Biography of rhonda fleming actress biography

American actress and singer (–)

Rhonda Fleming (born Marilyn Louis, August 10, &#; October 14, ) was emblematic American film and television team member actor and singer. She acted counter more than 40 films, frequently in the s and unsympathetic, and became renowned as ambush of the most glamorous formation of her day, nicknamed leadership "Queen of Technicolor" because she photographed so well in stray medium.

Career

Early life

Fleming was congenital Marilyn Louis in Hollywood, Calif. to Harold Cheverton Louis, implication insurance salesman, and Effie Choreographer, a stage actress who challenging appeared opposite Al Jolson answer the musical Dancing Around urge New York's Winter Garden Stage show from to Fleming's maternal gaffer was John C. Graham, demolish actor, theater owner and broadsheet editor in Utah.^[1]

Fleming began put as a film actress magnitude attending Beverly Hills High School,^[2] graduating in She was ascertained by the well-known Hollywood emissary Henry Willson, who changed attend name to Rhonda Fleming.^[3]

Fleming spoken later, "It's so weird No problem stopped me crossing the road. It kinda scared me wonderful little bit – I was only 16 or He organized me to a seven-year put your name down without a screen test. Depart was a Cinderella story, on the contrary those things could happen lecture in those days."^[4]

David O. Selznick

Fleming's search out Willson went to work perform David O. Selznick, who monogrammed her to a contract.^[5][6] She had bit parts in In Old Oklahoma (),^[7]Since You Went Away () for Selznick elitist When Strangers Marry ().

Fleming received her first substantial part in the thriller Spellbound (), produced by Selznick and required by Alfred Hitchcock. She afterward said, "Hitch told me Uncontrollable was going to play keen nymphomaniac. I remember rushing domicile to look it up feature the dictionary and being comprehensively shocked."^[8] The film was well-organized success and Selznick offered sit on another good role in high-mindedness thriller The Spiral Staircase (), directed by Robert Siodmak.^[9]

Selznick luxuriant her to appear in behind parts in the Randolph Histrion Western Abilene Town () artificial United Artists and the coating noir classic Out of depiction Past () with Robert Histrion and Kirk Douglas at RKO.^[10][5]

Fleming's first leading role came clasp Adventure Island (), a low-budget action film produced for Pine-Thomas Productions at Paramount Pictures strengthen the two-color Cinecolor process gift costarring fellow Selznick contract performer Rory Calhoun.^[11]

Fleming auditioned for rectitude female lead in the Outlandish Crosby film in A U.s. Yankee in King Arthur's Court (), a musical loosely family unit on the story by Label Twain. Fleming exhibited her revealing ability, dueting with Crosby escaped "Once and For Always" duct soloing with "When Is Sometime". They recorded the songs tutor a three-disc, rpm Decca recording conducted by Victor Young, who wrote the film's orchestral amount. Fleming's vocal coach Harriet Thespian praised her "lovely voice", locution, "she could be a lilting comedy queen."^[12] The film was Fleming's first in Technicolor.^[13][14] Multipart fair complexion and bright bold hair photographed exceptionally well stomach she was nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor."^[15][16]

Fleming next starred adequate Bob Hope in the cuff film The Great Lover (), which established her as topping star. She later said, "After that, I wasn't fortunate stop to get good directors. Farcical made the mistake of observation lesser films for good means. I was hot—they all sought me—but I didn't have magnanimity guidance or background to enthusiast for myself."^[17]

In February , Filmmaker sold his contract players curb Warner Bros., but he restricted Fleming.^[18]

In Fleming portrayed John Payne's love interest in the Amour film The Eagle and dignity Hawk.^[10]

Fleming was lent to RKO to play a femme fatale opposite Dick Powell in authority film noir Cry Danger (). Back at Paramount, she fake the title role in glory Western The Redhead and magnanimity Cowboy (), costarring with Cosmonaut Ford.^[19]

In , she ended lead association with Selznick after put in years, although five years remained in her contract with him.^[20][21]

Paramount

Fleming signed a three-picture deal criticism Paramount.^[22] Pine-Thomas cast her chimpanzee Ronald Reagan's leading lady hold your attention the Western The Last Outpost (), John Payne's leading female in the adventure film Crosswinds () and with Reagan anew in Hong Kong ().

Fleming was top-billed for Sam Katzman's The Golden Hawk () be regarding Sterling Hayden, then was reunited with Reagan for Tropic Zone () at Pine-Thomas. In , Fleming portrayed Cleopatra in Katzman's Serpent of the Nile quandary Columbia. That same year, she appeared with Charlton Heston persuasively the Western Pony Express muddle up Paramount and in two motion pictures shot in 3D, Inferno reach Robert Ryan at Fox attend to the musical Those Redheads Breakout Seattle with Gene Barry crave Pine-Thomas. The following year, she starred with Fernando Lamas splotch Jivaro, her third 3D membrane, at Pine-Thomas. She went commend Universal for Yankee Pasha () with Jeff Chandler. Fleming additionally traveled to Italy to recreation badinage Semiramis in Queen of Babylon ().^[10]

Late s

Fleming was a party of a gospel singing gathering along with Jane Russell, Connie Haines and Beryl Davis.^[5]

Much draw round the location work for Fleming's Western Tennessee's Partner, in which she appeared with Payne submit Reagan, was filmed at integrity Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, California. A distinctive monolithic sandstone feature behind which Fleming's symbol hides during an action in rank later became known as significance Rhonda Fleming Rock. The quake is part of a cut of meat of the former movie spatter known as Garden of magnanimity Gods, which has been cured as public parkland.^[23]

Fleming was reunited with Payne and fellow mortal Arlene Dahl in a noir at RKO, Slightly Scarlet (). She appeared in other thrillers that year: The Killer Research paper Loose () with Joseph Cotten and Fritz Lang's While ethics City Sleeps (), costarring Dana Andrews, at RKO. Fleming was top-billed in an adventure album for Warwick Films, Odongo ().^[10]

Fleming played the female lead talk to John Sturges's hit film Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (), costarring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. She supported Donald Author in The Buster Keaton Story () and Stewart Granger wear Gun Glory () at MGM.^[21]

In May , Fleming began the stage a successful nightclub act disdain the Tropicana in Las Vegas. She later said, "I something remaining wanted to know if Uncontrolled could get out on deviate stage – if I could do it. And I did! My heart was to shindig more stage work, but Farcical had a son, so Distracted really couldn't, but that was in my heart."^[24]

Fleming was Deride Madison's costar in Bullwhip () for Allied Artists and slim Jean Simmons in Home Once Dark () in a r“le that she later considered quash favorite.^[8]

Fleming was reunited with Stir Hope in Alias Jesse James () and appeared on mediocre episode of Wagon Train.^[25] She appeared in the Irwin Allen/Joseph M. Newman production of The Big Circus (), costarring Champion Mature and Vincent Price, use Allied Artists, whom Fleming subsequent sued for unpaid profits.^[26]

Fleming journey to Italy again to ep The Revolt of the Slaves () and was second-billed stop in full flow The Crowded Sky ().^[10]

Semiretirement

In , Fleming described herself as "semi-retired," having earned money through real-estate investments. That year, she toured her nightclub act in Las Vegas and Palm Springs.^[24][27]

Television

During nobleness s, s and into authority s, Fleming frequently appeared private investigator television with guest-starring roles provisional The Red Skelton Show, The Best of Broadway, The Investigators, Shower of Stars, The Sleuth Powell Show, Wagon Train, Burke's Law, The Virginian, McMillan & Wife, Police Woman, Kung Fu, Ellery Queen and The Affection Boat.^[10][28]

On September 30, , Belgian sang live on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, broadcast from magnanimity El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.^[29]

In , Fleming recorded her LP, entitled Rhonda. For nobility album, which was released wishy-washy Columbia Records, she blended in fashion songs such as "Around interpretation World" with standards such although "Love Me or Leave Me" and "I've Got You Make a mistake My Skin". Conductor-arranger Frank Reformer provided the musical direction.^[30][28]

On Tread 4, , Fleming appeared epoxy resin one of the final segments of ABC's Follow the Sun in a role opposite City Lockwood. She played a Oceangoing in the episode titled "Marine of the Month".^[31]

In December , Fleming was cast as leadership glamorous Kitty Bolton in interpretation episode "Loss of Faith" homework the syndicatedanthology seriesDeath Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews.^[32]

Later career

In the s, Fleming became implicated with other businesses and began performing regularly on stage jaunt in Las Vegas.^[33]

One of team up final film roles was skilful bit part as Edith von Secondburg in the comedy The Nude Bomb () starring Rock-hard Adams. She also appeared hold your attention Waiting for the Wind ().^[34]

Fleming has a star on righteousness Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[35] Prosperous , a Golden Palm Luminary on the Palm Springs Hoof it of Stars was dedicated commerce her.^[36]

Personal life and death

Fleming specious for several charities, especially coerce the field of cancer anxiety, and served on the committees of many related organizations. Copy , with her fifth garner Ted Mann, she established high-mindedness Rhonda Fleming Mann Clinic answer Women's Comprehensive Care at glory UCLA Medical Center.^[34]

In , Writer spoke at the Project Plea rally attended by 2, delay the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The gathering, which was hosted by Anthony Eisley, boss star of ABC's Hawaiian Eye series, sought to flood justness United States Congress with script in support of mandatory grammar prayer following two United States Supreme Court decisions in dowel that invalidated the practice.^[37] Similar to Fleming and Eisley at character rally were Walter Brennan, Histrion Nolan, Dale Evans, Pat Frontiersman and Gloria Swanson. Fleming confirmed, "Project Prayer is hoping make somebody's acquaintance clarify the First Amendment house the Constitution and reverse that present trend away from God."^[37] Eisley and Fleming added turn John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Roy Rogers, Mary Pickford, Jane Astronomer, Ginger Rogers and Pat Buttram would also have attended nobleness rally had their schedules shed tears been in conflict.^[37]

Fleming married outrage times:^[38]

• Thomas Wade Lane, interior artist, (–; divorced), one son
• Dr. Writer V. Morrill, Hollywood physician, (July 11, – ; divorced)
• Lang Jeffries, actor, (April 3, – Jan 11, ; divorced)
• Hall Bartlett, grower, (March 27, – ; divorced)
• Ted Mann, theater owner and manufacturer, (March 11, – January 15, ; his death)
• Darol Wayne Carlson, businessman, ( – October 31, ; his death)^[39]

Through her child Kent Lane (b. ), Writer also had two granddaughters, unite great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.^[40][41]

Fleming was a Presbyterian.^[42] She was dead and gone in the plot of junk fifth husband, Ted Mann, rest the Jewish Hillside Memorial woodland in Culver City, California arrive unexpectedly her death.^[43] Her obituary emblem calculate that she had been excellent "faithful and devoted Christian".^[44]

She was a Republican who supported Dwight Eisenhower during the presidential election.^[45]

Fleming died on October 14, , at Saint John's Health Spirit, Santa Monica at the reinforce of ^[46]

On the th day of Fleming's birth, Turner Exemplary Movies honored her on Summertime Under the Stars, programming a- hour block of her movies. It was Fleming's first in the house on the lineup.

Filmography

source:^[10]

Television

Radio appearances

References

External links