Doris Bell is a recurring character on The CW's Riverdale. She is portrayed by Marion Eisman.
Doris Bell is the long-standing receptionist of Riverdale High School.
Early Life[]
Doris Bell has been working in the Riverdale High school’s office for over 50 years and in all that time, she has outlasted eight principals.[1]
Throughout Riverdale[]
Season 1[]
The receptionist calls Betty Cooper on the intercom during school hours. She has received a bouquet of yellow roses which she must collect. [2]
Season 2[]
Betty and Archie are curious as to why Mr. Svenson is not in school. At the reception, Doris Bell tells them that he has been sick for a week. She herself brought him chicken soup and left it on the porch of the Svenson house. Doris speculates that the Christmas season must be particularly difficult and depressing for Mr. Svenson, having survived the slaughter of his entire family.[3]
Doris calls Antoinette Topaz at the reception because there is a phone call for her. When Topaz arrives at the receptionist desk, Doris hands her the phone. On the other side is Nana Rose, who gives Toni clues about Cheryl whereabouts before the call is abruptly cut.[4]
Season 3[]

Doris asks Evelyn about meningitis vaccination
Doris is filling out some paperwork as students line up for meningitis vaccination. Doris asks Evelyn Evernever if she's had hers. However, Evelyn explains that the Farm doesn’t believe in putting foreign substances into their bodies. She tells Ms. Bell to check her file as her father has written Principal Weatherbee a letter, opting her out of all elective medical procedures.[5]
It's Prom Night and the masquerade evening is medieval themed. Doris Bell, in costume, takes the stage to announce Betty Cooper as the prom queen. However, Betty is not in the gym to be crowned. She's in another wing of the school where she is being chased by the Black Hood. Later, students and school staff are made aware of the tragedy.[6]
Season 4[]
At the reception desk, Doris Bell overhears Cheryl arguing with the new principal, Mr. Honey about back-to-school dance. Mr. Honey has canceled the dance due to previous dramatic events that occurred during such events. A few day later, an active beehive sits on Mr. Honey’s desk. Bees flying everywhere. Cheryl enters the main office to briefly taunt Honey before leaving.[7]
After learning from Ms. Bell that the bus driver was already gone for the day, Betty steals the school bus out of the parking lot.[8]

Doris informs Cheryl about Dagwood's incident
Cheryl is called to the main office, where Ms. Bell informs her of an accident at Thistlehouse. Dagwood swallowed a ping pong ball and started to choke. He was taken to the hospital, where Dr. Sapirstein performed a tracheotomy. He is doing well now. Nana Rose is waiting at the hospital with Juniper for Cheryl’s.[9]
While in the student lounge with Toni, Cheryl is called to Principal Honey’s office, where they discuss her attendance.[10]
Kevin Keller delivers another list of sign-ups for the Variety Show to Principal Honey, who has reviewed and approved every act thus far with the exception of Kevin’s. He bans Kevin from performing a number from the highly controversial Hedwig and the Angry Inch musical. He recommends that Kevin does a number from a more appropriate musical.

Doris take a look at Kevin's performance
The next day, Kevin gets on the intercom and orders everyone to the music dressed in a blonde wig and an extravagantly flamboyant one piece jean jumpsuit. Ms. Bell is shocked by the outfit, but also by the insubordination. Kevin sings as he makes his way down the hall. Once there, he joins Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Toni on stage. Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Cheryl, and Reggie cheer him on. Kevin jumps into the crowd, kisses Archie and jumps back on stage, much to Mr. Honey’s dismay. He kicks Kevin out of the Variety Show and pulls the plug on his performance.
The next day, Mrs. Bell alerts Mr. Honey of the students protesting in the hallway. Mr. Honey exits his office to find nearly the entire student body, Reggie, Sweet Pea, Fangs Fogarty, Cheryl, and Toni included, in blonde wigs and flamboyant outfits, being led by Kevin. Clearly, they’re passionate about Hedwig. However, rather than conceding, Mr. Honey cancels the Variety Show entirely.[11]
Jughead asks Ms. Bell about the AV club and how easy it may be for someone to get access to the equipment. Ms. Bells explains that only AV Club members are allowed to use the equipment. When Jughead asks about Ethel Muggs, Ms. Bell reveals that she’s the president and that he’s not the first person to ask her about Ethel today. The first was a "handsome FBI agent," she describes. He supposedly left with Ethel.[12]

Doris defends Mr. Honey
Mr. Honey exits what was once his office with a box of his belongings. He passes Ms. Bell, who takes his portrait down off the wall. He is approached in the hallway by Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Cheryl, Kevin, and Reggie. He stands by everything he’s done, including the videotape. He insists that it was all to assure the school’s safety because the murder, mayhem, and depravity of Riverdale is not normal. Betty retorts that it’s normal to them, which is why they had to stop him. Mr. Honey scoffs, revealing that he saw this coming days ago and so he lined up his next position. He is now Stonewall Prep’s new headmaster. They were in need of new leadership. Furthermore, his salary is triple of what he makes at Riverdale High.
Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Cheryl, Kevin, and Reggie reconvene in the student lounge, soaking in their "victory", if you can call it that, over Mr. Honey. Ms. Bell comes to Mr. Honey’s defense. She has been working in the school’s office for over 50 years and in all that time, she has outlasted eight principals, and Mr. Honey was the best thus far. She reveals that this year alone, he personally arranged for six low-income students to go to college on full scholarships. Also, the school’s GPA is higher than it’s been in decades. And more seniors will be going away to college than they have since 1956. Also, no students have died under his watch. She then hands Jughead a letter written to the University of Iowa that Honey initially asked her to mail for him. She suggests that he read it in order to fully comprehend his actions.[1]
Season 5[]

Doris talks with Betty
Betty questions Ms. Bell about the Auteur’s latest video, though she insists that she has no knowledge of Betty and her friends killing Mr. Honey. Mr. Weatherbee interrupts, having been reinstated as principal. Betty asks how he’s dealing. Weatherbee remarks that he makes it through most nights without waking up screaming.
The evening of the prom is interrupted by the Auteur who projects another snuff film, leaving everyone present at first confused and then frightened.[13]
After the bust that was prom and learning that Highsmith College has disbanded its cheerleading squad, Cheryl scolds Ms. Bell for ordering her a blue graduation robe as oppose to the crimson robe she deliberately asked for.[14]
Archie and Jughead are called in the principal's office, and Ms. Bell is responsible to let them in one at a time to discuss their grades ahead of graduation.[15]

Doris at the school meeting
Seven years later after the graduation of the class of 2020, Doris still works at Riverdale High with Principal Waldo Weathebee. Archie approaches Principal Weatherbee hoping to relaunch the RROTC program, but Weatherbee informs him that Riverdale High is likely to be shut down. Like everything else in town, their budget has been cut significantly by Hiram Lodge. Archie asks if there was anything he could do to help and decides to sit in on the staff meeting with Toni, Kevin, Alice, Weatherbee, and Ms. Bell. Alice reveals that the school board has doubts about keeping the school open given their low staff. Kevin alone is teaching five classes: drama, debate, biology, gym, and sex-ed. However, other members of the board would like to see the school stay open but only if they can prove that they have the personnel and resources that are required.
Weatherbee reports that two more teachers have defected to Stonewall Prep. Toni arrives not long after with Hiram’s secret agenda for the Town Hall Meeting, which one of her girls stole from his office. More than just closing down Riverdale High, Toni has discovered that Hiram Lodge intends to unincorporate the town. And based on his receipts, he has enough people bribed or terrorized to make it happen. Archie questions what this means. Alice explains that the town’s funding from the state will be cut off, essentially meaning that Riverdale will cease to exist. Kevin questions if they would be able to keep the school open even with the board’s support assuming Hiram is successful in unincorporating Riverdale. Alice replies that it’s possible, but it will require them to fight even harder. With that said, Toni tasks Alice with reporting Hiram’s plan. As for the problem of teachers or lack thereof, Archie believes that he can help. Alice questions if he knows of any qualified teachers with degrees because that’s what it takes to teach at a public school. Toni suggests that Riverdale become a private school, so that they can hire who they desire. Weatherbee explains that this means they would lose all government funding. So, they would need an investor if the plan is to make Riverdale High private. Fortunately, Toni may know of someone who can help.

Doris, Waldo, Fangs, and Sweet Pea at Pop's retirement party
The town of Riverdale or at least what remains, gathers at the diner for Pop Tate’s retirement party. Archie gifts Pop Tate a Bulldog varsity jacket and expresses just how much he means to the town. Pop Tate reveals that he had to drop out in order to run the diner after his father died. He never got to graduate. Archie’s jacket means the world to him. Jughead then gives a speech in Pop Tate’s honor, describing how he gave shelter to the lost and wayward souls of Riverdale. Jughead credits Pop Tate and the diner as the only reason he made it through. The guests then raise their glasses.
The town gathers at the town hall meeting, during which time Toni takes the stand. With Cheryl’s help, Toni reveals that Riverdale High will remain open as a private school, tuition free. They’re also bolstering their teaching staff with Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead. Toni states that Riverdale will not be at the mercy of Hiram Lodge’s destructive whims. Hiram then introduces a proposition to unincorporate the town of Riverdale. And unfortunately, Riverdale’s township is dissolved by majority’s vote.[16]

Doris tells Cheryl that Toni has revived the Vixens
Students are cheering in the hallway as Toni enters with the reformed River Vixens. Archie questions how can there be a cheer team when there isn’t even a sports team for them to cheer for. Toni retorts that the Vixens are a sports team and that they’ll be competing against other cheer squads, something that not even Cheryl managed. Britta then looks to Archie and asks if there’s anyone else who could sponsor the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Ms. Bell contacts Cheryl, who had instructed Ms. Bell to keep her apprised of the goings on at Riverdale High.
Later, Ms. Bell calls Hiram Lodge and reveals that Archie and Veronica have resurrected the Bulldogs.[17]
Ms Bell is filling out forms when Coach Andrews asks to use the intercom. Archie informs the school that a bunch of their classmates are busting their asses on the football field to represent the school and each and every one of them. He asks them to show some support in return. Starting with the free pancake breakfast that Pop's is hosting tomorrow morning.[18]
Season 7[]

Doris Bell in 1955
The year is 1955 and Doris Bell is in a franctic mood because Tabitha Tate has fainted on the football field during practice and Principal Featheread is with her. The secretary is looking for salts and leaves it to Cheryl Blossom, the student president, to make her usual morning announcements, without adult supervision. Before leaving she assure Cheryl knows how to use a microphone. [19]
Doris updates the weekly log on approved classes sitting at her desk while Principal Featherhead and Dr. Werthers discuss the recent murder of Ethel Muggs's parents. Ms. Bell questions whether she should still teach the junior year sex education class, but Dr. Werthers quickly shushes her by saying he will take charge.[20]
Physical Appearance[]
Ms. Bell is an elder woman with fair, wrinkled complexion. She usually wears blouses under a cardigan and seems to favor combinations of dark shades of brown, green, red and yellow. Doris wears glasses and usually has her hair tied up in a chignon.
Personality[]
Ms. Bell is a faithful and conservative woman, demonstrating loyalty to her work. Doris worked for over 50 years as a receptionist, seeing the passing of eight principals at the helm of the high school and surviving the various tragedies that have affected the town and the school. Doris is very informed about what is happening at school or in town, staying in the shadows and gossiping about it, reporting valuable information.
Appearances[]
Season 1[] |
Season 2[] |
Season 3[] |
Season 4[] |