Dorothy Tristan, who had roles in ‘Klute,’ ‘Scarecrow,’ dead at 88

Actress Dorothy Tristan, known for her roles in “Klute” and “Scarecrow,” died Sunday after a decade-long battle against Alzheimer’s disease. She was 88.

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Tristan, the wife of film director John D. Hancock, died in La Porte, Indiana, Variety reported. A representative for the actress confirmed to the entertainment news website that she was surrounded by her husband of 48 years and caretaker Marcia Brodhacker when she died.

Tristan starred and co-wrote the 2015 independent film drama, “The Looking Glass,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. She played a woman caring for her troubled 13-year-old granddaughter as symptoms of her dementia appeared. The film was her first film appearance in more than three decades and was directed by her husband.

Tristan made her film debut in the X-rated cult classic “End of the Road” in 1970, Deadline reported. In 1971 she appeared with Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland in the role of druggie prostitute Arlyn Page in the Academy Award-nominated film, Klute.

Two years later, Tristan played the role of Coley in Scarecrow, a film that featured Gene Hackman and Al Pacino.

Tristan’s other films included appearances in “Man on a Swing” (1974), “A Place Without Parents” (1974), “Swashbuckler” (1976), “Rollercoaster” (1977) and “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” (1986), according to IMDb.com.

The actress then assisted her husband behind the camera, working on films like “Prancer,” “A Piece of Eden,” “Suspended Animation” and “Girls of Summer,” according to Variety.

Born May 9, 1934, and raised in the Yorkville section of Manhattan in New York City, Tristan attended Washington Irving High School and the School of Industrial Arts in New York, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Before turning to film, she was a model who traveled to Europe and was featured on the covers of Vogue and Life magazine, the website reported.

Tristan’s first husband was director Aram A. Avakian, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They were married from 1957 until their 1972 divorce.

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