Dorothy Van

Background

She was born Dorothy Helene Vanberryl in Moline, Illinois, to Elmer J. Vanberryl, a German post office worker, and Emeline Franks Vanberryl.

Career

As a child she spent considerable time watching the movies of the day. Her favorite actresses during this time were Irene Dunne, Loretta Young, and Bette Davis. And she remembered having a girlhood crush on Joel McCrea.

She also enjoyed reading, writing, and painting.

Her father had suggested that upon completing high school, Dorothy should enroll in secretarial school, find a husband, and settle down. However, upon her 1946 graduation she pursued a stage career.

Because her father did not approve of this decision she acted under the name "Dorothy Van" to avoid family embarrassment. When she arrived to Broadway she began as a chorus girl in musicals.

She often appeared in uncredited roles in such plays as The Skin of Our Teeth, All My Sons, The Maids, The Heiress, The Shifting Heart, and The Mousetrap.

After years of stage work she made her movie debut playing an army nurse in Loose Shoes. Later in the decade she landed a recurring role as Aunt Effie Harper to Vicki Lawrence"s character of Thelma Harper on Mama"s Family. She appeared in seven episodes between 1983 and 1989.

Van also wrote for the television screen.

In 1985 she wrote two episodes for the sitcom Silver Spoons. She also wrote episodes for Mama"s Family, Punky Brewster, and Major Dad.

In 1992 Van retired from acting and writing. She supported animal rights, the Republican Party, and civil rights for the elderly.

In spite of her relatively few television appearances, she took pride in receiving fan letters, which she kept for many years.

By 2000 Van had developed Parkinson"s disease and was homebound. On May 16, 2002 Van died in her Los Angeles home. She was buried in Greenview Memorial Gardens in her hometown of Moline, Illinois.

Connections

Friend:

Vicki Lawrence