Mamie Van Doren
![Mamie Van Doren](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/MamieVanDoren.jpg)
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Notes
She has an official Web site at www.mamievandoren.com
"I never screwed around during a movie. It was always afterward. At least I'd try to wait until afterwards."---Mamie Van Doren to Los Angeles Magazine, November 2004.
Biography
Full-figured, hard-edged leading lady of the late 1950s and early 60s who, next to Jayne Mansfield, was one of the best known of the Marilyn Monroe imitators to emerge at that time. Van Doren, however, was not cast primarily in comedies like the more successful Mansfield; instead, she primarily appeared in schlocky "B" melodramas like "Guns, Girls, and Gangsters" (1958), "The Beat Generation" (1959), and "The Navy vs. the Night Monsters" (1966) and exploitation films like "High School Confidential" (1958), "Sex Kittens Go the College" (1960). Van Doren's minor cult status was acknowledged in 1994's "Pulp Fiction," in which a character named "Mamie Van Doren" was played by Lorelei Leslie.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Title Design (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (Short)
Life Events
1950
Played a small role in the Howard Hughes-Joseph von Sternberg debacle, "Jet Pilot", starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh; film was not released until 1957
1951
Initial film released, "His Kind of Woman"; billed as Joan Olander
1955
Played first female lead in a film, "Running Wild"
1956
First worked with producer (and sometime director) Albert Zugsmith, "Star in the Dust"
1960
Played Maybelle Perkins on the CBS comedy special (and series pilot), "Meet the Girls: The Shape, The Face and the Brain"
1967
Among last leading roles in features was her part in "You've Got to Be Smart"
1986
Returned to features after nearly 20 years to play a supporting role in the teen comedy, "Free Ride"
1987
Played the role of Minnie on the HBO five-part comedy-adventure series, "Glory Years"
2002
Made cameo appearance (including doffing her top) in "Slackers"
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i159/untamedyouth_cottonpicker3_vd_223x104_030520120336.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i159/untamedyouth_healthyoutdoorwork_vd_223x104_030520120336.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i495/bornreckless_hebelievesinthesiesta_fc_470x264_050920190521.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i495/bornreckless_hometypeofgirl_fc_470x264_050920190520.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i213/gunsgirlsangangsters_clearthedecks_vd_223x104_061720130300.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i213/gunsgirlandgangsters_singingbomb22_vd_223x104_061720130259.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i212/sexkittensgotocollege_wheniblastoff_vd_223x104_061220131022.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i212/beatgeneration_iliketomakethescene_vd_223x104_061020130545.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i209/viceraid60_aslongasyouwant_vd_223x104_052420130250.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i159/untamedyouth_likearollingstone_vd_223x104_030520120337.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i243/collegeconfidential_downatthecollegehall_vd_223x104_10232013034833.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i243/collegeconfidential_sexontrial_vd_223x104_10232013034832.jpg?w=400)
Trailer
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i244/highschoolconfidential_tr_tcmtr_flash_dl_tmb0007_tr_223x104_10232013062628.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i244/teacherspet1958_tr_223x104_10232013062510.jpg?w=400)
Family
Companions
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Bibliography
Notes
She has an official Web site at www.mamievandoren.com
"I never screwed around during a movie. It was always afterward. At least I'd try to wait until afterwards."---Mamie Van Doren to Los Angeles Magazine, November 2004.
"I think the term bombshell comes from the bullet bra that I created when I was at Universal. My breasts are a mile wide, I am a 34 with a triple F cup. What I wanted was a bra to wear under a turtleneck sweater that would point the nipples out because I thought that it would be hot looking. Universal made only one and lined it with satin. That was the bullet bra.."---Mamie Van Doren to Los Angeles Magazine, November 2004.