Dorcas Matthews

{{Short description|American actress (1890–1969)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Dorcas Matthews

| image = Dorcas Matthews in The Woman in the Suitcase.jpg

| caption = Matthews in The Woman in the Suitcase (1920)

| birth_name = Dorcas Neville Matthews

| birth_date = {{birth date|1890|11|05|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lancashire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1969|01|24|1890|11|05|df=yes}}

| death_place = Berkeley, California, U.S.

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1916–1956

| spouse = {{marriage|Robert McKim|1920|1927|reason=his death}}

| children = 2

}}

Dorcas Neville Matthews"California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994" (27 September 2019). [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL4-XWMN Dorcas Neville Matthews in entry for Robert McKim, 04 May 1920]; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento. {{closed access}} {{url|https://archive.today/4aRDj/610938daf33d6aeb98583a11ee3c9f6ec0a61928.jpg|Archived copy}} of certificate. (5 November 1890 – 24 January 1969) was an English actress in silent films in the U.S. She had numerous roles as a supporting actress and was well known.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fytDAAAAIAAJ&dq=dorcas+matthews+robert+mckim&pg=PA66-IA1|title=Play Production in America|first=Arthur Edwin|last=Krows|date=February 9, 1916|publisher=H. Holt|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GH4XAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22dorcas+matthews%22&pg=RA1-PA98|title=Photoplay|date=February 9, 1920|publisher=Macfadden Publications|via=Google Books}}

Biography

Dorcas Neville Matthews was born in Lancashire, England,"Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922" (12 January 2020), [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW84-DGD Dorcas Neville Matthews in entry for Robert Morton McKim, 1912]. {{closed access}} in 1890.{{cite web|work=Notre Cinéma|url=https://en.notrecinema.com/communaute/stars/stars.php3?staridx=267021|title=Matthews, Dorcas: Biography|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200412012550/https://en.notrecinema.com/communaute/stars/stars.php3?staridx=267021|archive-date=12 April 2020|access-date=12 April 2020}} She came to North America as part of the Jeanne Russell Theatrical Company, along with actor William Henry Pratt who became known as Boris Karloff.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajXwxJuYd5gC&dq=%22dorcas+matthews%22+film&pg=PA251|title=American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929|first1=John T.|last1=Soister|first2=Henry|last2=Nicolella|first3=Steve|last3=Joyce|date=January 10, 2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786487905|via=Google Books}} 1911 census records show that Matthews resided in a lodging house in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada."Recensement du Canada de 1911" (16 March 2018). [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27XY-729 Dorcas Matthews in entry for Antonio Toffoletto, 1911]; citing Census, Vancouver Sub-Districts 19-50, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,662. {{closed access}} {{url|https://archive.today/zCXeQ/de76689a31b6b6858e31c72e814a6a6f53cdf973.jpg|Archived copy}} of census sheet.

She married fellow actor Robert McKim in Hawaii on 25 April 1920, and had two children with him. According to Fandango, she retired to take care of them. She appeared in a small number of films in uncredited roles in later decades. New York Motion Picture Corporation sued Thomas H. Ince and among the allegations was poaching actors including Matthews.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTBiEicCUp8C&dq=%22dorcas+matthews%22&pg=RA3-PA39|title=Affidavit of Harry E. Aitken, Sworn March 18, 1918|year=1918|page=39|publisher=Supreme Court of the United States|via=Google Books}}

She was widowed when McKim died in 1927 and apparently never remarried.

Selected filmography

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References

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