Born in New York City, Dowling was a model and chorus girl before moving to California in 1943.

[4] Prior to her move to Hollywood, she appeared in several Broadway productions, including Quiet City, Liliom,[4] Panama Hattie (with sister Doris), Hold On To Your Hats, and The Strings, My Lord, Are False.

At the time, newspaper columnist Sheilah Graham reported that Danny Kaye "was hoping for a big movie name to star opposite him ... but boss Sam Goldwyn thinks otherwise and has signed" Dowling.

[7] In the same year, she appeared opposite Nelson Eddy in Knickerbocker Holiday,[8] In 1946, newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper reported that Dowling had signed a long-term contract with Eagle-Lion Films.

He couldn't bring himself to leave his wife and the affair ended when Dowling went to Hollywood under contract to Goldwyn.