---
name: "Dorothy Comingore"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/dorothy-comingore"
fi1m_id: "dorothy-comingore"
imdb_id: "nm0173827"
tmdb_id: 11029
wikidata_id: "Q221874"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 August 1913"
died: "30 December 1971"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T21:21:15.996491+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Dorothy Comingore

## Identity

Dorothy Comingore

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dorothy-comingore
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** dorothy-comingore
- **IMDb ID:** nm0173827
- **TMDB ID:** 11029
- **Wikidata ID:** Q221874
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Comingore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q221874, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0173827/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11029

Actor. Born 24 August 1913 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Died 30 December 1971.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 August 1913, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Died:** 30 December 1971
- **Also known as:** Linda Winters, Mary Louise Comingore, Kay Winters, Margaret Louise Comingore
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 acting, 1 other
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 84 (1), 1940s 93 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Comingore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q221874, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0173827/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11029

## Fi1m on Dorothy Comingore

> Dorothy Comingore gives *Citizen Kane* an awkward, recognisable human presence as Susan Alexander Kane. We admire the emotional conviction, though the performance can turn shrill; Susan's unhappiness matters even when it is not easy to listen to.

Comingore's Susan Alexander Kane can sound shrill, and we do not think that is always a mistake. In *Citizen Kane* (1941), her unhappiness is awkward to watch; we admire the performance, with a reservation about how insistently she sometimes presses it. We were moved by Comingore because Susan's bitterness feels rooted in the same person as her innocence. She makes the character's feelings recognisable even when they are difficult company.

Her early screen work consisted of bit parts and uncredited roles in the late 1930s, including the Woman at Station in *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939). *Citizen Kane* gave her a breakthrough and remains the substantial reason to seek her out. Supporting parts followed, including Helen Parker in *The Hairy Ape* (1944). Her final film role was Julie Rostina in *The Big Night* (1951). We would not give those smaller credits equal weight simply to make the career look more evenly distributed.

Welles is the essential collaborator here, both directing her and playing opposite her. We value *Citizen Kane* for giving its technical ingenuity a human centre, and Comingore contributes through the realism of Susan's feelings. The film's elaborate structure sometimes keeps us at a distance; her directness is useful in a film that gives us so much else to notice. The innocent young woman and the embittered older figure are a demanding combination, and she makes the difference between them convincing.

There is still a point at which that sharpness becomes wearing, and we would not defend every inflection simply because the film deserves its reputation. Comingore is worth watching closely, with room to find some of her choices excessive. Start with *Citizen Kane*, and give Susan as much attention as the elaborate construction around her.

## Biography

Dorothy Comingore was an American actress. Born Mary Louise Comingore on 24 August 1913 in Los Angeles, she appeared in earlier films under the name Linda Winters and on stage as Kay Winters. She played the role of Susan Alexander Kane in Orson Welles’s *Citizen Kane* (1941).

Comingore had an uncredited part in *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939) and later appeared in films including *The Hairy Ape* (1944), *Any Number Can Play* (1949) and *The Big Night* (1951). Her career ended after she was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952 and declined to answer questions. She died on 30 December 1971 in Stonington, Connecticut.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these

- *Citizen Kane* (1941), Fi1m 93, as Susan Alexander Kane — [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Woman at Station (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)

## Complete filmography (25)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Movie Movie (An Excerpt)* (2002), as Archival Footage
- *The Complete 'Citizen Kane'* (1991), Actor
- *The Big Night* (1951), as Julie Rostina
- *Any Number Can Play* (1949), as Mrs. Purcell
- *The Hairy Ape* (1944), as Helen Parker
- *Citizen Kane* (1941), as Susan Alexander Kane — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)
- *Rockin' Thru the Rockies* (1940), as Daisy (as Linda Winters)
- *The Heckler* (1940), as Ole's Girlfriend
- *Pioneers of the Frontier* (1940), as Joan Darcey
- *Convicted Woman* (1940), as Inmate (uncredited)
- *Cafe Hostess* (1940), as Tricks
- *The Awful Goof* (1939), as Charley's Fiancee
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Woman at Station (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Scandal Sheet* (1939), as Marjorie Lawe (as Linda Winters)
- *Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise* (1939), as June Jenkins (uncredited)
- *Golden Boy* (1939), as Fight Spectator
- *Five Little Peppers And How They Grew* (1939), as Nurse
- *Coast Guard* (1939), as Nurse (uncredited)
- *Good Girls Go to Paris* (1939), as Tearoom Hostess  (uncredited)
- *Outside These Walls* (1939), as Secretary (uncredited)
- *North of the Yukon* (1939), as Jean Duncan (as Linda Winters)
- *Blondie Meets the Boss* (1939), as Francine Rogers
- *Trade Winds* (1938), as Ann (as Linda Winters)
- *Comet Over Broadway* (1938), as Mrs. McDermott
- *Prison Train* (1938), as Louise Terris

## Gallery

- ![Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-189940e3d714.jpg) Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane — RKO Radio Pictures, still photographer Alexander Kahle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Citizen-Kane-Collins-Welles.jpg/1280px-Citizen-Kane-Collins-Welles.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Promotional still for the 1941 film Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-48 at lower right](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-8c520f71faec.jpg) Promotional still for the 1941 film Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-48 at lower right — RKO Radio Pictures, still photographer Alexander Kahle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Citizen-Kane-Comingore-Welles-Collins.jpg/1280px-Citizen-Kane-Comingore-Welles-Collins.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lobby card for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-a12e2dfad243.jpg) Lobby card for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane — RKO Radio Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Citizen-Kane-LC-4.jpg/1280px-Citizen-Kane-LC-4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-15 at lower right](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-dc2363d26d67.jpg) Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-15 at lower right — RKO Radio Pictures, still photographer Alexander Kahle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Citizen-Kane-Wedding-2.jpg/1280px-Citizen-Kane-Wedding-2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dorothy Comingore](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-0fffa4cd177a.jpg) Dorothy Comingore — Image via TMDB
- ![Theatrical poster for the American release of the 1941 film Citizen Kane. This design is designated "Style B". This image is a scan of an unrestored original po](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-3f60ccec4b6d.jpg) Theatrical poster for the American release of the 1941 film Citizen Kane. This design is designated "Style B". This image is a scan of an unrestored original po — William Rose, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Citizen_Kane_poster%2C_1941_%28Style_B%2C_unrestored%29.jpg/1280px-Citizen_Kane_poster%2C_1941_%28Style_B%2C_unrestored%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Promotional photograph of Dorothy Comingore for the 1941 film Citizen Kane Comingore resumed her own name when she signed with RKO; she previously worked for Wa](https://film.one/media/person/59017/gallery-37d6dabad340.jpg) Promotional photograph of Dorothy Comingore for the 1941 film Citizen Kane Comingore resumed her own name when she signed with RKO; she previously worked for Wa — RKO Radio Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Dorothy-Comingore-1941.jpg/1280px-Dorothy-Comingore-1941.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/dorothy-comingore