Billie Dove Biography

Fast Facts

• As a teen, she helped support her family by working as a model
• Excitedly showed her friends her film debut in "Joan of Plattsburg," not realizing that the cameraman had only captured her legs
• Quote: "Whenever one western was finished, they'd say, 'Where is Billie Dove?' and the next day I'd be in another one․ It didn't make any difference to me․ I was in motion pictures and I loved it․"
• Quote: "All the girls wanted to be in the movies․ I didn't want to be․ I knew I was going to be․ I'm not psychic, but there have been instances in my life when I have been absolutely sure of something and this was one of them․"
• Was one of the most popular silent actresses of the 1920s and had many male fans
• Retired to be with her family during the height of her fame, just after shooting "Blondie of the Follies" and didn't return to the screen accept for a brief cameo in "Diamond Head․"
• Once received 37,320 fan letters in one week, breaking the record previously held by Clara Bow
• An avid reader, she met Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker inscribed a book for her
• In her free time, she was a pilot, a poet and a painter
• Learned to speak German before she learned to speak English