Some Famous Oklahomans stand out so much that they are in a league of their own, literally. It seems not only is Lynn Cartwright the daughter of another famous Oklahoman Wilburn Cartwright, she also acted in the film “A League of Their Own” where she played the older versionofGeenaDavis.Many remember the film as it was a fictionalized account of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Doralyn E. Cartwright was born February 27, 1927 in McAlester Okla. Cartwright took the time to hone her skills early on in her life. She studied drama at Stephens College, a private women's college in Columbia, Mo. Stephens College is the second oldest all female college in the U.S. (established August24,1833)andremains all-women's to this day. From Stephens, Cartwright went on to study at American Academy in New York.
Cartwright's acting career lasted three and a half decades. Early on in her career, a smaller role in the black and white film “Black Patch”, a western film set in a New Mexico town about two brothers from the civil war who play the villain and the justice, seemed to be all she needed for inspiration in pursuing more rolls.
Cartwright played roles in many iconic films. Some of her rolls included “The Cry Baby Killer”, “Lovelines”, “TheWaspWoman”,“Classof '74”, “The Erotic Adventures ofRobinHood”,“SonofHitle”, and “The Lucifer Complex.”
In February 1950, Cartwright met ex-con Leo Gordon and the two began a career on the Borscht Belt stages which were summer resorts catering to American Jewish vacationers, especially residents of New York Cityaccording.Gordonbegan to write and direct many films and, of course, Cartwright played characters in the films.
Cartwright also played on the small screen. She starred in shows like “Dynasty”, “Knots Landing”, “‘Adam 12” and “Little House on the Prairie”.
Cartwright earned her place as a common face on TV and the big screen. She played alongside of others with the same caliber of recognition like Jack Nicholson, Peter Sellers, Robert Vaugn, Dennis Quaid, and in quite arguably her most recognizable rolein“ALeagueofTheir Own” with Tom Hanks.
Cartwrightdominatedthe screen for thirty five years, However, when her husband of fifty years passed away, it seemed to be the end of her story as she also quickly declined and passed away just four years later on January 2, 2004. Cartwright was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.