Dorothy Johnson (actress)

Dorothy Johnson
Born(1936-10-14)October 14, 1936
Superior, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 2022(2022-04-07) (aged 85)
Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S.
Other namesDorothy Mae Johnson
Alma materAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation(s)Film and television actor, print model
Years active1953–c. 1960
Notable credits
StyleComedy, drama
Children4, including Dorothy Papadakos
Websiteoregon55.com

Dorothy Mae Johnson (October 14, 1936 – April 7, 2022) was an American actress and print model. Starting her career as a beauty queen, she was best known for acting on television and in motion pictures during the Golden Age of Hollywood as a starlet during the 1950s.[1] Dorothy Mae Johnson won the 1955 Miss Oregon beauty pageant and was first runner-up in the 1956 Miss America pageant.[2][3][4][5] The United States Marine Corps chose her to be their official Miss Leatherneck.[6]

Johnson was cast in the title role of Bernardine in Pat Boone's first Hollywood movie Bernardine. She was the female lead in Columbia Pictures' teen romance film Life Begins at 17 with co stars Edd Byrnes and Mark Damon.[7] She was a working actress who performed in Hollywood productions in the studio of Warner Bros., Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. Johnson traveled with Conrad Hilton to participate in the week-long grand opening ceremonies of the newly built Havana Hilton Hotel in Cuba in March 1958.[8][9]

  1. ^ Callea, Donna (June 28, 1984). "50's Starlet recalls Hollywood Days". No. Sec D Page 11 Evening Edition. Daytona Beach Florida News-Journal. Daytona Beach Afternoon News-Journal.
  2. ^ Sloan, Jim (May 25, 1995). "Entertainment News". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. 47. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Beaverton girl wins title". Eugene Oregon Register-Guard. No. Front page 1. Associated Press, Seaside Oregon. July 18, 1955.
  4. ^ "Miss Oregon plans to enroll in UCLA". Eugene Oregon Register Guard. No. Page 2. Associated Press. September 12, 1955.
  5. ^ "Miss Oregon Page #3". Miss Oregon. 1955 Dorothy Mae Johnson: Miss America Pageant First Runner-Up
  6. ^ Baker, Roxanne (May 2014). "Miss Leatherneck: The Marine Corps' Golden Girl". Leatherneck Magazine. pp. 50, 51. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Life Begins at 17 movie poster". alamy.com.
  8. ^ Winchell, Joan (March 25, 1958). "Batista bows to Hilton". Los Angeles Times. No. Page 23, 27.
  9. ^ "Inauguranan Habana-Hilton". No. Page A1, B7, suplemento 8. Decano De La Prensa De Cuba. Dairio De La Marina. March 22, 1958.