--- name: "Dorothy Gish" canonical: "https://film.one/person/dorothy-gish" fi1m_id: "dorothy-gish" imdb_id: "nm0321088" tmdb_id: 30779 wikidata_id: "Q234536" roles: ["Actor"] born: "9 March 1898" died: "4 June 1968" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-25T05:49:16.330275+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 Gish ## Identity Dorothy Gish - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dorothy-gish - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** dorothy-gish - **IMDb ID:** nm0321088 - **TMDB ID:** 30779 - **Wikidata ID:** Q234536 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Gish, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234536, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0321088/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30779 Actor. Born 9 March 1898 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. Died 4 June 1968. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 9 March 1898, Dayton, Ohio, USA - **Died:** 4 June 1968 - **Also known as:** Dorothy Elizabeth Gish - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Gish, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234536, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0321088/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30779 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Orphans of the Storm*](https://film.one/film/orphans-of-the-storm.md) (73) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Dorothy Gish > Dorothy Gish deserves to be approached as a light comedian, not simply as Lillian’s sister. Her expressive eyes and physical timing give us a reason to look beyond the suffering of *Orphans of the Storm*. In *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), Dorothy Gish plays the blind Louise Girard opposite Lillian Gish’s Henriette, in a film determined to make every distress felt. It is good historical melodrama, and her performance belongs to its openly emotional style. We were moved, chiefly because Lillian’s directness kept us concerned with Henriette through the extravagant plotting. Our attention returns to Lillian, but this dramatic part gives only a partial account of Dorothy’s strengths. Her comic breakthrough was the street singer in *Hearts of the World* (1918). Expressive eyes and physical comedy were her tools, and pert, lively characters became her speciality. The Paramount comedies of 1918–1920, including work with director Elmer Clifton, gave those skills a sustained outlet beyond her appearances beside her sister. Judging her only by Griffith’s melodramas would leave out much of what she did well, particularly the comic timing that made her suited to lighter leading roles. Sweetness and familiar mannerisms can also become limitations, as some contemporary notices of *Madame Pompadour* (1927) observed. In *Orphans of the Storm*, we tire when the film insists on feelings we have already understood. Griffith’s suspense survives our doubts about the plotting, and the actors’ emotional openness remains part of the pleasure. We would happily keep the extravagance and lose some of the repetition; a tighter film need not ask its actors to feel less. After *Orphans of the Storm*, Gish left Griffith and made several British silents, including *Nell Gwyn* (1926), in which she played the title role. After the coming of sound she worked mainly on stage, with occasional screen appearances continuing to *The Cardinal* (1963), her last. That intermittent later film career can make it easy to overlook how sustained her earlier work in comedy had been. Choose *Orphans of the Storm* for the sisters together; for Dorothy’s comic identity, begin with *Hearts of the World*. ## Biography Dorothy Elizabeth Gish was an American actress of stage and screen. She and her older sister Lillian Gish appeared together in several D.W. Griffith silent films, including *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), in which she played Louise Girard. Gish made her stage debut as a child and entered films in 1912 after an introduction to Griffith by Mary Pickford. She appeared in numerous shorts and features, often in comedic roles, and later returned to the stage with Broadway successes such as *Life with Father* (1940). Her later screen credits include *The Cardinal* (1963). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), Fi1m 73, as Louise Girard — [page](https://film.one/film/orphans-of-the-storm.md) ## Complete filmography (136) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Lillian Gish: The Actor's Life for Me* (1988), as (Archive footage) - *The Cardinal* (1963), as Celia Fermoyle - *Play of the Week* (1959), series, as Aaronetta - *The Alcoa Hour* (1955), series, as Arry Gibbs - *The Elgin Hour* (1954), series, as Miss Psyche - *Harvest* (1953), as Ellen Zalinka - *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, as Mrs, Lapham - *Goodyear Television Playhouse* (1951), series, Actor - *The Whistle at Eaton Falls* (1951), as Mrs Doubleday - *Pulitzer Prize Playhouse* (1950), series, Actor - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Miss Susie Slagle - *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Emily Madison, Ellen Zalinka - *The Ford Theatre Hour* (1948), series, Actor - *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, as Mary Surratt - *Centennial Summer* (1946), as Mrs. Rogers - *Our Hearts Were Young and Gay* (1944), as Mrs. Skinner - *Wolves* (1930), as Leila McDonald - *Madame Pompadour* (1927), as Madame Pompadour - *London* (1927), as Mavis Hogan - *Tiptoes* (1927), as Tiptoes Kaye - *Clothes Make the Pirate* (1926), as Betsy Tidd - *Nell Gwyn* (1926), as Nell Gwyn - *Camille: The Fate of a Coquette* (1926), as Grace - *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ* (1925), as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited) - *The Beautiful City* (1925), as Mollie - *Night Life of New York* (1925), as Meg - *Romola* (1924), as Tessa - *The Bright Shawl* (1923), as La Clavel - *Fury* (1923), as Minnie - *The Country Flapper* (1922), as Jolanda Whiple - the Country Flapper - *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), as Louise Girard — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/orphans-of-the-storm.md) - *The Ghost in the Garret* (1921), as Delsie O'Dell - *Flying Pat* (1920), as Patricia Van Nuys - *Little Miss Rebellion* (1920), as Grand Duchess Marie Louise - *Remodeling Her Husband* (1920), as Janie Wakefield - *Mary Ellen Comes to Town* (1920), as Mary Ellen - *Turning the Tables* (1919), as Doris Pennington - *Nobody Home* (1919), as Frances Wadsworth - *Nugget Nell* (1919), as Nugget Nell - *I'll Get Him Yet* (1919), as Susy Faraday Jones - *Peppy Polly* (1919), as Polly - *Boots* (1919), as Boots - *The Hope Chest* (1918), as Sheila Moore - *Battling Jane* (1918), as Jane - *The Hun Within* (1918), as Beth - *Hearts of the World* (1918), as The Little Disturber - *Her Official Fathers* (1917), as Janice · Director - *Stage Struck* (1917), as Ruth Colby - *The Little Yank* (1917), as Sallie Castleton - *The Children of the Feud* (1916), as Sairy Ann - *Atta Boy's Last Race* (1916), as Lois Brandon - *Gretchen the Greenhorn* (1916), as Gretchen Van Houck - *The Little School Ma'am* (1916), as Nan - *Susan Rocks the Boat* (1916), as Susan Johnstone - *Little Meena's Romance* (1916), as Meena - *Betty of Greystone* (1916), as Betty Lockwood - *Jordan Is a Hard Road* (1915), as Cora Findley - *Her Mother's Daughter* (1915), as Marie - *Old Heidelberg* (1915), as Katie Ruder - *Bred in the Bone* (1915), as Mercy, at Sixteen - *Victorine* (1915), as Dottie - *The Little Catamount* (1915), as Hattie - the Little Catamount - *The Mountain Girl* (1915), as Nell - the Mountain Girl - *Out of Bondage* (1915), as Mary McRae - *Her Grandparents* (1915), as Dorothy - *Minerva's Mission* (1915), as Minerva - *The Lost Lord Lowell* (1915), as Molly - the Maid - *How Hazel Got Even* (1915), as Hazel - *An Old-Fashioned Girl* (1915), as Abigail - the Country Girl - *His Lesson* (1915), as Participant in Mob Scene (uncredited) - *The Better Way* (1914), as Sunbeam - *The Sisters* (1914), as Carol (May's younger sister) - *The Saving Grace* (1914), as Mollie Kite - the Girl - *The Availing Prayer* (1914), as May Rock - *Back to the Kitchen* (1914), as The Ranchman's Daughter - *The Warning* (1914), as Dorothy - *Sands of Fate* (1914), as Helen Robinson - *Down the Hill to Creditville* (1914), as Mamie New - *Granny* (1914), as Nell - *A Lesson in Mechanics* (1914), as Ruth Wilson - *Her Mother's Necklace* (1914), as Bessie - *The Tavern of Tragedy* (1914), as Dorothy Bell - the Innkeeper's Stepdaughter - *The Painted Lady* (1914), as Jess - the Younger Sister - *The City Beautiful* (1914), as The City Girl - *The Suffragette's Battle in Nuttyville* (1914), Actor - *Arms and the Gringo* (1914), Actor - *Their First Acquaintance* (1914), as Miriam Talbot - *The Rebellion of Kitty Belle* (1914), Actor - *The Newer Woman* (1914), as Dot - *Silent Sandy* (1914), as Mary Jones - *The Wife* (1914), as Kitty Ives - Debutante - *A Fair Rebel* (1914), as Joan Fitzhugh - the Adopted Sister - *Home, Sweet Home* (1914), as Sister of Payne's Sweetheart - *Liberty Belles* (1914), as Dorothy Ketcham - *The Different Man* (1914), Actor - *The Mountain Rat* (1914), as Nell - 'The Mountain Rat' - *Cigar Butts* (1914), Actor - *The Old Man* (1914), as The Maid-of-All-Work - *The Mysterious Shot* (1914), as Marylee Price - *The Floor Above* (1914), as Stella Ford - *Judith of Bethulia* (1914), as Crippled Beggar - *Her Father's Silent Partner* (1914), Actor - *Her Old Teacher* (1914), as Marjorie - *A Duel for Love* (1914), Actor - *The House of Discord* (1913), as The Daughter - *The Blue or the Gray* (1913), Actor - *By Man's Law* (1913), as At League Meeting (uncredited) - *A Cure for Suffragettes* (1913), as Suffragette - *The Lady in Black* (1913), as The Girl - *The Adopted Brother* (1913), as The Daughter - *The Suffragette Minstrels* (1913), as Among Suffragette Minstrels · Story - *Papa's Baby* (1913), as Young Mother - *The Widow's Kids* (1913), as One of the Kids - *Those Little Flowers* (1913), as A Messenger - *Pa Says* (1913), as Dot - *The Reformers* (1913), as Dancer (uncredited) - *Her Mother's Oath* (1913), as The Daughter - *Almost a Wild Man* (1913), as Miss Smart / Sideshow Patron - *Red Hicks Defies the World* (1913), as Hicks' Sweetheart - *His Mother's Son* (1913), as Woman at Dock (uncredited) - *Just Gold* (1913), as The Sweetheart's Sister - *The Lady and the Mouse* (1913), as The Second Sister - *The Perfidy of Mary* (1913), as Rose - *Broken Ways* (1913), as In Telegraph Office (uncredited) - *Oil and Water* (1913), as In First Audience (uncredited) - *A Cry for Help* (1912), as Witness to Accident - *The Burglar’s Dilemma* (1912), as Birthday Wellwisher - *My Hero* (1912), as The Young Woman - *The New York Hat* (1912), Actor - *The Informer* (1912), as The Southern Girl - *My Baby* (1912), as Wedding Guest - *The Musketeers of Pig Alley* (1912), as Frizzy-Haired Woman in Street (uncredited) - *The Painted Lady* (1912), as Belle at Ice Cream Festival - *So Near, Yet So Far* (1912), as A Friend - *Two Daughters of Eve* (1912), as In Theatre Crowd - *An Unseen Enemy* (1912), as Youngest Sister ## Gallery - ![american actress Dorothy Gish - publicity still (cropped : see source) (1954)](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-1ae5af2d04ae.jpg) american actress Dorothy Gish - publicity still (cropped : see source) (1954) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Dorothy_Gish_%281954%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Dorothy Gish](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-49eef8bc9518.jpg) Dorothy Gish — Bain News Service, publisher., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Dorothy_Gish_3.jpg/1280px-Dorothy_Gish_3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Still from the American drama film Night Life of New York (1925). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-cc3f1b5bfa1c.jpg) Still from the American drama film Night Life of New York (1925). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Night_Life_of_New_York_%28SAYRE_14319%29.jpg/1280px-Night_Life_of_New_York_%28SAYRE_14319%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Actress Dorothy Gish. (1925)](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-a4ad219e0f76.jpg) Actress Dorothy Gish. (1925) — Bain News Service, publisher., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Dorothy_Gish_5.jpg/1280px-Dorothy_Gish_5.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Dorothy Gish](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-206ae66364a5.jpg) Dorothy Gish — Image via TMDB - ![Dorothy Gish](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-bbfb9f235f20.jpg) Dorothy Gish — Image via TMDB - ![Dorothy Gish](https://film.one/media/person/3849042/gallery-c4f2a5d98854.jpg) Dorothy Gish — Image via TMDB --- © 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-gish