Doris Rankin

Who was Doris Rankin?

Doris Rankin was an American film actress and the younger daughter of actor McKee Rankin and an unnamed actress though Rankin was married to actress Kitty Blanchard. She was married to actor Lionel Barrymore from 1904–1923. Her older sister, Gladys Rankin, was married to Lionel's uncle Sidney Drew. Another sister Phyllis Rankin was married to Harry Davenport of the Davenport theatrical family.

Rankin began her career with several roles with her father's company, her best remembered part being as an Italian white slave in The White Slaver". Prior to this she performed in a number of sketches with her father and Barrymore. She and Lionel married in 1904, he was 26 and she 16. When Barrymore retired from theatrical work in 1906, Rankin did so as well. The couple lived for an extended period in Paris, France returning to the United States about 1910. Barrymore studied music and painting while he was there. Doris bore Lionel two daughters, Ethel and Mary. Both girls died in infancy though Mary lived a number of months. Lionel was deeply affected by the loss of his two daughters and never truly got over it.