{{Short description|American actress (born 1930)}} {{Infobox person | name = Dorothi Fox | image = | caption = | other_names = Dorothy Fox, Dorothe Fox | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1930|01|08}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1970–present | known_for = Bananas (1971)<br>Three Days of the Condor (1975)<br>Onion News Network (2011) }} '''Dorothi Fox''' (born January 8, 1930) is an American actress who has starred in television, film and on stage. Born in New York City, she started her career in African-American theatre before moving to the big screen in the 1970s appearing in blaxploitation films such as ''Come Back, Charleston Blue'' (1972) and ''The Wiz'' (1978) as well as the comedy ''Bananas'' (1971) and the political thriller ''Three Days of the Condor'' (1975). Her career continued into the 21st century with roles in television productions including the ''Onion News Network''.
== Early life == Fox was born on January 8, 1930,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dorothi Fox |url=http://www.lesgensducinema.com/affiche_acteur.php?mots=Dorothi+Fox&nom_acteur=FOX%20Dorothi&ident=188644&debut=0&record=0&from=ok |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=www.lesgensducinema.com}}</ref> she hails from the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This Stretch of Montpelier |url=https://parityproductions.org/this-stretch-of-montpelier |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Parity Productions |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Dorothi Fox began her career with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) in 1966 as head usher.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Dorothi Fox |url=https://archive.newfederaltheatre.com/nft-artist/dorothi-fox/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=archive.newfederaltheatre.com}}</ref> She made her debut on Broadway in “The Last of Mrs. Lincoln” by James Prideaux.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dorothi Fox – Broadway Cast & Staff {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dorothi-fox-84540 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> She acted extensively with the New Federal Theatre of Woodie King Jr. and with numerous other theatrical troupes.<ref name=":0" />
Fox moved to the big screen in the 1970s starring in films of the blaxploitation genre. In the 1971 comedy film ''Bananas'' she portrayed Federal Bureau of Investigation director J. Edgar Hoover disguised as a black woman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bananas (1971) {{!}} Sylvester Stallone |url=https://sylvesterstallone.com/portfolio/bananas/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=sylvesterstallone.com}}</ref>
In the 2000s she achieved fame portraying the quick-witted political commentator Nancy Fichandler in the ''Onion News Network''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-06-16 |title=NEGRO ENSEMBLE TO PRESENT WORLD PREMIERE OF "IMMINENTLY YOURS" PLAY BY KARIMAH |url=https://blackstarnews.com/negro-ensemble-to-present-world-premiere-of-imminently-yours/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Black Star News |language=en-US}}</ref> Other television roles include ''Random Acts of Flyness'' and ''Orange is the New Black''.<ref name=":1" />
In 2019, she returned to the stage with the Negro Ensemble Company in "Imminently Yours" by Karimah.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cristi |first=A. A. |title=Negro Ensemble Presents IMMINENTLY YOURS By Karimah |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Negro-Ensemble-Presents-IMMINENTLY-YOURS-by-Karimah-2019051646 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> The tragicomedy set in the American South follows the intergenerational experiences of an African-American family.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=McCracken |first=Derek |title=Review: IMMINENTLY YOURS at The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/BWW-Review-IMMENENTLY-YOURS-at-The-Negro-Ensemble-Company-Inc-20190621 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> She played the role of Lillie Mae.<ref name=":2" />
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !<!--class="unsortable" |-->Notes |- |1970 |''Caught in the Middle'' | |TV movie |- |1971 |''Bananas'' |J. Edgar Hoover |Film |- |1971 |''The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'' |Nurse |Film |- |1972 |''Come Back, Charleston Blue'' |Streetwalker |Film |- |1974 |''After the Fall'' |Carrie |Film |- |1975 |''The Happy Hooker'' |Rosita the Maid |Film |- |1975 |''Three Days of the Condor'' |Nurse |Film |- |1976 |''Dragonfly'' |Woman on porch |Film |- |1978 |''The Wiz'' |Aunt Em's Party |Film |- |1979 |''The Hitter'' |Mabel |Film |- |1989 |''That's Adequate'' |Beulah |Film |- |1993 |''Strapped'' |Grandmother |TV movie |- |2004 |''Mind the Gap'' |Grandma |Film |- |2007–2010 |''Onion News Network'' |Nancy Fichandler |Television series |- |2010 |''Gravity'' |Homeless lady |Television series |- |2012 |''The Normals'' |Old woman |Film |- |2014 |''The Fuzz'' |Chief McNair |Television series |- |2014 |''Before We Go'' |Woman |Film |- |2015 |''Run All Night'' |Nervous Old Woman |Film |- |2016 |''Orange Is the New Black'' |Cheeks |Television series (one Season 4 episode) |- |2016 |''Mr. Robot'' |Nell Romero |Television series (Eps2.1 k3rnel-pan1c.ksd) |- |2017 |''Girls'' |Senior citizen |Television series (one episode) |- |2017 |''Good Time'' |Elderly Woman in Hospital |Film |- |2017 |''Rough Night'' |Female clerk |Film |- |2018 |''High Maintenance'' | |Television series (one episode) |- |2018 |''Lez Bomb'' |Ronnie |Film |- |2018 |''Random Acts of Flyness'' |Nana |Television series (one episode) |- |2019 |''Shaft'' |Old lady neighbour |Television series |- |2019 |''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' |Patient |Television series (one episode) |- |2020 |''Wheels'' |Grandmother |Television series |- |2020 |''Inspector Ike'' |Esther |Television series |- |2021 |''Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens'' |Laurie |Television series (one episode) |- |2021–2022 |''Power Book III: Raising Kanan'' |Deen's grandmother |Television series (three episodes) |}
== References == <references responsive="1"></references>
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0288963}} * [https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/dorothi-fox/credits/3030472729/ Dorothi Fox] at TV Guide * [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dorothi_fox Dorothi Fox] at Rotten Tomatoes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Dorothi}} Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Manhattan Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:1930 births