She was born Dorothy Arnoldine Olson in Duluth, Minnesota, of Norwegian heritage, the third of five daughters.

She portrayed Jean Drew in The Phantom Creeps, and Gloria DeVere in The House of Fear.

She won praise for her performance[citation needed] in 1957's Lizzie as the wanton, immoral mother of the title character.

[10] Arnold made headlines in 1952 when she sued DiMaggio for sole custody of their son and increased support payments, citing Joe's new girlfriend Marilyn Monroe as a threat to the boy's morals.

[12] The Desert Sun stated that she died from pancreatic cancer eight days before her 67th birthday at La Gloria Clinic in Ensenada, Mexico.