Doris Dowling was born on May 15, 1923, in Detroit, as one of four children. She followed her older sister Constance Dowling into the entertainment industry. Raised in New York City, Doris briefly worked with the San Francisco Folies Bergère company before returning to New York and studying at Hunter College.
After several years as a Broadway chorine, Doris relocated to Hollywood, seeking a career in film. She made her debut in The Lost Weekend (1945),a classic film that dealt with the effects of alcoholism, and then appeared in The Blue Dahlia (1946). However, she was relegated to "B"-level films, including The Crimson Key (1947) and The Emperor Waltz (1948).
Seeking better opportunities, Doris moved abroad, where she starred in several dramas, including Bitter Rice (1949) and Sarumba (1950). She also appeared in Alina (1950) and Cuori sul mare (1950). Before departing Italy, she played Bianca in Orson Welles' troubled production of Othello (1951).
Returning to the US, Doris focused on theater and television, appearing on various anthology programs and guest-starring on popular shows. She also had a regular role on the sitcom My Living Doll (1964). In 1973, she won an Outer Critics Circle award for her performance in the stage production of "The Women" on Broadway.
Doris was married three times and had a son, Jonathan Shaw, with her first husband, Artie Shaw. She passed away on June 18, 2004, at the age of 81, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles.
