Oscar Winner, ‘Peyton Place’ Actress Dorothy Malone Passes Away At 93

Peyton Place actress Dorothy Malone passed away on Friday, Jan. 19, in an assisted living facility in her hometown of Dallas. She was 93.

The Oscar-winning actress died from natural causes just days before her 94^th birthday. Her daughter, Mimi Vanderstraaten, was the one who confirmed the news about her mom's passing.

The actress is best known for her roles as a wife or sweetheart in movies and television shows. After 11 years in the industry, she decided that she would no longer play it safe. Malone fired her agent and hired a new publicist. She also changed her image.

Dorothy Malone's Big Win

At the age of 31, she starred in Written On The Wind as Marylee Hadley, a spoiled, sex-crazed young Texas oil heiress. Malone won an Academy Award for her supporting role in the film that was directed by Douglas Sirk. The actress and her Written On The Wind co-stars, Rock Hudson and Robert Stack, reunited two years later in the drama Tarnished Angels.

After winning an award, Malone starred in the Man Of A Thousand Faces and Too Much Too Soon. She was also cast in the 1963 project, Beach Party, alongside Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Why Did She Change Her Image?

Several years ago, Malone explained why she decided to change her image after only a decade in the industry.

"I came up with a conviction that most of the winners in this business became stars overnight by playing shady games with sex appeal. And I've been unfaithful or drunk or oversexed almost ever since on the screen, of course," said Malone.

Between 1964 and 1969, ABC cast Malone in the hit show Peyton Place, which was based on Grace Metalious's novel. The actress played the role of Constance Mackenzie in the series. Constance worked as a bookshop operator who harbored a dark secret about the birth of her daughter, Allison (Mia Farrow).

Farrow paid tribute to Malone via her social media account. The 72-year-old actress was 19 when she played the role of Malone's daughter in the series.

Dorothy Malone's Personal Life

Malone has been married three times. Her second marriage to Robert Tomarkin was annulled after only six weeks. In 1971, he married Huston Bell, but their relationship did not also last very long either. The actress herself admitted during a previous interview that did does not have any luck in men.