Dorris Estelle Bowdon (December 27 1914 – August 9 2005) was an American actress, best known for her role as Rose of Sharon in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, starring Henry Fonda.

Bowdon was born in Coldwater, Mississippi, one of 7 children. She was married to Nunnally Johnson from 1939 until his death in 1977, and they had three children together, the first of whom was born in 1943, which prematurely ended Bowden's acting career. She is the grandmother of actor Jack Johnson.

Dorris Bowdon died at the age of ninety of a stroke and heart failure. She was cremated and a portion of her ashes were scattered at sea and another portion interred with her husband Nunnally Johnson in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Filmography

• 1943: The Moon Is Down (Molly Morden )
• 1940: Jennie (Lottie)
• 1940: The Grapes of Wrath (Rose-of-Sharon Rivers)
• 1939: Drums Along the Mohawk (Mary Reall)
• 1939: Young Mr. Lincoln (scenes deleted: Carrie Sue)
• 1938: Down on the Farm (Tessie Moody)
• 1938: Always Goodbye (uncredited)

External links

• Dorris Bowdon at the Internet Movie Database

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