Dolores Moran Explained

Dolores Moran
Birth Date:27 January 1926
Birth Place:Stockton, California, U.S.
Death Place:Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Birth Name:Dolores Jean Moran[1]
Spouse:Benedict Bogeaus (1946 - 1962)
Children:1
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1942 - 1954

Dolores Jean Moran (January 27, 1926  - February 5, 1982) was an American film actress and model.

Early years

Moran was born named Jaqueline in Stockton, California, the daughter of James G. Moran and his wife, Esther Moran [1] and attended elementary and secondary schools there. She won the Northern California Oratorical Contest and starred in school plays.[2]

Film career

In 1942, aged 16, Moran, was signed by Warner Bros. to a seven-year contract, with her parents' permission.[3]

Moran's brief career as a film actress began with uncredited roles in such films as Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) as "the Pippirino" (with whom George blows off a date to go out with Mary). By 1943, she had become a pin-up girl appearing on the cover of such magazines as Yank. She was given supporting roles in films, such as Old Acquaintance (1943) with Bette Davis.

Warner Bros. attempted to increase interest in her, promoting her along with Lauren Bacall as a new screen personality when Bacall was cast alongside Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not (1944). The film made a star of Bacall, but Moran languished, and subsequent films did little to further her career.

The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) gave her a leading role with Jack Benny and Alexis Smith, but her film appearances after this were sporadic, and she suffered ill health that reduced her ability to work. Her film career ended in 1954 with a featured role in the John Payne and Lizabeth Scott western film Silver Lode.

Personal life

She married film producer Benedict Bogeaus in Salome, Arizona in 1946. They had a son, Brett. The couple divorced in 1962.[4]

In 1968, Moran was the recipient of bequest valued at $300,000. Anthony Ponce, an apricot grower, bequeathed the bulk of his estate to her because he appreciated her kindness 20 years earlier when she worked as a carhop at a drive-in.[5] Ponce's will directed that $6,000 go to his nephew and five nieces, with the rest to go to Moran. The nieces and nephew contested the will.

Death

In 1982, Dolores Moran died of cancer, aged 56.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleStudioDirectorNotes
1942 Winning Your Wings Blonde at Dance Uncredited
Yankee Doodle Dandy The Pipperino Uncredited
1943 The Hard Way Young Blonde Warner Bros. Uncredited
Three Cheers for the Girls Blonde Chorus Girl Warner Bros.(segment "Framing Story"), Uncredited
Old Acquaintance Deirdre Drake Warner Bros. Vincent Sherman
1944 The Last Ride Molly Stevens Warner Bros. Uncredited
To Have and Have Not Mme. Hellene de Bursac Warner Bros.
Hollywood Canteen Herself Warner Bros.
1945 The Horn Blows at Midnight Violinist / Fran Blackstone Warner Bros.
Too Young to Know Patsy O'Brien Warner Bros.
1946 Without Reservations Herself
1947 The Man I Love Gloria O'Connor Warner Bros. \ Raoul Walsh
Christmas Eve Jean Bradford
1950 Johnny One-Eye Lily White United Artists
1953 Count the Hours Paula Mitchener RKO
1954 Silver Lode Dolly RKO (final film role)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jacqueline G Moran, Born 01/27/1926 in California - CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. www.californiabirthindex.org.
  2. News: You'll be seeing more of -- . September 17, 2021 . The Daily Record . July 13, 1942 . New Jersey, Long Branch . 5. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Man She Doesn't Remember Leaves Fortune to Actress. The Amarillo Globe-Times. Associated Press. December 18, 1968. Texas, Amarillo. 10. Newspapers.com. April 29, 2017.
  4. Book: Willis. John. Screen World: 1969. 1969. Biblo & Tannen Publishers. 9780819603104. 232. April 29, 2017.
  5. News: Hillinger . Charles . Ex-Carhop Inherits Stranger's $300,000 Estate . September 17, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . December 18, 1968 . 1. Newspapers.com.