Doreen, a talented individual, was born and raised in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois. She is the youngest of three sisters, and her parents, a marble setter and a medical technologist, instilled in her a strong foundation for her future endeavors. Doreen attended an all-girls Catholic college prep school, which was formerly a Lithuanian convent, where she honed her skills and developed her passion for the performing arts.
After graduating, Doreen sang in a cover band and later attended a prestigious theater conservatory. However, she left the conservatory to pursue her dreams at The Second City Training Center, where she was eventually hired to perform with the Touring Company. Her hard work and dedication paid off when she received her Equity card for her performance in The Steppenwolf Theater Company's production of "El Salvador," opposite the talented Ted Levine.
Doreen's academic pursuits continued as she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Columbia College. She then honed her improvisational skills at ImprovOlympic under the guidance of the renowned Del Close. Before making the move to Los Angeles, Doreen embarked on a unique adventure, riding her bicycle from St. Paul, Minnesota to Chicago to raise awareness for AIDS, and she shared the stage with James Denton in Strawdog Theatre's production of "Mariposa" by Jeffrey Leiber.
In her early years in Los Angeles, Doreen explored her comedic side by performing stand-up comedy, teaching improvisation, and appearing in various theater productions. She also booked several TV gigs and national commercials. However, Doreen's thirst for knowledge led her to return to college, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design, graduating as Class Valedictorian.
In addition to her academic achievements, Doreen has also made a name for herself as a director and entrepreneur. She founded her business, The Recognized Actor, and has directed numerous stage productions. In 2017, she became a core performing member of the nation's longest-running Asian-American improv-comedy troupe, "Cold Tofu." Her most recent notable role was as "Raquel Torres" in the Oscar-nominated live-action short film "Please Hold," released in 2022.
