Born in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Dorinda graduated from college and arrived in New York City, working in the showrooms of Liz Claiborne. She met her first husband and followed him to London to start a family and eventually her own cashmere company, DCL Cashmere. Many high-profile London clients like Princess Diana and Joan Collins became acquaintances, and soon, Dorinda left her mark on London society. Ten years in London also brought her a daughter, Hannah, a divorce, and a wish to return to New York to figure out life in the city as a single mom. In 2005, Dorinda met and married financier Dr. Richard Medley, a former Washington power broker and respected speechwriter to congresswoman and vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, and together they worked on fund-raising for charitable causes with the likes of Bishop Desmond Tutu, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Secretary Madeline Albright, and President Bill and Secretary Hillary Clinton.
After the tragic loss of their beloved Richard in 2011, Dorinda and Hannah found strength in each other and in their loved ones to overcome the radical changes of losing a husband, friend, companion, and father figure. Through perseverance and support from her close friends, Dorinda climbed right back to the top of New York society, eventually meeting boyfriend John Mahdessian, owner of New York's legendary couture restoration house Madame Paulette. Dorinda is always directing her energy and focus into her home, family and friends, church, social engagements, and love for pop culture. In 2019, Dorinda reignited her passion for teaching aerobics, creating and touring with her interactive workout class Dorobics to great success. She continuously gives back to her favorite charitable organizations like Ali Forney Center, Born This Way Foundation, Prevention, Joy.J Initiative, Ronald McDonald House, NYLovesKids.org and Gabrielle's Angel Foundation.
Dorinda's passion for entertaining was deeply enhanced with the purchase of Blue Stone Manor, a nine-bedroom Stanford White estate in her native Great Barrington. With a recent flood at the estate, Dorinda was forced to renovate and restore the historic property to get it back to its former glory. Nothing gives Dorinda more pleasure than a weekend or holiday spent with great company, home-cooked meals, and the festive, personal touches she is known for. She enjoys the theater, the beach, the mountains, fabulous parties, a great dirty martini, and all types of fashion—both high-end and high-street—and considers all of her pieces collector's items. After a trying year, Dorinda has learned to love herself and focuses on her spiritual and mental wellness daily. There's never enough glitz, glam, and sparkle for this true New York City Housewife.
Appearances
The Real Housewives of New York City
Main cast, played by Dorinda Medley
- Episode 7x01: The B is Back (Apr 7, 2015)
- Episode 7x02: New House, Old Grudges (Apr 14, 2015)
- Episode 7x03: Battle of the Brunches (Apr 21, 2015)
- Episode 7x04: The Art of Being a Cougar (Apr 28, 2015)
- Episode 7x05: Mind Your Own Business (May 5, 2015)
- Episode 7x06: Double Down on Delusion (May 12, 2015)
- Episode 7x07: Family Matters (May 19, 2015)
- Episode 7x08: The Cavi-Art of War (May 26, 2015)
- Episode 7x09: Birthday in the Berks (Jun 2, 2015)
- Episode 7x10: Pop of Crazy (Jun 9, 2015)
- Episode 7x11: Fashionably Fired Up (Jun 16, 2015)
- Episode 7x12: Lord of the Manor (Jun 23, 2015)
- Episode 7x13: Sonja Island (Jun 30, 2015)
- Episode 7x14: Conch Blocked (Jul 7, 2015)
- Episode 7x15: Don't Be All, Like, Uncool (Jul 14, 2015)
- Episode 7x16: Awfully Charitable (Jul 21, 2015)
- Episode 7x17: London Calling (Jul 28, 2015)
- Episode 7x18: Rumble on the Runway (Aug 4, 2015)
- Episode 7x19: New Beginnings, My Ass (Aug 11, 2015)
- Episode 7x20: Reunion Part 1 (Aug 18, 2015)
- Episode 7x21: Reunion Part 2 (Aug 25, 2015)
- Episode 7x22: Reunion Part 3 (Aug 27, 2015)
- Episode 7x23: Secrets Revealed (Sep 3, 2015)
- Episode 7x24: 100th Episode Watch What Happens Live Special (Sep 17, 2015)
- Episode 8x01: Start Spreading the News (Apr 6, 2016)
- Episode 8x02: An Intimates Affair (Apr 13, 2016)
- Episode 8x03: The Biggest Boob (Apr 20, 2016)
- Episode 8x04: BBQ, Brunch or Bust (Apr 27, 2016)
- Episode 8x05: Birthday Bashing (May 4, 2016)
- Episode 8x06: Tipsying Point (May 11, 2016)
- Episode 8x07: Airing Your Dirty Laundry (May 18, 2016)
- Episode 8x08: All the Countess's Men (May 25, 2016)
- Episode 8x09: December: Berkshires County (Jun 1, 2016)
- Episode 8x10: Unhappy Holidays (Jun 8, 2016)
- Episode 8x11: Invitation Interrupted (Jun 15, 2016)
- Episode 8x12: Always the Bitch, Never the Bride (Jun 22, 2016)
- Episode 8x13: Steel Calzones (Jun 29, 2016)
- Episode 8x14: The Benefits of Friendship (Jul 6, 2016)
- Episode 8x15: All Bets Are Off (Jul 13, 2016)
- Episode 8x16: The Countess Bride (Jul 20, 2016)
- Episode 8x17: And Away We Finally Go (Jul 27, 2016)
- Episode 8x18: Body of Evidence (Aug 3, 2016)
- Episode 8x19: Tomfoolery (Aug 17, 2016)
- Episode 8x20: Say It Ain't So (Aug 24, 2016)
- Episode 8x21: Reunion Part 1 (Aug 31, 2016)
- Episode 8x22: Reunion Part 2 (Sep 7, 2016)
- Episode 8x23: Reunion Part 3 (Sep 14, 2016)
- Episode 9x01: Talk of the Town (Apr 5, 2017)
- Episode 9x02: It Girl, Interrupted (Apr 12, 2017)
- Episode 9x03: A New Low (Apr 19, 2017)
- Episode 9x04: The Etiquette of Friendship (Apr 26, 2017)
- Episode 9x05: The Politics of Friendship (May 3, 2017)
- Episode 9x06: Wishful Invitation (May 10, 2017)
- Episode 9x07: Bidding on Love (May 17, 2017)
- Episode 9x08: Return of the Berzerkshires (May 24, 2017)
- Episode 9x09: Two Weeks Notice (May 31, 2017)
- Episode 9x10: Black Out and Get Out (Jun 7, 2017)
- Episode 9x11: A Countess No More (Jun 14, 2017)
- Episode 9x12: Regency Reunion (Jun 21, 2017)
- Episode 9x13: A Bronx Tale (Jun 28, 2017)
- Episode 9x14: A Slippery Slope (Jul 5, 2017)
- Episode 9x15: Oil and Vinegar (Jul 12, 2017)
- Episode 9x16: Three Tequila ... Floor! (Jul 19, 2017)
- Episode 9x17: Tequila-thon (Jul 26, 2017)
- Episode 9x18: Make Out, Makeup Up (Aug 2, 2017)
- Episode 9x19: Thank You and Good Night (Aug 9, 2017)
- Episode 9x20: Reunion Part 1 (Aug 16, 2017)
- Episode 9x21: Reunion Part 2 (Aug 23, 2017)
- Episode 9x22: Reunion Part 3 (Aug 30, 2017)
- Episode 10x01: Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun (Apr 4, 2018)
- Episode 10x02: Running Your Mouth (Apr 11, 2018)
- Episode 10x03: Til Brunch Do Us Part (Apr 18, 2018)
- Episode 10x04: War and P.O.S. (Apr 25, 2018)
- Episode 10x05: Tea for Tat (May 2, 2018)
- Episode 10x06: Grief and Relief (May 9, 2018)
- Episode 10x07: On an Island (May 16, 2018)
- Episode 10x08: A Frittered Friendship (May 23, 2018)
- Episode 10x09: Holidazed and Confused (May 30, 2018)
- Episode 10x10: You Broke the Penal Code (Jun 6, 2018)
- Episode 10x11: Faux Weddings and a Funeral (Jun 13, 2018)
- Episode 10x12: Every Mayflower Has Its Thorn (Jun 20, 2018)
- Episode 10x13: Arrest and Relaxation (Jun 27, 2018)
- Episode 10x14: Dating Wishes and Cabaret Dreams (Jul 11, 2018)
- Episode 10x15: Wigging Out (Jul 18, 2018)
- Episode 10x16: Guess Who's Arguing at Dinner? (Jul 25, 2018)
- Episode 10x17: Ship Happens (Aug 1, 2018)
- Episode 10x18: There's No Place Like Home (Aug 8, 2018)
- Episode 10x19: Life is a Cabaret (Aug 15, 2018)
- Episode 10x20: Reunion Part 1 (Aug 22, 2018)
- Episode 10x21: Reunion Part 2 (Aug 29, 2018)
- Episode 10x22: Reunion Part 3 (Sep 5, 2018)
- Episode 11x01: Divided, They Summer (Mar 6, 2019)
- Episode 11x02: Things Are Going Southampton (Mar 13, 2019)
- Episode 11x03: It's a Clam Shame (Mar 20, 2019)
- Episode 11x04: Making Up is Hard to Do (Mar 27, 2019)
- Episode 11x05: Shark Bait (Apr 3, 2019)
- Episode 11x06: Sleeping with the Fishes (Apr 10, 2019)
- Episode 11x07: It's Kind of a Phone-y Story (Apr 17, 2019)
- Episode 11x08: Birds, Broads and Breakups (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 11x09: Tears of a Clown (May 1, 2019)
- Episode 11x10: Shalloween (May 8, 2019)
- Episode 11x11: Upstate Girls (May 15, 2019)
- Episode 11x12: Luann Land (May 22, 2019)
- Episode 11x13: It's Not You, It's Miami (May 29, 2019)
- Episode 11x14: Caught Between an Ex and a Hard Place (Jun 5, 2019)
- Episode 11x15: Life is Not a Cabaret (Jun 12, 2019)
- Episode 11x16: More Than a Feeling (Jun 20, 2019)
- Episode 11x17: Jesus, the Countess, and Joseph (Jun 27, 2019)
- Episode 11x18: Reunion Part 1 (Jul 11, 2019)
- Episode 11x19: Reunion Part 2 (Jul 18, 2019)
- Episode 11x20: Reunion Part 3 (Jul 25, 2019)
- Episode 12x01: Back in the NY Groove (Apr 2, 2020)
- Episode 12x02: Stooping to a Lower Level (Apr 9, 2020)
- Episode 12x03: Don't Mansion It (Apr 16, 2020)
- Episode 12x04: Ain't No Party Like a Hamptons Party (Apr 23, 2020)
- Episode 12x05: Not So Model Behavior (Apr 30, 2020)
- Episode S07 Special: The Moment: Real Housewives Awards (Aug 28, 2015)
- Episode S09 Special: How They Got Here (Mar 15, 2017)
- Episode S10 Special: Passport Edition (Sep 12, 2018)