Editing Dolores Fuller

{{short description|American actress and songwriter (1923–2011)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2009}}

{{Infobox person
| name             = Dolores Fuller
| image            = Dolores Fuller in Jail Bait (1954).png
| caption          = Fuller in ''[[Jail Bait (1954 film)|Jail Bait]]'' (1954)
| birth_name       = Dolores Agnes Eble
| birth_date       = March 10, 1923
| birth_place      = [[South Bend, IN]]<ref name="washingtonpost.com">https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dolores_fuller_actress_and_muse_of_inept_filmmaker_ed_wood_dies_at_88/2011/05/12/AFGLXO1G_story.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2011|5|9|1923|3|10}}
| death_place      = [[Las Vegas]], NV<ref name="washingtonpost.com">https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dolores_fuller_actress_and_muse_of_inept_filmmaker_ed_wood_dies_at_88/2011/05/12/AFGLXO1G_story.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| resting_place    = Palm Memorial Park, Las Vegas, NV
| other_names      = Sherry Caine
| occupation       = {{hlist|Actress|songwriter}}
| years_active     = 1934, 1952–2000
| spouse           = {{marriage|Donald Kenneth Fuller|1941|1955|end=divorced}}; 2 children<br />{{marriage|Philip Chamberlin|1988}}
}}

'''Dolores Agnes Fuller''' ({{née}} '''Eble''', later '''Chamberlin'''; March 10, 1923 – May 9, 2011<ref>{{cite news|last=McLellan|first=Dennis|title=Dolores Fuller dies at 88; actress dated director Ed Wood|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-dolores-fuller-20110511,0,5525788.story?track=rss|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 11, 2011|date=May 11, 2011}}</ref>) was an American actress and songwriter known as the one-time girlfriend of the low-budget film director [[Ed Wood]].  She played the protagonist's girlfriend in ''[[Glen or Glenda]]'', co-starred in Wood's ''[[Jail Bait (1954 film)|Jail Bait]]'', and had a minor role in his ''[[Bride of the Monster]]''. After she broke up with Wood in 1955, she relocated to New York and had a very successful career there as a songwriter. [[Elvis Presley]] recorded a number of her songs written for his films.

== Film career ==
Her first screen appearance was at the age of 10, when she appeared briefly in [[Frank Capra]]'s ''[[It Happened One Night]]''. According to Fuller,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/147880 |title=Bride of the Monster |last=Miller |first=John M. |website=Turner Classic Movies |access-date=April 3, 2017 }}</ref> the female lead in ''[[Bride of the Monster]]'' was written for her but Wood gave it to [[Loretta King Hadler|Loretta King]] instead.

In August 1954, Fuller was cast in Wood's ''The Vampire's Tomb'', intended to star [[Bela Lugosi]]. [[Frank Yaconelli]] was named as her co-star and 'comic killer'. The film was never made. She ended up making an appearance in ''Bride of the Monster'' (1956), also with Lugosi.<ref>"Vampire Types Gathering For Movie" (August 2, 1954) ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', p. B9</ref> Fuller hosted a benefit for Lugosi which preceded the showing of ''Bride of the Atom'' (early working title of ''Bride of the Monster'') on May 11, 1955. A cocktail party was held at the Gardens Restaurant at 4311 Magnolia Avenue in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], California. [[Maila Nurmi|Vampira]] attended and was escorted by [[Paul Marco]]. A single screening of the film was presented at the Hollywood Paramount.<ref>"Lugosi Benefit Slated Tonight" (May 11, 1955) ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', p. 27</ref>

According to Fuller, as quoted in Wood biography ''Nightmare of Ecstasy'' (1992), she first met Ed Wood when she attended a casting call with a friend for a movie he was supposed to direct called ''Behind Locked Doors'' (which he did not go on to direct); it has also been stated that they met in a restaurant.<ref name=telegraph-obit />

She became his girlfriend shortly thereafter and began acting in his films. Her movie career included a bit part in ''[[It Happened One Night]]'' (1934) and roles in ''Outlaw Women'' (1952), ''[[Glen or Glenda]]'' (1953), ''Body Beautiful'' (1953), ''[[The Blue Gardenia]]'' (1953), ''[[Count the Hours]]'' (1953), ''[[Mesa of Lost Women]]'' (1953), ''College Capers'' (1954), ''[[Jail Bait (1954 film)|Jail Bait]]'' (1954), ''[[The Raid (1954 film)|The Raid]]'' (1954), ''This Is My Love'' (1954), ''[[The Opposite Sex]]'' (1956), and many years later appearances in ''The Ironbound Vampire'' (1997) and ''Dimensions in Fear'' (1998).

== Television performer and songwriter ==
Fuller had already had earlier experience on television in ''[[Queen for a Day]]'' and ''[[The Dinah Shore Show]]''.

She also appeared on an episode of ''[[It's a Great Life (TV series)|It's a Great Life]]'' as "the blonde in the mink coat."

Fuller's ability as a songwriter manifested itself through the intervention of her friend, producer [[Hal B. Wallis|Hal Wallis]]; Fuller had wanted to get an acting role in the Elvis Presley movie ''[[Blue Hawaii]]'', which Wallis was producing, but instead he put her in touch with [[Hill & Range]], the publisher that provided Presley with songs. Fuller went into a collaborative partnership with composer [[Ben Weisman]] and co-wrote one song, "[[Rock-A-Hula Baby]]", for the film. Over time, this led to Presley recording a dozen of her songs, including "[[I Got Lucky (song)|I Got Lucky]]" and "[[Spinout (song)|Spinout]]", primarily for his film soundtracks, though he also recorded "Cindy, Cindy" for his 1971 album ''[[Love Letters From Elvis]]''. Fuller's music was also recorded by [[Nat 'King' Cole]], [[Peggy Lee]], and other leading talents of the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-dolores-fuller-20110511-story.html|title=Dolores Fuller dies at 88; actress dated director Ed Wood|date=May 11, 2011|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref> Toward the end of her life, Dolores helped edit and score a short western film [[Ed Wood]] had begun, but never completed, in the 1940s called ''[[Crossroads of Laredo]]''<ref>Craig, Rob (2009), "Selected Short Subjects", Ed Wood, Mad Genius: A Critical Study of the Films, McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0-7864-5423-5.</ref>

== Private life ==
Dolores married Donald Fuller in 1941, with whom she had two children. At the time she met [[Ed Wood]], she was in the process of divorcing her husband (they finally divorced in 1955). She and Wood shared an apartment together for several years. Wood biographer Rudolph Grey quotes Fuller as saying of the period before her success, <blockquote>He [Ed Wood] begged me to marry him. I loved him in a way, but I couldn't handle the transvestism. I'm a very normal person. It's hard for me to deviate! I wanted a man that was all man… After we broke up, he would stand outside my home in Burbank and cry. "Let me in, I love you!" What good would I have done if I had married him? We would have starved together… I bettered myself. I had to uplift myself.<ref>Rudolph Grey (1992) ''Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood Jr'',  Feral House, New York. p. 36-37. {{ISBN|978-0-92291-504-0}}</ref></blockquote>  She has also been quoted as saying that "His dressing up didn't bother me—we all have our little queer habits" and giving Wood's drinking as the reason for their breakup.<ref name=telegraph-obit>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8513025/Dolores-Fuller.html|title=Dolores Fuller|journal=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=May 13, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2011|location=London}}</ref>

Dolores remarried in 1988 at age 65, to Philip Chamberlin, and they remained married until her death in 2011. Fuller's autobiography, ''A Fuller Life: Hollywood, Ed Wood and Me'', co-authored by Stone Wallace and Philip Chamberlin, was published in 2008.<ref name=telegraph-obit />

== Portrayal in ''Ed Wood'' ==
Fuller was portrayed by [[Sarah Jessica Parker]] in [[Tim Burton]]'s 1994 Wood biographical film ''[[Ed Wood (film)|Ed Wood]]'', a portrayal of which she disapproved due to the fact that she was depicted smoking in the film, while Fuller said she herself was a lifelong non-smoker.<ref>[http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_doris_fuller.shtml Interview with Dolores Fuller], ''For Elvis Fans Only'', Elvis Australia: Official Elvis Presley Fan Club, July 15, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2008.</ref> She also complained that she was only portrayed as "sort of as an actress" and did not feel she was given credit for her other accomplishments and contributions towards Wood's career.<ref>''Dolores Fuller on Ed Wood Jr., Being Dissed By Sarah Jessica Parker Interview'', retrieved May 12, 2010, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-TAnzid1sQ</ref> However, she stated that she liked the film overall, praising [[Johnny Depp]]'s performance in the title role.

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1934
| ''[[It Happened One Night]]''
| Minor role
| Uncredited
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Outlaw Women]]''
| One of Uncle Barney's Girls
| Uncredited<br />Alternative title: ''Boot Hill Mamas''
|-
| rowspan=7|1953
| ''[[Glen or Glenda]]''
| Barbara
|
|-
| ''[[Girls in the Night]]''
| Beauty Contestant for Miss Third Avenue
| Alternative title: ''Life After Dark''
|-
| ''[[The Blue Gardenia]]''
| Woman at bar
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Count the Hours]]''
| Reporter
| Uncredited<br />Alternative title: ''Every Minute Counts''
|-
| ''[[Mesa of Lost Women]]''
| Blonde "Watcher in the Woods"
| Alternative title: ''Lost Women''
|-
| ''[[The Body Beautiful]]''
| June
| Credited as Sherry Caine
|-
| ''[[The Moonlighter]]''
| Miss Buckwalter
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan=4|1954
| ''[[Jail Bait (1954 film)|Jail Bait]]''
| Marilyn Gregor
| Alternative title: ''Hidden Face''
|-
| ''[[Playgirl (film)|Playgirl]]''
| Girl
|rowspan=3|Uncredited
|-
| ''[[The Raid (1954 film)|The Raid]]''
|
|-
| ''[[This Is My Love]]''
|
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Bride of the Monster]]''
| Margie
| [[cameo appearance|cameo]]<br />Alternative title: ''Bride of the Atom''
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Opposite Sex]]''
| Bit Role
| Uncredited
|-
| 1997
| ''The Ironbound Vampire''
| Theresa Powell
| Direct-to-video release
|-
| 1998
| ''Dimensions in Fear''
| TV Station Owner
| Alternative titles: ''City in Terror''<br />''Dimension in Fear''
|-
| 2000
| ''The Corpse Grinders 2''
| Patricia Grant
| Direct-to-video release
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=2|1955
| ''[[The Great Gildersleeve#Television|The Great Gildersleeve]]''
| Miss Carroll
|rowspan=3|1 episode
|-
| ''It's a Great Life''
| Girl
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|Adventures of Superman]]''
| Lorraine
|-
|}

== Discography ==
Songs recorded by Elvis Presley with lyrics by Dolores Fuller:
* "[[Rock-A-Hula Baby]]" (from the film ''[[Blue Hawaii]]'', 1961)
* "I Got Lucky" (from the film ''[[Kid Galahad]]'', 1962)
* "[[Steppin' Out of Line]]" (unused track from the ''Blue Hawaii'' sessions, first released on 1962 album ''[[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]'')
* "You Can't Say No in Acapulco" (from the film ''[[Fun in Acapulco]]'', 1963)
* "Beyond the Bend" (from the film ''[[It Happened at the World's Fair]]'', 1963)
* "Barefoot Ballad" (from the film ''[[Kissin' Cousins]]'', 1964)
* "Big Love, Big Heartache" (from the film ''[[Roustabout]]'', 1964)
* "[[Do the Clam]]" (from the film ''[[Girl Happy]]'', 1965)
* "[[Spinout (song)|Spinout]]" (from the film ''[[Spinout (film)|Spinout]]'', 1966)
* "[[I'll Take Love]]" (from the film ''[[Easy Come, Easy Go (1967 film)|Easy Come, Easy Go]]'', 1967)
* "Have a Happy" (from the film ''[[Change of Habit]]'', 1969)
* "Cindy, Cindy" (''[[Love Letters from Elvis]]'', 1971 studio album)

According to [[AllMusic]], other songs co-written by her include "I'll Touch a Star" by [[Terry Stafford]], "Lost Summer Love" by [[Shelley Fabares]] and "Someone to Tell It To" by [[Nat King Cole]].<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p334188|AllMusic Biography}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0298215}}
* {{find a Grave|69659157|Dolores Fuller}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuller, Dolores}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:American autobiographers]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:American women autobiographers]]