“It was like we had the biggest playhouse in the world. We were always playing when we weren’t working or going to school.” –Dorothy DeBorba
Dorothy Adelle DeBorba was born on March 28, 1925, in Los Angeles, California, to Raymond and Lillian DeBorba. Her mother had a background as a singer, dancer, and actress, while her father played the drums in Paul Whiteman’s orchestra. Raymond and Lillian’s relationship was tumultuous, with the couple marrying and divorcing three times in Dorothy’s life.
DeBorba became a beloved child star of Portuguese Azorean descent in Hal Roach’s Our Gang series. She was raised in Livermore, California, and was already a regular on-screen at age five. In particular, she impressed Roach with her ability to cry on cue, securing her role as Dorothy “Echo” DeBorba in Our Gang. She debuted in the series as Jackie Cooper’s sister in Pups is Pups (1930). By 1931, she would essentially replace series regular Mary Ann Jackson.
DeBorba sported trademark curls and large hair bows handmade by her mother. Each evening, DeBorba’s mother brushed and set DeBorba’s hair into curls—a process that took roughly two hours. Despite her composed on-screen persona, DeBorba was a tom-boy off-screen. She especially enjoyed getting messy in Pups is Pups, jumping in the mud, and having to be cleaned and redressed over the course of thirty-seven takes.
As three years went by, DeBorba grew and was phased out of the series. Her final Our Gang role was in Mush and Milk (1933). DeBorba made a brief appearance alongside Jean Harlow in Bombshell (1933), which would be her final screen credit as an actress.
DeBorba graduated from Van Nuys High School, later working at Republic Pictures as a secretary. She became a senior clerk at the University of California—Berkeley School of Journalism.
DeBorba married twice. Her first marriage was brief and sadly ended with her as a widow. Her next marriage was to Max Ferdinand Haberreiter, with whom she had two children: Richard and Janet. They settled in Northern California until the marriage ended in divorce.
DeBorba was readily available for interviews regarding her time in Our Gang. She became a member of the Sons of the Desert in 1980 and frequently attended their conventions until her health prevented her from further travel.
She passed away from emphysema on June 2, 2010, at age 85 in Walnut Creek, California. There was no service for her.
Today, some points of interest in connection with DeBorba still exist.
In the 1930s, she lived at 1368 N. St Andrews Pl., Los Angeles, California, with her mother. This home no longer stands.
By 1940, they lived at 2708 E. 14th Ave., in Oakland, California. At this point, her mother was working as a florist. The home stands today.
By 1941, DeBorba was attending Van Nuys High School, which also stands.
In 1950, DeBorba lived at 114 Coral Way, Apt. 3, in Redondo Beach, California. She was widowed and worked as a salesperson at a five-and-dime store. By 1952, she was married to Haberreiter and residing at 129 N. Pacific Coast Hwy. 1, Redondo Beach, California. Both of these homes have since been razed.
In the 1990s, she lived at 1810 Montecito Circle in Livermore, California, which remains.
Hometowns to Hollywood 