Doris Davenport was an American actress who appeared in movies of the 1930s and early 1940s. She is best known for her role as Jane Ellen Mathews in The Westerner (1940), opposite Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan. However, her career was cut short by a car accident that left her with severe injuries. She died on June 18, 1980, at the age of 63, from a non-communicable disease.
Early Life and Career
Doris Davenport was born on January 1, 1917, in Moline, Illinois. She moved to Davenport, Iowa, and then to Los Angeles, California, with her mother. She wanted to be an actress since she was five years old, and her parents supported her by providing voice training and drama classes.
She made her film debut in Kid Millions (1934), as Eddie Cantor’s sweetheart. She also worked as a fashion model in New York City between films. She auditioned for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), under the screen name Doris Jordan, and was one of the finalists. Although she did not get the part, she impressed producer Samuel Goldwyn, who gave her a lead role in The Westerner (1940).
The Westerner and Beyond
The Westerner was a western film directed by William Wyler, starring Gary Cooper as a cowboy who befriends Judge Roy Bean, played by Walter Brennan. Doris Davenport played Jane Ellen Mathews, a schoolteacher who falls in love with Cooper’s character. The film was a critical and commercial success, and earned Brennan his third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Davenport received positive reviews for her performance, and was considered a rising star. However, she did not receive any other offers after that film. She starred in one more movie, Behind the News (1940), opposite Lloyd Nolan. It was her last film role. She retired from acting in 1940, at the age of 23.
Personal Life and Death
Davenport married photographer Garland Weaver Jr. in 1938. They divorced in 1941. She settled in Santa Cruz, California, where she lived until her death.
According to some sources, her career ended due to a car crash that crushed her legs, and left her unable to walk without a cane for the rest of her life. However, this has not been confirmed by official records.
She died on June 18, 1980, from a non-communicable disease. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed to the public. She was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.
Doris Davenport was a talented actress who had a promising future in Hollywood. However, fate had other plans for her. She left behind a legacy of films that showcase her beauty and talent. She will always be remembered as the lovely Jane Ellen Mathews from The Westerner.
