Jeakins, Dorothy 1914-1995

Jeakins was born in San Diego, CA, Jan. 11, 1914; attended Otis Art Institute, 1931-34; joined WPA Federal Arts Project (1935-36); first film costume design for Dr. Rhythm (1938); the first Oscar for Color Costume Design awarded to Jeakins and Karinska for Joan of Arc (1948); won Academy awards for Samson and Delilah (1950), and Night of the iguana (1964); numerous credits divided between theater and motion pictures; film credits such as Friendly persuasion (1956), South Pacific (1958), The music man (1962), and The sound of music (1964); stage credits include productions for Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (1953-63), UC Los Angeles Theater Group (1960-65), Mark Taper Forum (1967-75) and NY productions such as Affairs of state, The world of Suzy Wong, and A taste of honey; served as curator of costumes and textiles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1967); died Nov. 21, 1995.

Stage, screen and television costume designer, Dorothy Jeakins (1914-1995) was born in San Diego, California. She won a scholarship to the Otis Art Institute, worked for the WPA and Walt Disney Studios. She designed costumes for dozens of films, winning three Academy Awards for Joan of Arc, 1948, starring Ingrid Bergman and directed by Victor Fleming; Samson and Delilah, 1949, starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr; and The night of the iguana, 1964, starring Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr. She died at the age of 81 at a nursing home in Santa Barbara, California.

Printmaker, illustrator; California.