Skip to content
MovieCove
Dorothy Sebastian

Dorothy Sebastian

Actor · Died April 8, 1957, aged 53 · Birmingham, Alabama, USA

From Wikipedia Dorothy Sebastian (April 26, 1903 – April 8, 1957) was an American film and stage actress. Sebastian was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. In her youth, she aspired to be a dancer and a film actress. Her family frowned on both ambitions, however, so she fled to New York at the age of 15. Upon her arrival in New York City, Sebastian's southern drawl was thick enough to "cut with a knife". She followed around theatrical agents before returning at night to a $12-a-month room, after being consistently rejected. Sebastian's first contact in Hollywood was Robert Kane, who gave her a film test at United Studios. She performed in George White's Scandals and later co-starred with Joan Crawford and Anita Page for a popular series of MGM romantic dramas including Our Dancing Daughters (1928) and Our Blushing Brides (1930). Sebastian also appeared in 1929's Spite Marriage, wherein she was cast opposite her then-lover Buster Keaton. By the mid-1930s, Sebastian was semi-retired from acting after marrying Hopalong Cassidy star William Boyd. After their 1936 divorce, she returned to acting appearing in mostly bit parts. Her last onscreen appearance was in the 1948 film The Miracle of the Bells. Sebastian married actor William Boyd in December 1930 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They began a relationship after meeting on the set of His First Command in 1929. They divorced in 1936. In 1947, Sebastian married Miami Beach businessman Harold Shapiro to whom she remained married until her death. On April 8, 1957, Sebastian died of cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Dorothy Sebastian has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6655 Hollywood Blvd.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 26, 1903
Died
April 8, 1957 (aged 53)
From
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 6% in 30 days

What are Dorothy Sebastian's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
40%
Bonds
35%
Self
15%
Ideas
7%
Society
3%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 7 · Intense 0

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Romantic
3
Melancholic
3
Bittersweet
2
Triumphant
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dorothy Sebastian's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dorothy Sebastian's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

60 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Miracle of the Bells(1948)

    as Miss Katie Orwin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Among the Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Woman in Cafe

  • Kansas Cyclone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Helen King

  • Days of Jesse James(1939)

    as Zerilda James (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Arizona Kid(1939)

    as Bess Warren

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Women(1939)

    as Saleswoman Pat (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Rough Riders' Round-up(1939)

    as Rose

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Jean McNain

  • The Life of Vergie Winters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Lulu

  • Allez Oop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Paula Stevens

  • No Sleep on the Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as June Davis

  • Ship of Wanted Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Irene Reynolds

  • Contrabando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • They Never Come Back(1932)

    as Adele Landon

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Wide Open Spaces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Rose

  • The Deceiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Ina Fontanne

  • The Big Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Beverly Ames Beckwith

  • Ships of Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Grace Walsh

  • The Lightning Flyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Rose Rogers

  • Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dorothy Sebastian

  • The Utah Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Jennie Lee

  • Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Norma Moore

  • Ladies Must Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Norma

  • Our Blushing Brides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Francine 'Franky' Daniels

  • Hell's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Marie

  • Free and Easy(1930)

    as Cave Scene

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Montana Moon(1930)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Officer O'Brien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Ruth Dale

  • The Rounder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Ethel Dalton

  • His First Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Judy Gaylord

  • The Unholy Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Lady Efra

  • The Single Standard(1929)

    as Mercedes

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Spite Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Trilby Drew

  • The Devil's Apple Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Dorothy Ryan

  • The Spirit of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Betty Grant

  • The Rainbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Lola

  • Morgan's Last Raid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Judith Rogers

  • A Woman of Affairs(1928)

    as Constance

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Our Dancing Daughters(1928)

    as Beatrice 'Bea'

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Adventurer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Dolores de Silva

  • The House of Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Ann Rourke

  • Wyoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Samantrha Jerusha Farrell

  • Their Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Cora

  • The Haunted Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Goldie Kane

  • Love(1927)

    as Spectator at Race (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Arizona Wildcat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Regina Schyler

  • Tea For Three (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Annette

  • The Isle of Forgotten Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Marua

  • Twelve Miles Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Chiquita

  • On Ze Boulevard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Gaby de Sylva

  • California (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Carlotta del Rey

  • The Demi-Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Lola

  • The Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Salvation Army Worker (uncredited)

  • You'd Be Surprised(1926)

    as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Beauty à la Mud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Torrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Woman in Audience (uncredited)

  • Bluebeard's Seven Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Gilda La Bray

  • Why Women Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Pearl

  • Winds of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Laura

  • Sackcloth and Scarlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Polly Freeman

Career shape

Star power in the 78th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1925 to 1948.

Biggest box office

Montana Moon (1930)

$2.1M worldwide

Highest rated

A Woman of Affairs (1928)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

You'd Be Surprised (1926)

Film career

  • 1927Screen debut· Love

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting60 of 60: 60 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1920s31 · acting1930s26 · acting1940s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Dorothy Sebastian's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 13 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Montana Moon (1930)

74th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Women (1939)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Dorothy Sebastian work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dorothy Sebastian's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Johnny Mack Brown shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors