Dorothy Provine

Dorothy Michelle Provine (January 20, 1935 – April 25, 2010) was an American singer, dancer, actress, and comedienne.

Life and career

Provine was born in Deadwood in southwestern South Dakota, to Virgil and Kathleen Provine. She attended the University of Washington at Seattle, Washington, where she majored in drama. In Washington, she handed out prizes for a quiz program on a local television station until she was hired by Warner Bros. at $500 per week. In Hollywood, she starred in 1958 film, The Bonnie Parker Story. That same year, she performed in a credited walk-on part in the NBC western television series, Wagon Train, in the episode "The Marie Dupree Story." In 1959, she was in the cast of The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock, which was Lou Costello's last screen appearance. In that same year she again appeared in Wagon Train in the episode "Matthew Lowry Story" this time having a part that ran the full episode.

On January 3, 1959, Provine appeared as Laura Winfield in the episode "The Bitter Lesson" of the NBC western series, Cimarron City. Laura Winfield is a newly arrived schoolteacher with false credentials who is plotting with a male companion to rob a stage shipment of gold but not before Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple (series star John Smith) falls in love with her. Dan Blocker and Gregg Palmer also appear in this episode as interested suitors of the new teacher.A few weeks thereafter, she was cast in a supporting role in the episode "The Giant Killer" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Sugarfoot, with Will Hutchins in the title role.

In 1959, Provine appeared as Ann Donnelly in the episode, "The Confession", of another ABC/WB western series, Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston. Charles Aidman was cast in this episode as Arthur Sibley; Don C. Harvey, as Sheriff Clinter. About this time she was also cast in an episode of the ABC sitcom, The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan.

Another 1959 appearance was as "Chalmers" in the episode "Blood Money" of the CBS western, The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun as Bill Longley, with Ralph Meeker in the guest cast as Sam Kerrigan. She also guest starred in the syndicated western series Man Without a Gun, starring Rex Reason.

Provine had a starring role in two ABC/WB series: The Alaskans (1959–1960), in the role of Rocky Shaw and with Roger Moore, and The Roaring 20s (1960–1962), in which she played the beautiful singer Pinky Pinkham. A profile in Time stated that "It is Dorothy’s oooohing and shimmying that have kept the series afloat." Rex Reason, from Man Without a Gun, co-starred with her in The Roaring 20s, along with Donald May, John Dehner, Mike Road, and Gary Vinson. Provine recorded an album of songs from the show, and had two hit singles in the UK Singles Chart – "Don't Bring Lulu" (#17 in 1961) and "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" (#45 in 1962).

Her later films included Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Good Neighbor Sam (1964), The Great Race (1965), That Darn Cat! (1965), Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1966), Who's Minding the Mint? (1967) and Never a Dull Moment (1968).

In 1968, Provine married director Robert Day and retired from acting, apart from a handful of guest roles on television shows. The couple moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, about 1990, where they resided with their son. Provine was somewhat reclusive in retirement and indulged her love of reading and movies, and occasionally drove around the island with her husband.

Discography

• The Roaring 20's, 1960 Warner Brothers: WM 4035 (W1394). Musical direction by Sandy Courage.

Death

Provine died of emphysema on April 25, 2010, in Bremerton, Washington.