Home > Carole Landis

Born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste in Fairchild, Wisconsin to a Norwegian father and Polish mother, her early life was a struggle as her father abandoned the family and left them to fend for themselves. By the age of 15, Landis had married and left high school, but this marriage was annulled and she set herself on a path towards a career in show business.

She worked as a nightclub singer and hula dancer before her 1937 film debut as an extra in A Star Is Born. She continued appearing in uncredited bit parts until being signed to a contract in 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F. Her first starring role as a cave girl in One Million B.C. attracted a lot of attention and made her a celebrity if not a star.

Tall, lean, blonde and glamorous, and with a strong singing voice, Landis appeared in a string of films in the early forties, usually as the second female lead. In a time when many actresses were dubbed in their singing roles, Landis' own voice was considered good enough and was used in her few musical roles.

She had two roles playing opposite the pin-up Betty GrableRuth Elizabeth "Betty" Grable ( December 18, 1916 July 3, 1973) was an American actress, singer and pin-up girl, whose famous bathing suit poster was an icon of the World War II era. Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, she was propelled into acting by her moth in Moon Over Miami and I Wake Up Screaming both 19411941 is also the title of a Steven Spielberg movie made in 1979 see 1941 (film). Events January January 6 Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms Speech in the State of the Union Address. January 10 Lend-Lease is introduced into the United St. Landis too became a popular pin-up with servicemen during World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough and toured with the USOIn the United States, the United Service Organizations USO was established to provide support to U. military personnel around the world. The USO is made up entirely of volunteers. Its goal is to make life easier for US soldiers. Its most publicized focus in EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England and North AfricaNorth Africa is the region of the continent of Africa north of the Sahara desert, comprising the Maghreb, including Libya and Egypt, and also by some definitions the Sudan. North Africa is vastly more uniform ethnically than anywhere in Africa south of th. She starred in the film that was made about this tour, Four Jills and a Jeep but the response from the public was lukewarm, and Landis's career seemed to stall.

By 1948 her career had faded, she had health problems, and with three divorces and several failed romances behind her, she entered into a romance with the actor Rex HarrisonSir Reginald Carey Harrison ( March 5, 1908 June 2, 1990) was a British theater and film actor. He was born in Huyton, Lancashire, England. He died in New York City of pancreatic cancer. He first appeared on the stage in 1924 in Liverpool. He acted in var who was at the time married to the actress Lilli Palmer . Landis was reported to be crushed when Harrison refused to divorce his wife in her favour and unable to cope any longer, she committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturates. Her final night alive had been spent with Harrison and it was Harrison who found her body the next morning. There was a scandal, however his career resumed with relative ease.

Carole Landis was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California in the "Everlasting Love" section.

She was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 1765 Vine St.

The character of Jennifer North in the novel Valley of the Dolls and played by Sharon Tate in the film of the same name, was based partly on Carole Landis. The author Jacqueline Susann and Landis had worked together during the early forties and became friends.