Skip to content
MovieCove
Dorothy Vaughan

Dorothy Vaughan

Actor · Died March 15, 1955, aged 64 · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Dorothy Vaughan (November 5, 1890 – March 15, 1955) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 143 films and television. Vaughan is best known for appearing in Slander House (1930), The Ape (1940) and Lady Gangster (1942). She was sometimes credited as Dorothy Vaughn. Description above from the Wikipedia article Dorothy Vaughan (actress), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 3, 1890
Died
March 15, 1955 (aged 64)
From
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 91 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 11% in 30 days

What are Dorothy Vaughan's films like?

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

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Self
30%
Bonds
24%
Society
9%
Survival
7%
Self-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

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

Grounded 8 · Stylized 0 · 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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 0

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Hopeful
3
Thrilling
3
Warm
3
Absurd
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet2

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 Vaughan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dorothy Vaughan'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

91 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Star(1952)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Mack

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Merry Widow(1952)

    as Attendant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Three Husbands(1950)

    as Maid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Chain Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mrs. Briggs (uncredited)

  • Pretty Baby(1950)

    as Subway Commuter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • A Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Rider from Tucson(1950)

    as Mrs. Brigitte O'Rielly

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Square Dance Katy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Ma O'Connor

  • Take One False Step(1949)

    as Leona (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Home in San Antone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Ma Gibson

  • Fighting Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mrs. Higgins

  • I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes(1948)

    as Mrs. Alvin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Bishop's Wife(1947)

    as Delia

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Lady from Shanghai(1947)

    as Old Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • High Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Actor

  • Big Town After Dark(1947)

    as Charwoman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Lured(1947)

    as Mrs. Miller (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Robin Hood of Texas(1947)

    as Mrs. O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Egg and I(1947)

    as Emmy

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Sea of Grass(1947)

    as Mrs. Hodges (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Trail to San Antone(1947)

    as The Commodore

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Man I Love(1946)

    as Lucy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • That Brennan Girl(1946)

    as Mrs. Reagan, Denny's Mother

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Bamboo Blonde(1946)

    as Mom

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • They Made Me a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Nancy, Henry's wife

  • Up Goes Maisie(1946)

    as Landlady (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Adventure(1945)

    as Mrs. Ludlow (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Destiny(1944)

    as Maggie, the Old Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Town Went Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Nurse Irma Reeves

  • The Mummy's Ghost(1944)

    as Ada Blake (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • It Happened Tomorrow(1944)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Moonlight in Vermont (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Mrs. Costello

  • Hit the Ice(1943)

    as Nurse #1 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Keep 'Em Slugging (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Mrs. Meegan

  • Once Upon a Honeymoon(1942)

    as Katie's Mother (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Gentleman Jim(1942)

    as Ma Corbett

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Pride of the Yankees(1942)

    as Eleanor's Landlady (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Ambersons(1942)

    as Mrs. Johnson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mrs. Brewster (uncredited)

  • Lady Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jenkins

  • Wild Bill Hickok Rides(1942)

    as Mrs. O'Leary

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Go West, Young Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Townswoman

  • One Foot in Heaven(1941)

    as Mrs. Ehrlich (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Three Girls About Town(1941)

    as Mrs. McDougall, scrubwoman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Manpower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Boyle (uncredited)

  • Bad Men of Missouri(1941)

    as Mrs. Dalton

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Actor

  • The Strawberry Blonde(1941)

    as Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Secret Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Wilson

  • Kitty Foyle(1940)

    as Mary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Old Swimmin' Hole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Actor

  • Diamond Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Willem

  • The Ape(1940)

    as Mother Clifford

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Foreign Correspondent(1940)

    as Jones' Mother (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • They Drive by Night(1940)

    as Courtroom Matron (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hot Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Morrison

  • An Angel from Texas(1940)

    as Mrs. Rogers

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The House Across the Bay(1940)

    as Prisoner's Wife on Ferry

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Glove Slingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mary Kelly (uncredited)

  • First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ollie, Mrs. Clinton's Maid

  • Espionage Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Stout Woman Bumped by Garrett

  • The Man in the Iron Mask(1939)

    as Midwife

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Young Mr. Lincoln(1939)

    as Apple Pie Baker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Calling Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mother of Baby Vaughan (uncredited)

  • Within the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Miss McGuinness - Prison Matron

  • Gambling Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Little Orphan Annie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mrs. Milligan

  • Slander House(1938)

    as Mrs. Horton

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Billy the Kid Returns(1938)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Boy Meets Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Happy's Nurse

  • The Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Woman Auto Driver

  • Cowboy from Brooklyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Fat Woman

  • A Criminal Is Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Martha Wheeler

  • Little Miss Thoroughbred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mrs. O'Reilly

  • Assassin of Youth(1938)

    as Mrs. Mary Barry

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Here's Flash Casey(1938)

    as Mrs. O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Quick Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Lyda Tompkins

  • Telephone Operator(1937)

    as Mrs. Molloy

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Life of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dressmaker

  • Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Marjorie's Neighbor (uncredited)

  • Hoosier Schoolboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Miss Hodges the School Mistress

  • Slim(1937)

    as Older Nurse

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Michael O'Halloran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Tolliver

  • That Man's Here Again(1937)

    as Mrs. Matthews

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Black Legion(1937)

    as Mrs. Grogan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Love Begins at Twenty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Evalina 'Evie' Gillingwater

  • Times Square Playboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mrs.Nellie Calhoun

  • I Married a Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Hospital Nurse

  • Mary Burns, Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Irish matron

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 91 titles from 1935 to 1952.

Highest rated

The Ape (1940)

Midcredits 7th

Most popular right now

Slim (1937)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting91 of 91: 91 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1930s31 · acting1940s50 · acting1950s10 · acting

Billing

usually 17th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 Vaughan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Assassin of Youth (1938)

65th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

Midcredits 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. 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 Vaughan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dorothy Vaughan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John W. Krafft shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Editors