Dolores Costello was once known as the Goddess of the Silent Screen but is probably best remembered today as 'Drew Barrymore , successfully convinced Dolores to divorce Barrymore in 1935, mainly because of his excessive drinking. After the divorce Dolores returned to acting, appearing in several big-budget pictures, and her career seemed to be back on track. Her physical appearance, however, was greatly damaged due to the harsh studio make-up used in the early years. The skin on her cheeks was in the process of deteriorating, forcing her into early retirement. She lived in semi-seclusion on her Southern California avocado farm, Fallbrook Ranch, where much of the memorabilia and papers from both the Barrymore and Costello family were destroyed in a flood.
Spoke with a severe lisp until about 1930. When talkies replaced silent films, she worked with a speech pathologist for almost two years to get rid of her lisp.
WAMPAS Baby Star award winner for 1926
Grandmother of actors Drew Barrymore and John Blyth Barrymore.
Mother of actor John Drew Barrymore and DeeDee Barrymore.
Grandmother of Blyth Dolores Barrymore and Jessica Barrymore (Johns daughters), and Tony Barrymore (DeeDees child).
Daughter of actor Maurice Costello and Mae Costello. Sister of actress Helene Costello and aunt of Deidre Le Blanc.
Lou Costello of Abbott and Costello changed his name from Lou Cristillo because of his admiration for Dolores Costello.
She had Irish and German ancestry.
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