Dorothy Coburn, a stunning brunette with a curvaceous figure, was the daughter of renowned western actor and producer Wallace G. Coburn. Her grandfather, Robert, a pioneer cattleman, had founded the iconic Montana Circle C Ranch in 1886. This talented actress made her mark in the film industry by appearing in numerous silent comedy shorts for Hal Roach, often portraying the quintessential flapper, society lady, or nurse.
With her feisty personality, she was perfectly cast as a perpetual foil for the iconic comedic duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Her most notable appearances with the legendary pair include "The Second 100 Years" (1927),where Stan accidentally covers her bottom with white paint; "Putting Pants on Philip" (1927),in which she is chased by an over-amorous Stan Laurel around town; and "Leave 'em Laughing" (1928),where she plays a dentist's nurse.
A true trooper, Dorothy took every indignity inflicted upon her in stride, whether it was falling into a pit of whitewash in "The Finishing Touch" (1928),being pied in "The Battle of the Century" (1927),or covered in mud in "Should Married Men Go Home?" (1928).
In addition to her acting career, Dorothy was an accomplished rider and athlete, and occasionally worked as a stunt performer in westerns, doubling for notable actors such as Gary Cooper and Joel McCrea. After the advent of sound, she was sometimes engaged as a stand-in for Ginger Rogers at RKO.
After leaving the film industry in 1936, Dorothy found employment as a receptionist for an insurance agency.
