Dorothy Adele DeBorba (March 28, 1925 – June 2, 2010) was an American child actress of Portuguese descent who was a regular in the Our Gang series of short subjects as the leading lady from 1930 to 1933.
Early life
Dorothy Adelle DeBorba was raised in Livermore, California. she came from a show business background. Her mother was a singer-dancer-actress, and her father was a drummer in Paul Whiteman's band.
Our Gang
Dorothy DeBorba began her career at age five. She impressed Hal Roach with her ability to cry on cue. Her debut was an auspicious one: in Pups Is Pups (1930), she plays Jackie Cooper's younger sister.
160px|thumb|right|Dorothy DeBorba, age 5, in the [[Our Gang short film School's Out]]
With her trademark curls and elaborate hair bows, Dorothy quickly became an audience favorite. Her mother made those bows and would spend two hours every night brushing and putting Dorothy's hair up in curlers. Her natural energy and mischievousness added to her appeal. Although she stated that "the boys [in the series] were given all the best lines," in Love Business Dorothy has some of the funniest lines in the entire series, delivered while Chubby is practicing his seductive patter on an oversized cutout poster of Greta Garbo in front of a movie house:
::Chubby: Darling, can you hear the pleas in my whispers?
::Dorothy: Darling, can you hear the fleas in my whiskers?
::Chubby: If love is like a rose, I will pick my rose in the bud.
::Dorothy: If love is like a rose, I will stick my nose in the mud.
::Chubby: My heart is filled with joy. I want to trip and dance.
::Dorothy: My heart is filled with joy. I want to rip my pants.
This "smart-alecky compulsion" earned her the nickname "Echo" at the Hal Roach Studios.