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Sharon Marie Tate ( January 24, 1943 - August 9, 1969) was an American actress and a victim of the Charles Manson murders.
Sharon Tate was born in Dallas, Texas and was the first of three daughters born to Colonel Paul and Doris Tate. At six months of age Sharon won her first beauty contest; she was crowned Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas, Texas. Her very first jobs included modeling.
While living in Verona, Italy, Tate met Richard Beymer , who encouraged her to pursue acting and modeling as a full-time career. Beymer gave his agent's card to Sharon. She began to take part in the film, Barrabas, as an extra. Having made a good impression, whenever there was a film being made there Tate would always get a call.
Moving back to the United States, Tate hitchhiked most of the way to Hollywood, and paid a visit to Beymer's agent. She was soon performing in commercials and modeling for famous photographers. In between jobs she performed as a Kelly Kalanki Wine Girl and shared an apartment with fellow actress Sheilah Wells .
After being introduced to Martin Ransohoff , chairman of Filmways , Tate was on her way to becoming a star. Her parents, wanting to make Tate's dreams come true, allowed her to become a ward of the court as she was under 21 years old. After becoming a Filmways client, Tate was signed on to appear as a secretary on The Beverly Hillbillies. She also began making appearances on other shows such as Mr. Ed and The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and she was also cast for a short time on Petticoat Junction.
Determined to make her a star, Ransohoff paid out over 1 million dollars in training and preparation. She would become known as "Million Dollar Baby," one of the last studio stars. Around this time Sharon began dating Phillippe Forquet , a French actor. Both her parents and Ransohoff felt he would stand in her way of becoming a star. Their love affair was rocky but intense, and Forquet proposed to Tate, who accepted. However, their relationship soon ended, with Forquet walking away.
After much pushing for new parts from Tate, Ransohoff felt it was time for him to give her bigger parts. She soon was auditioning for the part of Liesel in The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music is a Broadway musical and movie based on a true story. It contains many hit songs, including "Edelweiss", "My Favorite Things", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "The Lonely Goatherd", as well as the title song. Julie Andrews as Maria, seeks g along with Patty DukePatty Duke (born December 14, 1946) is an actress of the stage and screen. Born Anna Marie Duke in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1962 for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker''. She also won, Mia FarrowMia Farrow an American actress, born Maria de Lourdes Villiers Farrow but always known as Mia February 9, 1945 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of director John Farrow (1904-1963) and his wife Maureen O'Sullivan (1911-1998), the actress who played, and Lesley Ann WarrenLesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an american actress. She was a ballet dancer, famous for roles in films such as Miss Scarlet in Clue Warren, Lesley Ann Warren, Lesley Ann.. Producers felt Tate looked too mature for the part, and it was given to another actress. But soon The Eye of the Devil , also known as 13, was brought to her.
Tate around this time had met and fell in love with Jay SebringJay Sebring ( October 10, 1933- August 9, 1969) was a victim of the Charles Manson murders. Jay Sebring was born Thomas John Kummer on October 10, 1933 in Alabama. His parents were accountant Bernard Kummer and wife Margarette. Jay grew up with one brothe, a Hollywood hair stylist, whom Tate's parents became impressed with. Tate would spend time at Sebring's salon while he worked. After filming Eye of the Devil in Europe, Sharon was given a part in acclaimed director Roman PolanskiRoman Polanski (born August 18, 1933) is a Polish film director and actor. Early Life Roman Polanski was born in Paris as Raimund Liebling to Ryszard Polanski (aka Ryszard Liebling), a Jew, and Bula Polanski (nee Katz), a Roman Catholic. In 1937 his famil's movie The Fearless Vampire Killers .
Reportedly Tate did not initially like Polanski, as he was an absolute perfectionist, but later the two were eventually romantically linked. After a meeting with Polanski, Sebring ended his relationship with Tate, parting amicably. The trio became friends in the end.
After filming wrapped, Tate began shooting a movie alongside Tony CurtisTony Curtis is the stage name of Bernard Schwartz (b. June 3 1925 in the Bronx, New York), an actor who has appeared in over 100 films since 1949. Curtis has also appeared frequently on television; he co-starred with Roger Moore in the TV series The Persu, called Don't Make Waves . In the film Tate performs her own stunts, but began to hate filming the movie because she was not only separated from Polanski, but reportedly felt she was being type-cast as a "blonde sex goddess."