Dorothy Davenport

Daughter of actress Alice Davenport and actor Harry Davenport. Sister of actresses Ann Davenport (1892-1968) and Kate Davenport (1896-1954); half-sister of actor Arthur Rankin (1900-1947).

The Davenport family was well known in theatrical circles. Her aunt, Fanny Davenport was considered one of the greatest stage actresses of her time and her father, Harry Davenport, was a Broadway star before later venturing into movies. Her mother, Alice Davenport, was a respected Broadway and film actress. With a background on the stage, Dorothy was in her early teens when she started playing bit parts in films. By the time she was 17, she was a star at Universal, where she would meet a young actor-assistant director-gopher-scenario writer named Wallace Reid. Called on to act with him in a film, she was frustrated by his apparent lack of acting ability on the first day, but was smitten with him on the third day of their work together. Dorothy was a horsewoman of distinction who had no regard for a man who couldn't stay in the saddle. When Wallace proved to be an excellent horseman, she was hooked. After six months working on a job with another film company, Wallace returned to Universal and they married on October 13, 1913. The newlyweds continued to work. He directed and starred with Dorothy in two films a week for the next year.

When Wallace left Universal Dorothy also left films, returning in 1916 to appear in a handful of them.

In 1917 she gave birth to Wallace Reid Jr.. and became a full-time mother and wife.

When Wallace Reid died from morphine addiction in 1923, Dorothy and Bessie Love made Human Wreckage (1923), a film that dealt with the dangers of narcotics.

One of the few women in Hollywood to act as a producer and director in the 1930s, albeit at smaller studios.