Career
His middle name was either "Narcisse" or "Nelson" (varying sources). He took his professional surname from the maiden name of his mother, Bridget Mary Dowling, who was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island. His father was Charles Goucher who was born in Street Marcel, Province of Québec, Canada.
He appeared on stage for many years.
His most famous role was as "Tom Wingfield" in the original Broadway production of The Glass Menagerie, opposite Laurette Taylor and Julie Haydon. He produced the play"s original Chicago production in 1944, and followed it to Broadway.
Dowling sought the 1934 Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat from Rhode Island. At the time, TIME magazine reported that his great-grandfather and two great-grand uncles were the founders of Goucher College for Women in Baltimore, and that "he was the 14th in a family of 17 children.
His schooling had extended only up to the third grade.
He had been a cabin boy and a music hall singer.. and he owned a sausage factory in California."
Jack Dowling died serving in the World World War World War II Eddie Dowling died in Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1976, at the age of 86. His widow died in 1984, aged 95, in East Hampton, Long Island, New New York