Marie Doro (b. 1882) was an American stage and film actress of the early silent film era. Like many other young ladies, she started out in the chorus in musical comedy productions. Marie Doro starred in at least 18 movies including ‘The Admirable Crichton’ in 1903, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ in 1905-06, ‘Electricity’ in 1910 and ‘Diplomacy’ in 1914. On tour of England in the mid 1900’s, she starred with the unknown teenage Charles Chaplin.
By the early 1920s Doro became increasingly disillusioned with Hollywood and her acting career. She returned to the Broadway stage one last time in 1921 with Josephine Drake in Lilies of the Field. She made two more feature films, the last of them being Sally Bishop, but left Hollywood in 1924, relocated to Europe for a time and made a number of films in Italy and the UK. Returning to the United States, she became increasingly reclusive and drawn to spiritual matters. After moving to New York City, she briefly studied at the Union Theological Seminary.
After returning to the United States, she spent the rest of her life in seclusion. She would often go on self-styled “retreats” in which she went to extremes to elude friends and acquaintances, even to the point of changing hotels four times a week.
Marie Doro, circa 1900
Marie Doro, circa 1900 via
Marie Doro by Bassano, 1913 via
Maria Doro via
FROM THE BYGONE 