Dorothy Cumming


Dorothy Greville Cumming was an actress of the silent film era. She appeared in 39 American, English, and Australian films between 1915 and 1929, notably appearing as the Virgin Mary in Cecil B. DeMille's 1927 film The King of Kings and the jealous wife in Lillian Gish's 1928 The Wind. She also appeared in stage productions in those same countries.

Childhood and early career

Dorothy Greville Cumming was born in Boorowa, New South Wales. Her father, Victor Albert Cumming was an officer of the Lands Department and also owned Narrangullen sheep station, near Yass. Her mother was the former Sarah T. Fennell. The family moved to Sydney around 1904, settling in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra. There, while a student at Ascham School, Dorothy attended elocution and acting lessons, appearing on stage from 1907. In 1911 she appeared with Enid Bennett in J. C. Williamson's production Everywoman.
In 1915 she appeared in the 6 reel J.C. Williamson film Within our Gates, or Deeds that Won Gallipoli, a spy drama directed by English actor-director Frank Harvey. At this time Williamsons made a handful of films using their own actors, in response to the threat of increasing American imports, including Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford and Officer 666, directed by Fred Niblo. Determined to follow a career in film, Cumming departed for the US in mid 1916.
Cumming had three full siblings, including two sisters who also moved to the United States. Rose Cumming became a prominent American interior decorator, and Eileen Cumming an advertising executive, who married rheumatologist Dr. Russell LaFayette Cecil. Cumming also had several half-siblings from her mother's first marriage.

Marriages

Cumming was married twice. Her husbands were:
She died in New York City in 1983.

Selected filmography