Dorothy Adams
Biography
Dorothy Adams was an American actress who worked in stage, film, and television. Born in Hannah, North Dakota, she later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. In the 1920s she was active with the Moroni Olsen Players. Her film credits included the maid in Laura (1944) and the mother of Wilma Cameron in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). She made numerous television appearances in the 1950s, including Gunsmoke, four episodes of The Adventures of Kit Carson, four episodes of Dragnet, two guest appearances on Perry Mason, and an episode of Leave It to Beaver in 1958. During the 1960s she was a popular acting teacher at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television.
88years old at death
- Born North Dakota
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 28
- Career span
- 36 years1939 to 1975
First and latest
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A change of course
In the 1960s, Dorothy Adams taught acting at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where she became a popular instructor.
Dorothy Adams movies on Netflix
Peeperas Mrs. Prendergast
The Good Guys and the Bad Guysas Mrs. Pierce
Gunman's Walkas Mrs. Stotheby
The Big Countryas Hannassey Woman
3:10 to Yumaas Mrs. Potter
An Affair to Rememberas Mother at Rehearsal
The Killingas Mrs. Ruthie O'Reilly
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suitas Mrs. Hopkins' Maid
Carrieas Mrs. Meeber - Carrie's Mother
Home Town Storyas Hospital Nurse
The Jackpotas Saleslady
He Walked by Nightas Milk Customer
Not Wantedas Mrs. Kelton
Nocturneas Angry Apartment House Tenant
The Best Years of Our Livesas Mrs. Cameron
Fallen Angelas Stella's Downstairs Neighbor
Lauraas Laura's Maid Bessie Clary
So Proudly We Hailas Lt. Irma Emerson
Lady Gangsteras Deaf Annie
One Foot in Heavenas Woman Behind Hope at Baptism
Penny Serenadeas Mother in Stalled Car
The Devil Commandsas Mrs. Marcy
The Shepherd of the Hillsas Elvy
Tobacco Roadas Susie Mae
Cross-Country Romanceas Emmy
Bachelor Motheras Secretary
Ninotchkaas Swana's Maid Jacqueline
On Borrowed Timeas Florist
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Wyler directed three of these films, Otto Preminger two. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Dana Andrews4 films together, 1941 to 1946
Dana Andrews's page The Best Years of Our Lives1946IMDb rating 8.1Adams as Mrs. CameronAndrews as Fred Derry
Fallen Angel1945IMDb rating 7.0Adams as Stella's Downstairs NeighborAndrews as Eric Stanton
Laura1944IMDb rating 7.9Adams as Laura's Maid Bessie ClaryAndrews as Det. Lt. Mark McPherson
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Adams as Susie MaeAndrews as Capt. Tim Harmon
Beulah Bondi4 films together, 1939 to 1941
Beulah Bondi's page One Foot in Heaven1941IMDb rating 6.6Adams as Woman Behind Hope at BaptismBondi as Lydia Sandow
Penny Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Adams as Mother in Stalled CarBondi as Miss Oliver
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Adams as ElvyBondi as Aunt Mollie Matthews
On Borrowed Time1939IMDb rating 7.7Adams as FloristBondi as Nellie - Granny
Bess Flowers3 films together, 1940 to 1951
Bess Flowers's page Home Town Story1951IMDb rating 4.9Adams as Hospital NurseFlowers as Patron at Barbecue Room
Penny Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Adams as Mother in Stalled CarFlowers as Mother
Cross-Country Romance1940IMDb rating 5.9Adams as EmmyFlowers as Mrs. North's Secretary
Ray Teal3 films together, 1946 to 1958
Ray Teal's page Gunman's Walk1958IMDb rating 7.1Adams as Mrs. StothebyTeal as Jensen Sieverts
Carrie1952IMDb rating 7.3Adams as Mrs. Meeber - Carrie's MotherTeal as Allen - Bondsman
The Best Years of Our Lives1946IMDb rating 8.1Adams as Mrs. CameronTeal as Mr. Mollett
Charles Halton3 films together, 1941 to 1952
Charles Halton's page Carrie1952IMDb rating 7.3Adams as Mrs. Meeber - Carrie's MotherHalton as Factory Foreman
The Best Years of Our Lives1946IMDb rating 8.1Adams as Mrs. CameronHalton as Prew
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Adams as Susie MaeHalton as Mayor
Walter Baldwin3 films together, 1941 to 1952
Walter Baldwin's page Carrie1952IMDb rating 7.3Adams as Mrs. Meeber - Carrie's MotherBaldwin as Mr. Meeber - Carrie's Father
The Best Years of Our Lives1946IMDb rating 8.1Adams as Mrs. CameronBaldwin as Mr. Parrish
The Devil Commands1941IMDb rating 6.1Adams as Mrs. MarcyBaldwin as Seth Marcy
William WylerDirector, 3 films, 1946 to 1958
All films by William Wyler The Big Country1958IMDb rating 7.9Adams as Hannassey Woman
Carrie1952IMDb rating 7.3Adams as Mrs. Meeber - Carrie's Mother
The Best Years of Our Lives1946IMDb rating 8.1Adams as Mrs. Cameron
Otto PremingerDirector, 2 films, 1944 to 1945
All films by Otto Preminger Fallen Angel1945IMDb rating 7.0Adams as Stella's Downstairs Neighbor
Laura1944IMDb rating 7.9Adams as Laura's Maid Bessie Clary
Also three films together2 more actors
- Fredric MarchThe Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and One Foot in Heaven (1941)
- Grant MitchellOne Foot in Heaven (1941), Tobacco Road (1941) and On Borrowed Time (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Dorothy Adams's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$44.9 million
9 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 28 films: 9 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 17 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 17Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 97% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$24M52.7% of the total
- 2$4.3M9.7% of the total
- 3$3.8M8.5% of the total
- 4$3.5M7.8% of the total
- 5$2.3M5.1% of the total
- 6$2.0M4.5% of the total
- 7$2.0M4.4% of the total
- 8$1.9M4.1% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










