actress, and one of the few to make a successful transition when films began using sound.
Biography The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gulliver, she was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1908 and was raised as a Mormon. From childhood, she wanted to be an actress. After she won the Miss Salt Lake City beauty contest in 1924, a scout for Paramount sought to have her go to Hollywood, but her mother opposed that plan. In June 1925, she won a beauty contest sponsored by Universal, with her awards including a six-month contract with Universal at a salary of $50 per week.
Gulliver's early work at Universal included two short films and two serials, The Winking Idol (1926) and Strings of Steel (1926). She was named as a 1928 WAMPAS Baby Star. Gulliver was part of The Collegians silent series of the late 1920s, and did some silent serials with William Desmond, Jack Hoxie, and Hoot Gibson. With the beginning of sound films, she became a popular heroine in 1930s "cliffhangers", including The Galloping Ghost, Phantom of the West, The Shadow of the Eagle, The Last Frontier, and 1936's Custer's Last Stand. Her costars were often Rex Lease, Tim McCoy, Jack Hoxie, and Wild Bill Elliott.
Gulliver was at one point married to Chester De Vito, an assistant director.Lamparski, p. 67. She was also married to Charles Proctor.
While major roles faded and she had uncredited roles, she made movies until 1976 and had a main role in Faces (1968). She died in Valley Center, California, on May 23, 1997, aged 88.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1926The Winking Idol Lost FilmStrings of Steel Lost FilmThe Shoot 'Em Up KidShort Lost Film1927The Rambling RangerRuth Buxley Lost FilmA Dog of the RegimentMarie von Waldorf Lost FilmOne Glorious ScrapJoan CurtisLost FilmThe Shield of HonorGwen O'Day1928Honeymoon FlatsLila Garland Lost FilmGood Morning, JudgeRuth Grey Lost FilmThe Wild West ShowRuth HensonLost FilmClearing the TrailEllenLost Film1929The Lariat KidHagerty's NieceLost FilmCollege LoveDorothy Mae Lost FilmNight ParadeDoris O'Connell Painted FacesBabe BarnesMexicali RoseMarieUncredited1930Troopers ThreeDorothy ClarkUnder Montana SkiesMary1931The Phantom of the WestMona CortezIn Old CheyenneHelen SutterThe Galloping GhostBarbara CourtlandSerialThe Fighting MarshalAlice Wheeler1932The Shadow of the EagleJean Gregory The Honor of the PressJune BonnerThe Last FrontierBetty HallidayOutlaw JusticeJune Taggart1933Revenge at Monte CarloDianeKing KongNew York TheatergoerUncreditedCheating BlondesLita1934The Pecos Dandy His SweetheartStand Up and Cheer!StenographerUncredited1935Fighting CaballeroPat1936Custer's Last StandRed Fwan1938In Early ArizonaAlice Weldon1939North of ShanghaiSueLone Star PioneersVirginia Crittenden1941Appointment for LoveMinor RoleUncreditedBorrowed HeroSnack Stand ClerkUncredited1942A Tragedy at MidnightMiss TindallUncreditedThe Traitor WithinTrucker's WifeUncredited1944Sweethearts of the U.S.A.Defense Plant Worker1957Official DetectiveMrs. SamkaEpisode: " Armor Attack"1968FacesFlorence1976Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved HollywoodOld Woman on BusCameo Appearance, (final film role)
Sources Lamparski, R. (1989) Whatever became of ...?, all new eleventh series, Crown Publishers Inc.: New York. .
References
External links
B-Western Heroines Dorothy Gulliver at Virtual History Dorothy Gulliver portrait gallery (University of Washington, Sayre collection)