Dolores Donlon

Dolores Donlon
Born
Patricia Vaniver

(1920-09-19)September 19, 1920
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 30, 2012(2012-11-30) (aged 92)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesDelores Donlon, Pat Van Iver
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1944-1962
Spouse(s)Victor Orsatti (1949–1960; divorced)
Robert dePasquale (1962–?; divorced)
Fernando Mendez (1974–?; divorced) [1]

Dolores Donlon (born Patricia Vaniver; September 19, 1920 – November 30, 2012) was an American model and actress.[2]

Career

Born in 1920 in Philadelphia and raised in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, Donlon attended a convent school in Tarrytown, New York. She later trimmed a few years off her age by claiming 1926 was her year of birth when she began modeling in the mid-1940s under the name Pat Van Iver.[3] for the Walter Thornton Model Agency.[4] She began acting in 1948 with uncredited walk-on parts in movies including Dough Girls and Easter Parade.

In 1946, she was elected Queen of the Ball by the New York Press Photographers Association.[5] By 1954, she was playing credited roles in movies such as The Long Wait and Security Risk, and appearing in television series. Her television credits include roles in Have Gun - Will Travel, The Texan, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Maverick, Perry Mason, The Jack Benny Program, 77 Sunset Strip and I Love Lucy.[6]

In 1957, Donlon was Playboy's August Playmate of the Month.[2]

Marriages

Donlon was married to Hollywood talent agent Victor Orsatti from 1949 to 1960.[7] The couple separated in 1958 after nine years of marriage, and were divorced in 1960.[8][9] She starred in Italian director Franco Rossi's 1961 film Nude Odyssey.[10] She retired from acting the following year after marrying New York Philharmonic violinist Robert dePasquale.[6] She later divorced dePasquale and married Fernando Mendez. That union also ended in divorce.[1] All three marriages were childless.[1]

Death

Donlon died in her native Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 30, 2012, aged 92.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dolores Donlon Profile". Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Playmate data". Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "The Face Is the Same But Not the Name". The Des Moines Register. Iowa, Des Moines. November 10, 1957. p. 88. Retrieved June 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Agent Finds Model, Sues". Daily News (Los Angeles, CA). October 22, 1954. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Press Reports". Popular Photography. December 1946. p. 206. ISSN 1542-0337.
  6. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Dolores Donlon Biography". AllMovie. All Media Network. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "Talent Agent Victor Orsatti". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 14, 1984.
  8. ^ "Vic Orsatti's Third Wife to File Suit". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1958. p. 47. Retrieved June 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ "Dolores Donlon Seeks Divorce". Indiana Gazette. Associated Press. January 26, 1960. p. 12. Retrieved June 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Johnson, Erskine (October 16, 1960). "How Dolores Got Starring Role is Hollywood Odyssey". Star-Banner.
  11. ^ "Patricia Dolores Mendez". Terranova Funeral Home. Retrieved June 16, 2017.