Dorothy Van (January 10, 1928 - May 16, 2002) was an American stage and TV actress who is best remembered for her comedic role as Aunt Effie Harper on the 1980s situation comedy Mama's Family.

Her favorite actresses during this time were Irene Dunne, Loretta Young, and Bette Davis; and she remembered having a girlhood crush on Joel McCrea.

She often appeared in uncredited roles in such plays as The Skin of Our Teeth, All My Sons, The Maids, The Heiress, The Shifting Heart, and The Mousetrap.

After years of stage work, she made her movie debut playing an army nurse in Loose Shoes.

Later in the decade she landed a recurring role as Aunt Effie to Vicki Lawrence's character of Thelma Harper on Mama's Family; she appeared in seven episodes between 1983 and 1989.