Actress. Born Dorothy Helene Vanberryl, she graduated from Moline Senior High School in 1946 and later embarked on a stage career in New York City. For a decade and a half she worked as a chorus girl, and she later appeared in stage productions including "The Heiress", "The Maids", "The Skin of Our Teeth", and Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap". In the early 1980s she began her film career with a role in "Loose Shoes" (later retitled "Coming Attractions"). In the mid-1980s she had a recurring role on the situation comedy "Mama's Family" as Aunt Effie. She was also a television writer, and often worked in partnership with her husband, TV writer, producer, and actor Jim Evering; she authored teleplays for shows including "Mama's Family", "Silver Spoons", and "Punky Brewster". In 1992 she retired from acting and writing and spent the remainder of her life devoting time to charitable and religious causes until her death from the effects of Parkinson's Disease.
Actress. Born Dorothy Helene Vanberryl, she graduated from Moline Senior High School in 1946 and later embarked on a stage career in New York City. For a decade and a half she worked as a chorus girl, and she later appeared in stage productions including "The Heiress", "The Maids", "The Skin of Our Teeth", and Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap". In the early 1980s she began her film career with a role in "Loose Shoes" (later retitled "Coming Attractions"). In the mid-1980s she had a recurring role on the situation comedy "Mama's Family" as Aunt Effie. She was also a television writer, and often worked in partnership with her husband, TV writer, producer, and actor Jim Evering; she authored teleplays for shows including "Mama's Family", "Silver Spoons", and "Punky Brewster". In 1992 she retired from acting and writing and spent the remainder of her life devoting time to charitable and religious causes until her death from the effects of Parkinson's Disease.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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