Dorothy McGuire

Biography

Dorothy McGuire was an American actress who began on stage and won Broadway acclaim in the title role of Claudia, a domestic comedy that had 722 performances between 1941 and 1943. Producer David O. Selznick brought her to Hollywood, where she made her film debut in Claudia (1943). Her performance in Gentleman's Agreement (1947) brought an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The National Board of Review named her Best Actress for Friendly Persuasion (1956). Among her films were A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), The Spiral Staircase (1946), Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), A Summer Place (1959), and Summer Magic (1963). She became known for mother roles in Old Yeller (1957) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960). Later credits included The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), voice work in Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973), and the television film The Last Best Year (1990). In 1960 she received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

85years old at death

Born June 14, 1916Omaha
Died September 13, 2001Santa Monica
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Also credited as Dorothy Hackett McGuire

Movie Career

Films: 18
Career span: 45 years1945 to 1990

Genres

Drama72%, 13 films
Romance44%, 8 films
Family33%, 6 films
Comedy22%, 4 films
Adventure11%, 2 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
In 1938, McGuire worked as an understudy to Martha Scott in Our Town, and she eventually took over Scott's role in the production.
Big break
McGuire drew notice on Broadway after being cast as the title character in the domestic comedy Claudia, a show that had 722 performances between 1941 and 1943.
A role that slipped away
McGuire played the lead role of a mute in The Spiral Staircase, a project Selznick had originally prepared with Ingrid Bergman in mind before selling it to RKO.
First role
In 1938, producer Jed Harris gave McGuire a job as the ingenue's understudy in the Broadway play Stop Over, which lasted just 23 performances.

Dorothy McGuire movies on Netflix

The Last Best Year1990IMDb rating 6.6as Anne
Jonathan Livingston Seagull1973IMDb rating 5.7as Mother (voice)
The Greatest Story Ever Told1965IMDb rating 6.6as The Virgin Mary
Summer Magic1963IMDb rating 6.9as Mrs. Margaret Carey
Swiss Family Robinson1960IMDb rating 7.1as Mother Robinson
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs1960IMDb rating 7.1as Cora Flood
A Summer Place1959IMDb rating 6.9as Sylvia Hunter
Old Yeller1957IMDb rating 7.2as Katie Coates
Friendly Persuasion1956IMDb rating 7.3as Eliza Birdwell
Three Coins in the Fountain1954IMDb rating 6.3as Miss Frances
Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6as Deborah Patterson
Mister 8801950IMDb rating 7.0as Ann Winslow
Mother Didn't Tell Me1950IMDb rating 5.7as Jane Morgan
Gentleman's Agreement1947IMDb rating 7.2as Kathy Lacy
The Spiral Staircase1946IMDb rating 7.3as Helen
Till the End of Time1946IMDb rating 6.7as Pat Ruscomb
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0as Katie Nolan
The Enchanted Cottage1945IMDb rating 7.5as Laura Pennington

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Gentleman's Agreement1947 Drama, Romanceas Kathy Lacy
IMDb rating 7.219K votes
Swiss Family Robinson1960 Adventure, Familyas Mother Robinson
IMDb rating 7.120K votes
The Spiral Staircase1946as Helen
IMDb rating 7.313K votes
Old Yeller1957as Katie Coates
IMDb rating 7.217K votes
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945as Katie Nolan
IMDb rating 8.09.1K votes
Friendly Persuasion1956as Eliza Birdwell
IMDb rating 7.38.5K votes
The Enchanted Cottage1945as Laura Pennington
IMDb rating 7.54.0K votes
A Summer Place1959as Sylvia Hunter
IMDb rating 6.94.3K votes

Most often with

Elia Kazan directed two of these films. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Angela Lansbury

Howard St. John

Tommy Kirk

Ruth Nelson

June Havoc

Kevin Corcoran

Elia KazanDirector, 2 films

Films together

Angela Lansbury2 films together, 1960 to 1965
Angela Lansbury's page
- The Greatest Story Ever Told1965IMDb rating 6.6McGuire as The Virgin MaryLansbury as Claudia
- The Dark at the Top of the Stairs1960IMDb rating 7.1McGuire as Cora FloodLansbury as Mavis Pruitt
Howard St. John2 films together, 1950 to 1954
Howard St. John's page
- Three Coins in the Fountain1954IMDb rating 6.3McGuire as Miss FrancesJohn as Burgoyne
- Mister 8801950IMDb rating 7.0McGuire as Ann WinslowJohn as Chief
Tommy Kirk2 films together, 1957 to 1960
Tommy Kirk's page
- Swiss Family Robinson1960IMDb rating 7.1McGuire as Mother RobinsonKirk as Ernst Robinson
- Old Yeller1957IMDb rating 7.2McGuire as Katie CoatesKirk as Travis Coates
Ruth Nelson2 films together, 1945 to 1946
Ruth Nelson's page
- Till the End of Time1946IMDb rating 6.7McGuire as Pat RuscombNelson as Amy Harper
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0McGuire as Katie NolanNelson as Miss McDonough
June Havoc2 films together, 1947 to 1950
June Havoc's page
- Mother Didn't Tell Me1950IMDb rating 5.7McGuire as Jane MorganHavoc as Maggie Roberts
- Gentleman's Agreement1947IMDb rating 7.2McGuire as Kathy LacyHavoc as Elaine Wales
Kevin Corcoran2 films together, 1957 to 1960
Kevin Corcoran's page
- Swiss Family Robinson1960IMDb rating 7.1McGuire as Mother RobinsonCorcoran as Francis Robinson
- Old Yeller1957IMDb rating 7.2McGuire as Katie CoatesCorcoran as Arliss Coates
Elia KazanDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1947
All films by Elia Kazan
- Gentleman's Agreement1947IMDb rating 7.2McGuire as Kathy Lacy
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0McGuire as Katie Nolan