Mozelle Britton

Mozelle Britton (May 12, 1912 – May 18, 1953) was an American movie actress and columnist. Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she relocated to southern California when she was seventeen years old.

She studied at the Pasadena Playhouse and later appeared in films produced at Fox and Columbia Pictures.

She also worked as an assistant casting director at Columbia, when she met and married actor Alan Dinehart in 1933. He was divorced at the time; the marriage lasted eleven years until his death. They had a son, Mason Alan Dinehart, also known as Alan Dinehart, III. In 1948, she wed Thomas W. Gosser, an engineer and inventor. They separated five months before her death. She turned to writing and produced a daily column carried in a number of California and out-of-state newspapers.

In April 1953, Britton sought police aid in finding her son, Alan, whom she believed was eloping with his 16-year-old sweetheart. The pair was found the following day, unwed and broke, and returned to their homes.

This "Mason Alan Dinehart" was subsequently cast in thirty-four episodes as a young Bat Masterson on the ABC/Desilu television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian in the title role.

Mozelle Britton died at the age of forty-one at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, where she had been under treatment for a heart ailment. According to her sister, Mrs. Allamae Gingg, Britton's death was hastened by overwork. She had been preparing a benefit show in San Diego for the American Cancer Society.

Mozelle and Alan Dinehart are entombed together at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Mozelle Britton left her entire $60,000 estate to her mother, Ida Belle Britton. She left her son and second husband $1 each. In the case of her son, Britton wrote that she anticipated her mother would nevertheless "take care of his needs".

• 1930 Paramount on Parade
• 1934 The Fighting Ranger
• 1936 Night Waitress
• 1936 Rainbow on the River