Dundy was the author of several books. The best known of which are "The Dud Avocado" (1958) which was a novel about a young woman, much like herself, who comes of age in the 1950s through a series of misadventures in decadent Paris; and "Elvis and Gladys" (1985), a well-received biography of Elvis Presley that zeros in on his relationship with his mother. Other books followed, including two other novels and she also wrote a couple of plays before turning to biography in 1980 with "Finch, Bloody Finch" about actor Peter Finch.
Dundy was born Elaine Brimberg in 1921 into a prosperous New York City family. Her father was a successful businessman and philanthropist but was so abusive that she left home as soon as she could. She pursued acting but after prodding from her then husband, critic Kenneth Tynan, she began writing a novel.
In her last years she struggled with macular degeneration until she was introduced to a magnifying device called the Optelec, which enabled her to read and write again. She wrote movingly about coping with her vision loss in "Out of the Darkness," a 2006 article for the London Guardian.
She was 81 and living in Los Angeles at the time of her death, from a heart attack. In addition to her daughter, Dundy is survived by grandchildren Matthew and Ruby McBride of Los Angeles; a sister, Betty Lorwin of New York City; and two nieces. Another sister, noted independent filmmaker and UCLA professor Shirley Clarke, died in 1997.
Dundy was born Elaine Brimberg in 1921 into a prosperous New York City family. Her father was a successful businessman and philanthropist but was so abusive that she left home as soon as she could. She pursued acting but after prodding from her then husband, critic Kenneth Tynan, she began writing a novel.
In her last years she struggled with macular degeneration until she was introduced to a magnifying device called the Optelec, which enabled her to read and write again. She wrote movingly about coping with her vision loss in "Out of the Darkness," a 2006 article for the London Guardian.
She was 81 and living in Los Angeles at the time of her death, from a heart attack. In addition to her daughter, Dundy is survived by grandchildren Matthew and Ruby McBride of Los Angeles; a sister, Betty Lorwin of New York City; and two nieces. Another sister, noted independent filmmaker and UCLA professor Shirley Clarke, died in 1997.
Dundy was the author of several books. The best known of which are "The Dud Avocado" (1958) which was a novel about a young woman, much like herself, who comes of age in the 1950s through a series of misadventures in decadent Paris; and "Elvis and Gladys" (1985), a well-received biography of Elvis Presley that zeros in on his relationship with his mother. Other books followed, including two other novels and she also wrote a couple of plays before turning to biography in 1980 with "Finch, Bloody Finch" about actor Peter Finch.
Dundy was born Elaine Brimberg in 1921 into a prosperous New York City family. Her father was a successful businessman and philanthropist but was so abusive that she left home as soon as she could. She pursued acting but after prodding from her then husband, critic Kenneth Tynan, she began writing a novel.
In her last years she struggled with macular degeneration until she was introduced to a magnifying device called the Optelec, which enabled her to read and write again. She wrote movingly about coping with her vision loss in "Out of the Darkness," a 2006 article for the London Guardian.
She was 81 and living in Los Angeles at the time of her death, from a heart attack. In addition to her daughter, Dundy is survived by grandchildren Matthew and Ruby McBride of Los Angeles; a sister, Betty Lorwin of New York City; and two nieces. Another sister, noted independent filmmaker and UCLA professor Shirley Clarke, died in 1997.
Dundy was born Elaine Brimberg in 1921 into a prosperous New York City family. Her father was a successful businessman and philanthropist but was so abusive that she left home as soon as she could. She pursued acting but after prodding from her then husband, critic Kenneth Tynan, she began writing a novel.
In her last years she struggled with macular degeneration until she was introduced to a magnifying device called the Optelec, which enabled her to read and write again. She wrote movingly about coping with her vision loss in "Out of the Darkness," a 2006 article for the London Guardian.
She was 81 and living in Los Angeles at the time of her death, from a heart attack. In addition to her daughter, Dundy is survived by grandchildren Matthew and Ruby McBride of Los Angeles; a sister, Betty Lorwin of New York City; and two nieces. Another sister, noted independent filmmaker and UCLA professor Shirley Clarke, died in 1997.
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