Hollywood Costume Designer. Winner of an Emmy and three times nominated for an Oscar, she created the "look" for a generation of films and television shows. Born Dorothy Schweppe, she was raised in Hollywood from infancy, attended the Chouinard Institute, then in the late 1950s and early 1960s worked as a fashion illustrator. A chance meeting with Dorothy Jeakins provided her entre into the movie business as the famed designer was in need of a sketch artist; Theadora made her bow with the 1967 classic "Bonnie and Clyde", attracting praise for Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty's outfits while garnering Italy's Golden Tiberius Award and her first Oscar nomination. In 1968 she dressed Miss Dunaway as well as her co-star Steve McQueen for "The Thomas Crown Affair"; she received her second Oscar nomination in 1974 for "The Godfather: Part II" and that same year won the American Millinery Institute's Golden Crown Award for the multiple hats she created for "Mame". Among her many projects over the years she dressed Raquel Welch in 1970's "Myra Breckinridge", Steve Martin for "The Jerk" (1979), and Dolly Parton for 1982's comedic "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". Theadora captured an Emmy for the 1983 CBS fantasy "Wizards and Warriors" and received her final Oscar nomination for 1986's "Peggy Sue Got Married". She earned her last screen credit with 1999's "The Championship Season", was presented a 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Costume Designer Guild, and lived out her days in Southern California where she died of lung cancer.
Hollywood Costume Designer. Winner of an Emmy and three times nominated for an Oscar, she created the "look" for a generation of films and television shows. Born Dorothy Schweppe, she was raised in Hollywood from infancy, attended the Chouinard Institute, then in the late 1950s and early 1960s worked as a fashion illustrator. A chance meeting with Dorothy Jeakins provided her entre into the movie business as the famed designer was in need of a sketch artist; Theadora made her bow with the 1967 classic "Bonnie and Clyde", attracting praise for Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty's outfits while garnering Italy's Golden Tiberius Award and her first Oscar nomination. In 1968 she dressed Miss Dunaway as well as her co-star Steve McQueen for "The Thomas Crown Affair"; she received her second Oscar nomination in 1974 for "The Godfather: Part II" and that same year won the American Millinery Institute's Golden Crown Award for the multiple hats she created for "Mame". Among her many projects over the years she dressed Raquel Welch in 1970's "Myra Breckinridge", Steve Martin for "The Jerk" (1979), and Dolly Parton for 1982's comedic "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". Theadora captured an Emmy for the 1983 CBS fantasy "Wizards and Warriors" and received her final Oscar nomination for 1986's "Peggy Sue Got Married". She earned her last screen credit with 1999's "The Championship Season", was presented a 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Costume Designer Guild, and lived out her days in Southern California where she died of lung cancer.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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