Dorothy Ponedel(1898-1979)
- Make-Up Department
- Actress
Dorothy (Dottie) Ponedel came to Los Angeles from Chicago in 1920 and
quickly found herself cast as an extra in silent movies. She progressed
to dancing roles and sidekick roles throught the 1920's. By a turn of
fate, she started her makeup career in 1930 with "Follow Thru" starring
Nancy Carroll and Jack Haley. She quickly rose to the top, becoming the
very first woman admitted into the makeup union at the specific behest
of stars such as Marlene Dietrich and Mae West, both of whom were good
friends and loyal clients of Dot's. Dot was kept very busy working with
such stars as the aforementioned Dietrich and West as well as Carole
Lombard, Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck, Helen Hayes, Paulette Goddard,
Lillian Roth, Clara Blow, Joan Blondell and many others. In 1940 she
left Paramount to go to MGM at the request of Jack Dawn. While there,
she was introduced to a young Judy Garland and asked to see "what you
can do with her". The rest, as they say, is history. Dot and Judy
quickly became close friends and Dot worked exclusively with Judy
throughout her MGM career and beyond. Dot contracted Multiple Sclerosis
after returning from Judy's triumphant concert at the London Palladium
in 1951 and had to retire from makeup. Her friends, however, stayed
loyal. Dot died in 1981.
