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| Doe Avedon: Who Was Richard Avedon’s First Wife and What Happened to Her? |
Before Richard Avedon became one of the most influential fashion photographers of the 20th century, there was Doe Avedon, the woman who became his first wife, photographic muse and, eventually, a familiar name in the entertainment industry in her own right. Their marriage did not last, but Doe's life extended far beyond her association with the celebrated photographer.
From an early career in modelling and a Broadway debut to Hollywood appearances, personal tragedy and a large family, she experienced quite a remarkable journey. Netflix's Avedon brings renewed attention to their relationship, raising an interesting question: who was Doe Avedon, and what happened to Richard Avedon's first wife after their marriage ended?
Born Dorcas Marie Nowell on 7 April 1925 in Old Westbury, Long Island, New York, Doe had a difficult childhood despite initially growing up in relatively comfortable circumstances. Her father worked as a butler for a prominent lawyer, and the family lived on his employer's estate. However, her early years were marked by loss. She was only three when her mother died, followed by her father's death when she was 12. With both parents gone, she was raised by her father's employer's family.
As a young woman, Doe had little choice but to become financially independent. She worked in several office jobs, eventually taking a position as a bank clerk. It was hardly the glamorous beginning one might expect from someone who would later find herself connected to the fashion and film industries. However, an ordinary working day changed the direction of her life when she caught the attention of Richard Avedon, then a 21-year-old aspiring photographer.
Richard was immediately attracted to her, particularly her distinctive eyes. He reportedly gave her the nickname Doe because he thought her eyes resembled those of a deer. The name stayed with her throughout her professional life, becoming considerably more recognisable than Dorcas Marie Nowell. Their relationship developed quickly, and the pair married by 1944.
Doe Avedon Became Richard Avedon's Model and Muse
Their marriage also marked the beginning of Doe's involvement in the fashion photography world. While Richard was building his reputation as a photographer for Harper's Bazaar, Doe became one of his regular subjects and appeared in numerous photographs taken by her husband.
Her striking appearance made her a natural fit for the camera, and she became closely associated with Richard's early photographic work. Reports suggest that he encouraged her to pursue modelling, although her ambitions were not necessarily limited to fashion. Doe was more interested in becoming an actress, and the modelling opportunities eventually provided a route towards the entertainment industry.
In 1948, she made her Broadway debut in The Young and Fair. It was an important step towards the career she had wanted for herself, allowing her to move beyond being recognised simply as Richard Avedon's wife or photographic inspiration.
However, their marriage was already experiencing difficulties. By 1949, the couple had separated, bringing their relatively short relationship to an end. There was no particularly neat transition between her personal and professional lives, either. While her marriage was falling apart, Doe continued pursuing acting opportunities.
She appeared in My Name Is Aquilon, sharing the production with established performers including Jean-Pierre Aumont and Arlene Francis. She also made her film debut in 1949's Jigsaw, using the professional name Betty Harper.
That same year, another unexpected chapter began when Doe met Dan Matthews while touring with the production Diamond Lil. The two quickly developed a relationship and married later in 1949. Doe appeared ready to embrace a different life, even stepping away from acting for a period. Unfortunately, their time together was cut tragically short.
Doe Avedon's Second Marriage Ended in Tragedy
In 1952, Doe and her second husband were involved in a car accident while travelling from New York to Los Angeles, California. Dan Matthews died in the accident, leaving Doe to face another devastating personal loss.
Following his death, she decided to return to acting rather than abandon the career she had worked towards. She gradually resumed appearing on screen, securing roles in The High and the Mighty and Deep in My Heart.
It was a difficult period, but Doe continued building her professional identity. She was no longer simply the former wife of a famous photographer or the widow of an actor's husband. She was developing a career that had its own achievements, even if it never received the same level of attention as some of her contemporaries.
Her television work became particularly active during the 1950s. Between 1955 and 1956, she appeared in the series Big Town, playing Diane Walker across 12 episodes. In 1956, she also featured in an episode of NBC Matinee Theater titled Three for the Money and appeared as Elsie Reynolds in The Boss.
Her television credits continued to grow. In 1957, she played Mike McCall in the unaired pilot of How to Marry a Millionaire and appeared as Ruth Harding in The Ford Television Theatre. A year later, she took on roles in Alcoa Theatre and Climax!, playing Ruth and Alice Peters respectively.
Although many of these appearances were relatively brief, they demonstrated that Doe had established a steady presence in American television. She was certainly keeping busy, even if Hollywood was not exactly handing her the keys to the entire studio system.
Doe Avedon Married Film Director Don Siegel and Adopted Four Children
In 1957, Doe found love again with Don Siegel, the successful film director and producer. Their relationship developed into marriage, opening another chapter in her personal life.
Interestingly, 1957 was also the year Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, arrived in cinemas. The musical comedy was inspired by the real-life relationship between Richard Avedon and Doe, making their former marriage part of a Hollywood story that continued long after they had gone their separate ways.
Doe and Don did not have biological children together, but they adopted four children: Anne Siegel-Wamsat, Kit Saldiveri, Nowell Siegel and Jack Siegel. They also became part of a blended family with Don's son from a previous relationship, Kristoffer Tabori.
Family life gradually became more important to Doe than maintaining a constant presence in the entertainment industry. Following her marriage to Don, she stepped away from acting and preferred a quieter existence away from public attention.
Their relationship eventually came to an end, and the couple had separated by 1975. Despite another marriage ending, Doe did not return to the entertainment industry in the same way she had during her earlier years.
There was no elaborate farewell tour or dramatic announcement about leaving Hollywood. She simply chose a different direction, prioritising her personal life and family over the demands of an acting career. Considering how much of her early adulthood had been shaped by unexpected changes, it is understandable that a quieter life might have appealed to her.
What Happened to Doe Avedon? She Died in 2011
Doe made relatively few screen appearances during the later years of her life. One of her notable returns came in 1984, when she appeared in Love Streams, directed by John Cassavetes. The role was a brief reminder of her earlier acting career, although she largely remained away from the spotlight afterwards.
She spent much of her later life with her children and maintained a private existence. Unlike many former Hollywood personalities, Doe did not appear particularly interested in turning her past relationships or professional experiences into a permanent public spectacle.
On 18 December 2011, Doe Avedon died at Encino Hospital Medical Center in Encino, California, after being admitted with pneumonia. She was 86 years old.
At the time of her death, she had a longtime companion, Michael Liscio. Her family included seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, reflecting the large family she had built through adoption and her relationships.
Although her professional career had taken her from modelling to Broadway and television, her later years were largely centred on the people closest to her. She left behind a life that was considerably more varied than her association with Richard Avedon might initially suggest.
Our Take: Doe Avedon Was More Than Richard Avedon's First Wife
There is something particularly interesting about Doe Avedon's story: she could easily have remained a footnote in the biography of one of photography's most celebrated figures. Yet her life was far too complicated, and arguably far too interesting, to be reduced to that description.
Her relationship with Richard Avedon certainly opened doors. Being photographed by an ambitious young artist who would eventually become an industry legend was hardly an ordinary introduction to professional life. However, it would be unfair to suggest that everything she achieved happened because of him. Doe had her own ambitions, pursued acting, appeared on Broadway and secured television and film roles during an era when establishing a lasting career was no easy task.
What makes her story even more compelling is how often she had to begin again. She lost both parents during childhood, experienced the end of her first marriage, and later lost her second husband in a tragic accident. She nevertheless returned to acting and eventually built a family with Don Siegel. That is a considerable amount of life experience for one person, and certainly more than enough material for a film of its own.
There is also an interesting contrast between her public image and private choices. She was connected to the fashion world, Broadway, Hollywood and some influential names in American cinema, yet she ultimately chose to step away from celebrity life. Not everyone wants to spend the rest of their existence being recognised at the supermarket, apparently.
Netflix's Avedon may encourage audiences to look more closely at Richard's personal history, but Doe deserves attention in her own right. Her story is not simply about being someone's first wife; it is about independence, ambition, resilience and the freedom to choose a different life when the spotlight no longer feels necessary.
What do you think about Doe Avedon's journey? Did you know that her relationship with Richard Avedon helped inspire Funny Face, or is this your first time hearing about her acting career? Share your thoughts and let us know whether her story deserves a film of its own.