Donna Corcoran (born September 29, 1942)[1] is an American former child actress who appeared in nine Hollywood films from 1951 through 1955. She was in two aquatic musicals that featured Esther Williams (portraying swimmer Annette Kellerman as a child in one), and as a vulnerable girl being victimized by an emotionally disturbed babysitter (played by Marilyn Monroe) in Don't Bother to Knock.

Donna Corcoran
Corcoran in Scandal at Scourie (1953)
Born (1942-09-29) September 29, 1942 (age 82)
Years active1951–1963
Spouse(s)Luis Felipe Guerrero Newman (m. 1961; div.)
Jerry Keene (m. 1981; died 2017)
Children2
RelativesNoreen Corcoran (sister)
Kevin Corcoran (brother)
Kelly Corcoran (brother)

After making her last film, she made a token comeback as a young adult in an episode of the long-running sitcom My Three Sons (starring Fred MacMurray) in the early 1960s.

Corcoran was born in Quincy, Massachusetts to William Henry Corcoran, Sr. and Kathleen H. McKenney.[1] Several of her siblings were child stars, including younger sister Noreen Corcoran,[2] Kevin Anthony Corcoran, and Kelly Corcoran.

Personal life

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Corcoran married Luis Felipe Guerrero Newman, a rancher, in 1961; they had two daughters and later divorced. She married mining engineer Jerry Keene in 1981, and they remained married until his death in 2017.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 Angels in the Outfield[3] Bridget White with Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh
1952 Love Is Better Than Ever Janice Lee Yogurt uncredited
1952 Young Man with Ideas Caroline Webster
1952 Don't Bother to Knock Bunny Jones with Marilyn Monroe
1952 Million Dollar Mermaid Annette - 10 years old with Esther Williams
1953 Scandal at Scourie[3] Patsy with Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson
1953 Dangerous When Wet[4] Junior Higgins again with Esther Williams
1954 Gypsy Colt[5] Meg MacWade with Ward Bond
1955 Moonfleet Grace with Stewart Granger

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stebick, Thomas A. (December 2019). "The Corcoran Kids". Classic Images (534): 7–15, 58–67.
  2. ^ Barnes, Mike (January 16, 2016). "Noreen Corcoran, the Adopted Niece on TV's 'Bachelor Father,' Dies at 72". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b "All-Star Cast Featured in Center Theater Film". Kingsport Times-News. Tennessee, Kingsport. July 19, 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 1 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Williams, Lamas Are Musical Stars". The Paris News. Texas, Paris. July 26, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "'Gypsy Colt' Appeals To Children, Adults". Casper Star-Tribune. Wyoming, Casper. April 18, 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 1 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

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  • Best, Marc. Those Endearing Young Charms: Child Performers of the Screen (South Brunswick and New York: Barnes & Co., 1971), pp. 45–49.
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