Dorothy Tree (born Dorothy Estelle Triebitz, May 21, 1906 – February 13, 1992)[1] was an American actress, voice teacher and writer. She appeared in a wide range of character roles in at least 49 films between 1927 and 1951.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest of three daughters of Herman Triebitz (1877–1943) and Bertha Hert (1885–1967). Her sisters were Sylvia Triebitz (1911–1949) and Mildred "Mimi" Triebitz (1918–?) Her parents were born in Austria, and immigrated to the United States.[2][3] Their native language was Yiddish. He was the proprietor of a shoe store in Brooklyn, and later sold shoes wholesale.[4]
Tree attended Cornell University, leaving after two years to pursue a career.[5] Taking the stage name Dorothy Tree, she began her acting career on the stage in 1926.[6] Tree's Broadway credits include Bright Honor (1936), Clear All Wires (1932), The Merchant of Venice (1930), Holiday (1928), The Marquise (1927), and The Triumphant Bachelor (1927).[7]
She portrayed Martha Rockne in the Warners biopicKnute Rockne, All American, the mother of the famous football coach played by Pat O'Brien. In MGM's film noircrime/drama The Asphalt Jungle Tree played May Emmerich, a bedridden woman who is the very ingenuous and frustrated wife of Alonzo Emmerich (played by Louis Calhern), a crooked lawyer and double-crosser who, although he truly loves May, is having an adulterous affair with the character played by Marilyn Monroe.
On November 4, 1956, an article written by Uris about English singing with good diction and its aiding a singer to clarify words for the listener was published in the New York Times.[12] She published four books, Everybody's Book of Better Speaking (1960); To Sing in English, a Guide to Improved Diction (1971); A Woman's Voice: A Handbook to Successful Private and Public Speaking (1975); and Say it Again: Dorothy Uris' Personal Collection of Quotes, Comment & Anecdotes (1979).[citation needed]
She married on June 8, 1928, in Manhattan, New York, screenwriter and story editor Michael Uris (March 25, 1902 – July 17, 1967).[13] They had one son, Joseph M. Uris (born October 25, 1943).[14]
^1910 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Borough of Brooklyn, New York City, Ward 26, 173 Pitkin Ave., April 19, Enumeration Dist. 736, Sheet 9 B, Page 16 B, Line 68.
^1920 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Borough of Brooklyn, 1734 Pitkin Ave., January 2, Enumeration Dist. 1499, Sheet 1 A, Page 189 A, Line 8.
^1930 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Brooklyn Borough, Assembly Dist. 18, Block A, 1316 President St., April 3, Enumeration Dist. 743, Sheet 1 A, Page 163 A, Line 42.
^"Cherry Pie' Contains Some Amusing Skits – Agnes Lumbard Carries Off Chief Honors in Simi-Professional Revue, With Attractive Tunes." New York Times. April 15, 1926. p. 24.
^"Dorothy Tree". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
^"Dorothy Tree Runs Wide Range of Characters." Los Angeles Times, January 14, 1940. p. C 4.
^"Shocked Into Reds, Film Writer Says – He Testifies He Joined in Grief at Roosevelt Death, Quit When Party Line Changed." New York Times. August 20, 1952. p. 10.
^Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
^"Lisper Learns How at Mom's Knee." Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1961 New York (UPI). p. N 1.
^Uris, Dorothy. "English Can Be Sung – Good Diction in Speech Would Aid Singer to Clarify Words for Listener." New York Times. November 4, 1956. p. 149.
^"Michael Uris Dies at 65; Ex-Screenwriter and Editor", New York Times. July 18, 1967, p. 38.
^California Birth Index, Name: Joseph Michael Uris, Birth Date: October 25, 1943, Sex: Male, Mother's Maiden Name: Triebitz [sic], Birth County: Los Angeles.
