Dorcas Matthews Explained

Dorcas Matthews
Birth Name:	Dorcas Neville Matthews
Birth Date:	5 November 1890
Birth Place:	Lancashire, England
Death Place:	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Occupation:	Actress
Years Active:	1916–1956
Children:	2

Dorcas Neville Matthews^[1] (5 November 1890 – 24 January 1969) was an English actress in silent films in the U.S. She had numerous roles as a supporting actress and was well known.^{[2] [3]}

Biography

Dorcas Neville Matthews was born in Lancashire, England,^[4] in 1890.^[5] She came to North America as part of the Jeanne Russell Theatrical Company, along with actor William Henry Pratt who became known as Boris Karloff.^[6] 1911 census records show that Matthews resided in a lodging house in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.^[7]

She married fellow actor Robert McKim in Hawaii on 25 April 1920,^[4] and had two children with him. According to Fandango, she retired to take care of them. She appeared in a small number of films in uncredited roles in later decades. New York Motion Picture Corporation sued Thomas H. Ince and among the allegations was poaching actors including Matthews.^[8]

She was widowed when McKim died in 1927 and apparently never remarried.

Selected filmography

• The Captive God (1916), along with her husband, Robert McKim^[9]
• The Jungle Child (1916)
• Honor Thy Name (1916)
• Puppets (1917)^[9]
• A Strange Transgressor (1917)
• Borrowed Plumage (1917)
• Idolators (1917)
• Love or Justice (1917)
• The Little Brother (1917)
• Ten of Diamonds (1917)
• Madcap Madge (1917)^[10]
• The Silent Man (1917)
• Love Letters (1917)
• The Price Mark (1917)
• The Tar Heel Warrior (1917)
• The Millionaire Vagrant (1917)^[11]
• Love Me (1918)^[12]
• The Claws of the Hun (1918)
• A Nine O'Clock Town (1918)
• The Virtuous Thief (1919)
• The Market of Souls (1919)
• The Law of Men (1919)
• The Haunted Bedroom (1919)
• Beckoning Roads (1919)
• The Luck of Geraldine Laird (1920)
• The Woman in the Suitcase (1920)
• Blood and Sand (1922)^[13]
• Vanity Fair (1932)
• The Famous Mrs. Fair (1923)
• A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)

Notes and References

1. "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994" (27 September 2019). Dorcas Neville Matthews in entry for Robert McKim, 04 May 1920; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento. of certificate.
2. Web site: Play Production in America. Arthur Edwin. Krows. February 9, 1916. H. Holt. Google Books.
3. Web site: Photoplay. February 9, 1920. Macfadden Publications. Google Books.
4. "Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922" (12 January 2020), Dorcas Neville Matthews in entry for Robert Morton McKim, 1912.
5. Web site: Notre Cinéma. Matthews, Dorcas: Biography. live. https://archive.today/20200412012550/https://en.notrecinema.com/communaute/stars/stars.php3?staridx=267021. 12 April 2020. 12 April 2020.
6. Book: American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. John T.. Soister. Henry. Nicolella. Steve. Joyce. January 10, 2014. McFarland. 9780786487905. Google Books.
7. "Recensement du Canada de 1911" (16 March 2018). Dorcas Matthews in entry for Antonio Toffoletto, 1911; citing Census, Vancouver Sub-Districts 19-50, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,662. of census sheet.
8. Book: Affidavit of Harry E. Aitken, Sworn March 18, 1918. 1918. 39. Supreme Court of the United States. Google Books.
9. Book: The Moving Picture World. February 9, 1916. 82. World Photographic Publishing Company. Google Books.
10. Web site: Billboard. February 9, 1917. Billboard Publications. Google Books.
11. Web site: Films in Review. February 9, 1968. Then and There Media, LCC.. Google Books.
12. Web site: Motography. February 9, 1918. Google Books.
13. Book: Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema. Donald W.. McCaffrey. Christopher P.. Jacobs. February 9, 1999. Greenwood Publishing Group. 9780313303456. Google Books.