Biography

Dorothy Coonan Wellman was born on November 25, 1913 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Wild Boys of the Road (1933), Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick (1995) and Biography (1987). She was married to William A. Wellman. She died on September 16, 2009 in Brentwood, California, USA.

Freckle-faced Irish-American bit part actress of the 1930s. One of Busby Berkeley's principal chorus dancers and in Warner Brothers films from the age of fourteen. Became director William Wellman's fifth wife and bore him seven children.

Mother of Cissy Wellman, Kathleen 'Kitty' Wellman, Maggie Wellman, actor Michael Wellman, and William Wellman Jr.. step-mother of actress Gloria Wellman, Mother-in-law of James Franciscus.

A trained dancer who worked frequently in Hollywood musicals between 1929 and 1933, Coonan reportedly had no acting aspirations and left the screen after only one starring role.

She has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: 42nd Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), & Story of G.I. Joe (1945).

Had her freckles insured for $100,000.