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Today's Birthday: 8 February Pick Another Birthday Date |
a2zpeople @ Monday, 8 February 2010 Today's PeoplesTurner, LanaMGM's "Sweater Girl" starred in many "women's pictures" fascinating men
and women alike. Her glamour girl image belied her true acting talent,
although many of her directors knew she was capable of greatness.
Unfortunately, her private life -- 7 marriages, alcoholism, and a
scandal involving the murder of Johnny Stompanato by Turner's daughter,
Cheryl Crane -- often interfered with her advancing screen
career.
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. Most sources agree that 1920 is the correct year of
birth. 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 sought
after something that would last forever. Stardom. She wasn't found at a
drug store counter like some would have you believe, but the legend
persists. She pounded the pavement that other would be actors and
actresses have done in search of movie roles. In 1937, Lana entered the
movie world, at 17, with small parts in THEY WON'T FORGET, THE GREAT
GARRICK, and A STAR IS BORN. The films didn't bring Lana a lot of
notoriety, but it was a start. In 1938, Lana had another small part in
LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY 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". One
look at that film could make you understand why. Lana was one of the
most beautiful newcomers to grace the silver screen in years. By the
1940's Lana was firmly entrenched in the film colony. Good roles found
her in such films as JOHNNY EAGER (1941), SOMEWHERE I'LL FIND YOU
(1942), and WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF (1945). Her private life, however,
was a super mess. It kept Lana in the news in a way no one would have
wanted. Without a doubt it was career threatening. She was married
eight times, twice to Steve Crane. She also married Ronald Dante,
Robert Eaton, Fred May, Lex Barker, Henry Topping, and to Artie Shaw.
She also battled alcoholism. Her daughter by Crane, Cheryl, murdered
boyfriend Johnny Stampato in 1958. It was a case that would have
rivaled the O.J. Simpson murder case today. Her daughter was acquitted
with the court ruling it justifiable homicide. All these interfered
with her acting career, but she persevered. The 1959 release of
IMITATION OF LIFE was Lana's comeback vehicle. Her performance was
flawless as Lora Meredith, an actress struggling to make it in show
business with a young daughter, her housekeeper and the housekeeper's
rebellious daughter. The film was a box-office success and proved
beyond a doubt that Lana had not lost her edge. By the 1960's, she had
fewer roles coming her way with the rise of new and younger stars. She
still turned in memorable roles in such films as PORTRAIT IN BLACK
(1960) and BACHELOR IN PARADISE (1961). By the next decade the roles
were coming in at a trickle. Her last appearance in a big screen
production was in 1980's WITCHES' BREW. Her final film work came in the
acclaimed TV series FALCON CREST where she played Jacqueline Perrault
from 1982-1983. After all those years as a heartthrob, nothing had
changed. Lana was still as beautiful as ever. Lana died June 25, 1995
in Culver City, California after a long bout with cancer. She was 75
years old. - Author: Ray Hamel
Denny Jackson Borland, WesWesley Louden Borland was born February 7th, 1975 in Richmond, Virginia
(USA). His family then moved to Tennessee, where he attended and
graduated from Hillsboro High School. His Father took the job of Pastor
at a Presbyterian Church in Florida, moving Wes and family once more.
Wes has a unique talent in the Art department, his plans were to attend
college for this talent after being accepted prior to joining `Limp
Bizkit`. You can catch a glimpse of some of that talent with his face
paint (make-up) and costumes, all of which he designs and puts together
himself. Before Wes joined Limp Bizkit, his first band was
`Goatslayer`, which consisted of long time friends Kyle Weeks and Greg
Isabelle. Both who are now in Wes' current bands: BIGdumbFACE and Eat
the Day. Wes `officially` left Limp Bizkit on October 12th, 2001.
Shortly after the departure he announced the current members of
BIGdumbFACE (a side project of his) would now be carried over and
called `Eat the Day`. Parents are Tom and Sally Borland of
Jacksonville, Florida. His only sibling is Scott Borland, who is also a
member of BIGdumbFACE and Eat the Day. In April of 1998 Wes married his
long-time girlfriend Heather McMillen. The second leading lady in his
life, is his ceramic bunny `Lucy` which he takes everywhere, including
onstage. Wes quit smoking February of 1999, and eventually stopped
taking the medication `Dexedrine` in which he had been given for
A.D.H.D (Attention Defficite Hyperactivity Disorder). Wes and his wife
currently reside in Los Angeles, California's Greffith Park. His guitar
of choice is `Ibanez` Guitars. For those ever so curious he is 6'1 in
height, has 3 tattoos, and listens to anything ranging from Tori Amos,
Air, and Metallica to Ween.
- Author: Jessica L. Duke (livingdeadalien@hotmail.com) Dean, James'James Dean' was raised on a farm by his aunt and uncle in Fairmount,
Indiana. He received rave reviews for his work as the blackmailing Arab
boy in the New York production of Gide's "The Immoralist," good enough
to earn him a trip to Hollywood. His early film efforts were strictly
bit parts: a sailor in the Martin & Lewis overly frantic musical comedy
'Sailor Beware (1951)' ; a GI in the moody 'Richard Basehart' study of a platoon
in the Korean War 'Fixed Bayonets (1951)' ; a youth in the 'Piper Laurie' - 'Rock Hudson' comedy 'Has
Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)' . He had major roles in only three
movies. In the 'Elia Kazan' production of 'John Steinbeck' 's 'East of Eden (1955)' he played Caleb,
the "bad" brother who couldn't force affection from his stiff-necked
father. His true starring role, the one which fixed his image forever
in American culture, was that of the brooding red-jacketed teenager
'Jim Stark' in 'Nicholas Ray' 's 'Rebel Without a Cause (1955)' . Filming of 'Edna Ferber' 's 'Giant (1956)' ( 'George Stevens' ),
in which he played the non-conforming cowhand Jett Rink, was just
coming to a close when Dean, driving his Porsche Spyder, collided with
another car just east of Paso Robles, California. He had received a
speeding ticket just two hours before. His very brief career, violent
death and highly publicized funeral transformed 'James Dean' into a cult
object of apparently timeless fascination. - Author: Ed Stephan |
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