Dorothy Bell: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "{{Infobox person | name = Dorothy Bell | series = | image = missing.jpg | caption = | birthname = Dorothy Helena Bell | nickname = | maidename = | birth_date = {{birth date|1914|08|29}} | birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | death_date = {{death date and age|1991|11|02|1914|08|29}} | death_place = Fort Lauderdale, Florida | killer = | death_cause = Old Age | occupation = Actress/Radio Personality | species = | title = | associates = | spou..."
 
 
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| associates =  
| associates =  
| spouses = {{plainlist|
| spouses = {{plainlist|
* Sam Henson (1934-1936)
* Marcus Rolland (1939-1957) ''(his death)''
* Marcus Rolland (1943-1957) ''(his death)''
* William Jacobson (1962-1991) ''(her death)''
* William Jacobson (1962-1991) ''(her death)''
}}
}}
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==Early Days==
==Early Days==
Dorothy grew up with a love for movies, having watched her first film (a Charlie Chaplin silent film) at the age of 3. As she grew up, she started acting in local theater groups when she wasn't going to school. When she turned 20 in 1934, Dorothy decided to move to Los Angeles, in hopes of getting into the business.


==Hollywood Career==
==Hollywood Career==
===Voice Acting===
===Voice Acting===
Dorothy's first job was doing radio jingles for numerous commercials on air for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHJ_(AM) KHJ-900], the most popular radio station in Los Angeles at the time. Her work at the station led to her being "the voice" of [[Opul Manufacturing|Opul Soap]] where she played the brand's "household wife" that told viewers about how great the products were for keeping her house (and family) clean, despite the fact that she was not married or in a relationship.


===Movie & TV Appearances===
She continued the role for the next three years until 1937 when the creators of [[The Midnight Sleuth (radio)|The Midnight Sleuth]] needed a voice for their character of [[Linda Talbot (character)|Linda]], a streetsmart but caring female reporter to balance out their bumbling idiot detective. When Opul Soap got wind that she was trying out for the production, they immediately wanted to be sponsors as they knew listeners would recognize Dorothy's voice and associate the show with their brand.


==Marriage and Family==
The idea worked as the show ran for almost 10 years and a total of 120 episodes. Dorothy eventually stopped being the voice of the company but would occasionally chime in from time to time as newer female voice actors took over the role.


==Death==
===Film & TV Appearances===
During her successful career as a voice actor, Dorothy expanded her reach to film roles, appearing in many classics such as the war movie ''[[Before the Dawn Can Find You (universe movie)|Before The Dawn Can Find You]] (1942)'' and the comedy series ''[[Find Me (universe movie franchise)|Find Me...]]'' which spawned 5 films before it's end in the mid-50s.
 
==Filmography==
===Theatrical releases===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Year
! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Title
! scope="col" |Role(s)
! rowspan="1" scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|| 1941
|''[[Stage Fright (universe movie)|Stage Fright]]''
|
|''Her on-screen role''
|-
|| 1941
|''[[Watch Where You Step (in-universe movie)|Watch Where You Step]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1942
|''[[Mrs. Briartown (in-universe movie)|Mrs. Briartown]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1942
|''[[Toodles (in-universe movie|Toodles]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1942
|''[[Before The Dawn Can Find You (in-universe movie)|Before The Dawn Can Find You]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1943
|''[[Streetlight Parade (in-universe movie)|Streetlight Parade]]''
|
|''First role as a leading lady''
|-
|| 1944
|''[[I'll Never Forget You (in-universe movie)|I'll Never Forget You]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1944
|''[[Find Me In Atlantic City (in-universe movie)|Find Me In Atlantic City]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1945
|''[[Find Me In Miami (in-universe movie)|Find Me In Miami]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1946
|''[[Dear Diary (in-universe movie)|Dear Diary]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1947
|''[[Here's Hoping You're There, Kid (in-universe movie)|Here's Hoping You're There, Kid]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1948
|''[[Find Me In San Francisco (in-universe movie)|Find Me In San Francisco]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1948
|''[[Sunset (in-universe movie)|Sunset]]''
|
|''Nominated for Best Actress Oscar''
|-
|| 1950
|''[[Find Me In Cairo (in-universe movie)|Find Me In Cairo]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1950
|''[[Lookout (in-universe movie)|Lookout]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1952
|''[[Invasion from Space! (in-universe movie)|Invasion from Space!]]''
|
|
|-
|| 1954
|''[[Find Me In Las Vegas (in-universe movie)|Find Me In Las Vegas]]''
|
|
|-
|}
 
==Personal Life==
===Marriage and Family===
 
===Death===
Having officially retired from acting, Dorothy moved with her new husband, William, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1967, where they settled down and lived near the beach. In 1982, Dorothy was diagnosed with cancer from years of smoking. The doctors only gave her another two years to live, however she managed to live for another 9 years, outliving a few of the doctors who gave her the diagnosis.
Having officially retired from acting, Dorothy moved with her new husband, William, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1967, where they settled down and lived near the beach. In 1982, Dorothy was diagnosed with cancer from years of smoking. The doctors only gave her another two years to live, however she managed to live for another 9 years, outliving a few of the doctors who gave her the diagnosis.


Latest revision as of 16:16, 14 May 2026

Dorothy Bell
Born Dorothy Helena Bell
(1914-08-29)August 29, 1914
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died November 2, 1991(1991-11-02) (aged 77)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Cause of death Old Age
Occupation Actress/Radio Personality
Spouse(s)
  • Marcus Rolland (1939-1957) (his death)
  • William Jacobson (1962-1991) (her death)

Dorothy Bell is best known as the voice of Linda Talbot on the radio mystery The Midnight Sleuth.

Early Days

Dorothy grew up with a love for movies, having watched her first film (a Charlie Chaplin silent film) at the age of 3. As she grew up, she started acting in local theater groups when she wasn't going to school. When she turned 20 in 1934, Dorothy decided to move to Los Angeles, in hopes of getting into the business.

Hollywood Career

Voice Acting

Dorothy's first job was doing radio jingles for numerous commercials on air for KHJ-900, the most popular radio station in Los Angeles at the time. Her work at the station led to her being "the voice" of Opul Soap where she played the brand's "household wife" that told viewers about how great the products were for keeping her house (and family) clean, despite the fact that she was not married or in a relationship.

She continued the role for the next three years until 1937 when the creators of The Midnight Sleuth needed a voice for their character of Linda, a streetsmart but caring female reporter to balance out their bumbling idiot detective. When Opul Soap got wind that she was trying out for the production, they immediately wanted to be sponsors as they knew listeners would recognize Dorothy's voice and associate the show with their brand.

The idea worked as the show ran for almost 10 years and a total of 120 episodes. Dorothy eventually stopped being the voice of the company but would occasionally chime in from time to time as newer female voice actors took over the role.

Film & TV Appearances

During her successful career as a voice actor, Dorothy expanded her reach to film roles, appearing in many classics such as the war movie Before The Dawn Can Find You (1942) and the comedy series Find Me... which spawned 5 films before it's end in the mid-50s.

Filmography

Theatrical releases

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1941 Stage Fright Her on-screen role
1941 Watch Where You Step
1942 Mrs. Briartown
1942 Toodles
1942 Before The Dawn Can Find You
1943 Streetlight Parade First role as a leading lady
1944 I'll Never Forget You
1944 Find Me In Atlantic City
1945 Find Me In Miami
1946 Dear Diary
1947 Here's Hoping You're There, Kid
1948 Find Me In San Francisco
1948 Sunset Nominated for Best Actress Oscar
1950 Find Me In Cairo
1950 Lookout
1952 Invasion from Space!
1954 Find Me In Las Vegas

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Death

Having officially retired from acting, Dorothy moved with her new husband, William, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1967, where they settled down and lived near the beach. In 1982, Dorothy was diagnosed with cancer from years of smoking. The doctors only gave her another two years to live, however she managed to live for another 9 years, outliving a few of the doctors who gave her the diagnosis.

In 1991, Dorothy died peacefully in her sleep beside her husband William. He awoke to find her holding him and smiling. She was laid to rest in Forest Lawns Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her husband William joined her a few years later.

Appearances

Audio/Podcasts

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