Dorothy Hart (April 4, 1922 - July 11, 2004) was an American screen actress, known mostly for her supporting roles.

Background

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she became a model in her late-teens, and was signed by Columbia in 1946. Her contract stipulated "A-movies only". Although considered one of the top supporting actresses of her day, she was frequently cast in B movies. Dorothy was attractive, standing 5 ft 6 in, with green eyes and auburn hair.

She graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a B.A. degree. After gaining some experience at the Cleveland Playhouse she resolved on a singing career. Miss Hart had saved enough money to go to New York when she learned that she was high on the list of Cover Girl finalists. A newspaper friend had submitted her photo in the Columbia Pictures contest. The studio paid for her trip.

Movies

Her first big movie break came in the 1947 western Gunfighters, starring alongside Randolph Scott, after winning the 1944 National Cinderella Cover Girl Contest. She is most popularly remembered for being Howard Duff's fiancée in the 1948 film The Naked City.

Illness

In October 1946 Hart was sent home while filming a technicolor western for Columbia Pictures being directed by George Waggner. Her illness was diagnosed as influenza. She was injured while on location filming horseback sequences in Arizona in February 1947 and minor corrective surgery was performed at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California. The film, Gunfighters, starred Randolph Scott and was filmed in the Painted Desert. Barbara Britton played the female lead in the adventure drama with Hart heading up the supporting cast.

Missed Opportunity

Columnist Hedda Hopper reported in a June 1947 column that Mary Pickford was suing Dorothy Hart for a sum of $79,000 because the young actress refused to accept a role in the film There Goes Lona Henry. Pickford stated in an interview that she hoped to take an unknown girl and make her into a great star. Hart refused the role because she did not want to sign away seven years of her career for a single movie opportunity.

Later Films

In 1948, Hart made Larceny with Shelley Winters and The Countess of Monte Cristo with Sonja Henie, both for Universal Pictures. The Naked City, starring Barry Fitzgerald, premiered on March 10, 1948. Hart became the tenth actress to portray Jane when she appeared opposite Lex Barker as Tarzan in Tarzan's Savage Fury.

Marriage and death

Dorothy Hart died on July 11, 2004, aged 82, and is buried in Asheville, North Carolina.

She was married to Frederick Pittera in 1954. He was a former Military pilot instructor on Bomber Aircraft and test pilot .In 1958 Pittera was awarded the U.S.Air Force Certificate of Appreciation' the highest award bestowed on a civilian for his efforts on behalf of U.S. Air Force reserve between 1950 and 1955. He is an international producer of trade and public fairs from New York.

Hart was survived by their son, Douglas Hart Pittera, a Fincial Officer for the Union Bank of Switzerland. Douglas, married to Cheryll Pittera, has three children, Nicole, Richard and David. They currently live in Fairfield, Connecticut.