Biography
Real Name:Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner
Born:February 8, 1921 in Wallace, Idaho, USA
Died:June 29, 1995 (age 74) in Century City, California, USA (throat cancer)
Spouse
Ronald Pellar (9 May 1969 - 26 January 1972) (divorced)
Robert P. Eaton (22 June 1965 - 1 April 1969) (divorced)
Frederick May (27 November 1960 - 15 October 1962) (divorced)
Lex Barker (8 September 1953 - 22 July 1957) (divorced)
Henry J. Topping, Jr. (26 April 1948 - 12 December 1952) (divorced)
Stephen Crane (14 March 1943 - 21 August 1944) (divorced) 1 child
Stephen Crane (17 July 1942 - 4 February 1943) (annulled)
Artie Shaw (13 February 1940 - 12 September 1940) (divorced)
Facts:
-Lana Turner was born Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner in Wallace, Idaho. There is some discrepancy as to whether her birth date is February 8, 1920 or 1921. Lana herself said in her autobiography that she was one year younger (1921) than the records showed, but then this was a time where women, especially actresses, tended to "fib" a bit about their age.
-In 1929 her father was murdered and it was shortly thereafter her mother moved her and the family to California where jobs were "plentiful". Once she matured into a beautiful young woman, she went after something that would last forever: stardom. She wasn't found at a drug store counter, like some would have you believe, but that legend persists.
-In 1938 she had another small part in Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) starring Mickey Rooney. It was this film that made young men's hearts all over America flutter at the sight of this alluring and provocative young woman--known as the "Sweater Girl"--and one look at that film could make you understand why: she was one of the most spectacularly beautiful newcomers to grace the screen in years.
-By the 1940s Lana was firmly entrenched in the film business. She had good roles in such films as Johnny Eager (1941), Somewhere I'll Find You (1942) and Week-End at the Waldorf (1945). If her career was progressing smoothly, however, her private life was turning into a train wreck, keeping her in the news in a way no one would have wanted. Without a doubt her private life was a threat to her public career. She was married eight times, twice to Stephen Crane.
-She also battled alcoholism. In yet another scandal, her daughter by Crane, Cheryl Crane, fatally stabbed Lana's boyfriend, gangster Johnny Stompanato, in 1958.
-Cheryl was acquitted of the murder charge, with the jury finding that she had been protecting her mother from Stompanato, who was savagely beating her, and ruled it justifiable homicide. These and other incidents interfered with Lana's career, but she persevered. The release of Imitation of Life (1959), was Lana's comeback vehicle.
-film was a box-office success and proved beyond a doubt that Lana had not lost her edge. By the 1960s, however, fewer roles were coming her way with the rise of new and younger stars. She still managed to turn in memorable performances in such films as Portrait in Black (1960) and Bachelor in Paradise (1961).
-Her last appearance in a big-screen production was in Witches' Brew (1980). Her final film work came in the acclaimed TV series "Falcon Crest" (1981) in which she played Jacqueline Perrault from 1982-1983. After all those years as a sex symbol, nothing had changed--Lana was still as beautiful as ever.
Born:February 8, 1921 in Wallace, Idaho, USA
Died:June 29, 1995 (age 74) in Century City, California, USA (throat cancer)
Spouse
Ronald Pellar (9 May 1969 - 26 January 1972) (divorced)
Robert P. Eaton (22 June 1965 - 1 April 1969) (divorced)
Frederick May (27 November 1960 - 15 October 1962) (divorced)
Lex Barker (8 September 1953 - 22 July 1957) (divorced)
Henry J. Topping, Jr. (26 April 1948 - 12 December 1952) (divorced)
Stephen Crane (14 March 1943 - 21 August 1944) (divorced) 1 child
Stephen Crane (17 July 1942 - 4 February 1943) (annulled)
Artie Shaw (13 February 1940 - 12 September 1940) (divorced)
Facts:
-Lana Turner was born Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner in Wallace, Idaho. There is some discrepancy as to whether her birth date is February 8, 1920 or 1921. Lana herself said in her autobiography that she was one year younger (1921) than the records showed, but then this was a time where women, especially actresses, tended to "fib" a bit about their age.
-In 1929 her father was murdered and it was shortly thereafter her mother moved her and the family to California where jobs were "plentiful". Once she matured into a beautiful young woman, she went after something that would last forever: stardom. She wasn't found at a drug store counter, like some would have you believe, but that legend persists.
-In 1938 she had another small part in Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) starring Mickey Rooney. It was this film that made young men's hearts all over America flutter at the sight of this alluring and provocative young woman--known as the "Sweater Girl"--and one look at that film could make you understand why: she was one of the most spectacularly beautiful newcomers to grace the screen in years.
-By the 1940s Lana was firmly entrenched in the film business. She had good roles in such films as Johnny Eager (1941), Somewhere I'll Find You (1942) and Week-End at the Waldorf (1945). If her career was progressing smoothly, however, her private life was turning into a train wreck, keeping her in the news in a way no one would have wanted. Without a doubt her private life was a threat to her public career. She was married eight times, twice to Stephen Crane.
-She also battled alcoholism. In yet another scandal, her daughter by Crane, Cheryl Crane, fatally stabbed Lana's boyfriend, gangster Johnny Stompanato, in 1958.
-Cheryl was acquitted of the murder charge, with the jury finding that she had been protecting her mother from Stompanato, who was savagely beating her, and ruled it justifiable homicide. These and other incidents interfered with Lana's career, but she persevered. The release of Imitation of Life (1959), was Lana's comeback vehicle.
-film was a box-office success and proved beyond a doubt that Lana had not lost her edge. By the 1960s, however, fewer roles were coming her way with the rise of new and younger stars. She still managed to turn in memorable performances in such films as Portrait in Black (1960) and Bachelor in Paradise (1961).
-Her last appearance in a big-screen production was in Witches' Brew (1980). Her final film work came in the acclaimed TV series "Falcon Crest" (1981) in which she played Jacqueline Perrault from 1982-1983. After all those years as a sex symbol, nothing had changed--Lana was still as beautiful as ever.
Filmography and Tribute
1937 They Won't Forget Mary Clay
1937 Topper Uncredited
1937 The Great Garrick Mademoiselle Auber
1938 The Adventures of Marco Polo Nazama'a Maid
1938 Love Finds Andy Hardy Cynthia Potter
1938 Rich Man, Poor Girl Helen Thayer
1938 Dramatic School Mado
1939 Calling Dr. Kildare Rosalie Lewett
1939 These Glamour Girls Jane Thomas
1939 Dancing Co-Ed Patty Marlow
1940 Two Girls on Broadway Patricia 'Pat' Mahoney
1940 We Who Are Young Marjorie White Brooks
1941 Ziegfeld Girl Sheila Regan
1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Bea Emery
1941 Honky Tonk Elizabeth Cotton
1942 Johnny Eager Lisbeth Bard
1942 Somewhere I'll Find You Paula Lane
1943 Slightly Dangerous Peggy Evans/Carol Burden
1943 Du Barry Was a Lady Cameo
1944 M. Is a Private Affair Theo Scofield West
1945 Keep Your Powder Dry Valerie 'Val' Parks
1945 Week-End at the Waldorf Bunny Smith
1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice Cora Smith
1947 Green Dolphin Street Marianne Patourel
1947 Cass Timberlane Virginia Marshland
1948 Homecoming Jane 'Snapshot' McCall
1948 The Three Musketeers Milady de Winter
1950 A Life of Her Own Lily Brannel James
1951 Mr. Imperium Fredda Barlo
1952 The Merry Widow Crystal Radek
1952 The Bad and the Beautiuful Georgia Lorrison
1953 Latin Lovers Nora Taylor
1954 The Flame and the Flesh Madeline
1954 Betrayed Carla Van Oven
1955 The Prodigal Samarra
1955 The Sea Chase Elsa Keller
1955 The Rains of Ranchipur Lady Edwina Esketh
1956 Diane Diane de Poitiers
1957 Peyton Place Constance MacKenzie
1958 The Lady Takes a Flyer Maggie Colby
1958 A. Time, Another Place Sara Scott
1959 Imitation of Life Lora Meredith
1960 Portrait in Black Sheila Cabot
1961 By Love Possessed Marjorie Penrose
1961 Bachelor in Paradise Rosemary Howard
1962 Who's Got the Action? Melanie Flood
1965 Love Has Many Faces Kit Jordan
1966 Madame X Holly Parker
1969 The Big Cube Adriana Roman
1974 Persecution Carrie Masters
1976 Bittersweet Love Claire
1980 Witches' Brew Vivian Cross
1991 Thwarted Margo Lane
1937 Topper Uncredited
1937 The Great Garrick Mademoiselle Auber
1938 The Adventures of Marco Polo Nazama'a Maid
1938 Love Finds Andy Hardy Cynthia Potter
1938 Rich Man, Poor Girl Helen Thayer
1938 Dramatic School Mado
1939 Calling Dr. Kildare Rosalie Lewett
1939 These Glamour Girls Jane Thomas
1939 Dancing Co-Ed Patty Marlow
1940 Two Girls on Broadway Patricia 'Pat' Mahoney
1940 We Who Are Young Marjorie White Brooks
1941 Ziegfeld Girl Sheila Regan
1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Bea Emery
1941 Honky Tonk Elizabeth Cotton
1942 Johnny Eager Lisbeth Bard
1942 Somewhere I'll Find You Paula Lane
1943 Slightly Dangerous Peggy Evans/Carol Burden
1943 Du Barry Was a Lady Cameo
1944 M. Is a Private Affair Theo Scofield West
1945 Keep Your Powder Dry Valerie 'Val' Parks
1945 Week-End at the Waldorf Bunny Smith
1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice Cora Smith
1947 Green Dolphin Street Marianne Patourel
1947 Cass Timberlane Virginia Marshland
1948 Homecoming Jane 'Snapshot' McCall
1948 The Three Musketeers Milady de Winter
1950 A Life of Her Own Lily Brannel James
1951 Mr. Imperium Fredda Barlo
1952 The Merry Widow Crystal Radek
1952 The Bad and the Beautiuful Georgia Lorrison
1953 Latin Lovers Nora Taylor
1954 The Flame and the Flesh Madeline
1954 Betrayed Carla Van Oven
1955 The Prodigal Samarra
1955 The Sea Chase Elsa Keller
1955 The Rains of Ranchipur Lady Edwina Esketh
1956 Diane Diane de Poitiers
1957 Peyton Place Constance MacKenzie
1958 The Lady Takes a Flyer Maggie Colby
1958 A. Time, Another Place Sara Scott
1959 Imitation of Life Lora Meredith
1960 Portrait in Black Sheila Cabot
1961 By Love Possessed Marjorie Penrose
1961 Bachelor in Paradise Rosemary Howard
1962 Who's Got the Action? Melanie Flood
1965 Love Has Many Faces Kit Jordan
1966 Madame X Holly Parker
1969 The Big Cube Adriana Roman
1974 Persecution Carrie Masters
1976 Bittersweet Love Claire
1980 Witches' Brew Vivian Cross
1991 Thwarted Margo Lane
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