Dorothy McGuire Biography

Dorothy McGuire

Dorothy McGuire made her stage debut at the age of 13 (opposite a young Henry Fonda) in A Kiss For Cinderella in her hometown of Omaha. In 1938 she traveled to Broadway to understudy Martha Scott in the role of Emily in Our Town. Her first starring stage role came in Claudia (1941) and in 1943 she starred in the film version, which was followed by her well received roles as the mother in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) and as the mute servant in the thriller The Spiral Staircase (1946). Other notable roles include her portrayal of the Virgin Mary in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), and an Emmy Award-nominated performance as Mary Jordache in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). McGuire's most recent performances included television movies I Never Sang for My Father (1988), The Last Best Year (1990) and Caroline? (1990).