Real name: Turner, Julia Jean Mildred Frances Nickname: Sweater Girl Birthdate: 8 February 1921, Wallace, Idaho, USA Date of death: 29 June 1995, Century City, California, USA. (throat cancer) Spouse:
'Ronald Dante' (9 May 1969 - 26 January 1972)
'Robert Eaton' (22 June 1965 - 1 April 1969)
'Fred May' (27 November 1960 - 15 October 1962)
'Lex Barker' (8 September 1953 - 22 July 1957) (divorced)
'Henry J. 'Bob' Topping' (26 April 1948 - 12 December 1952)
'Steve Crane' (14 March 1943 - 21 August 1944) (second time)
'Steve Crane' (July 1942 - January 1943) (divorced)
'Artie Shaw' (February 1940 - September 1940) (divorced)
Biography
MGM'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
Filmography
Adventures of Marco Polo, The (1938) [Nazama's Maid] <15> Another Time, Another Place (1958) [Sara Scott] <1> Bachelor in Paradise (1961) [Rosemary Howard] <2> Bad and the Beautiful, The (1952) [Georgia Lorrison] <1> Betrayed (1954) [Carla Van Owen] <2> Big Cube, The (1969) [Adriana Roman] <1> Bittersweet Love (1976) [Claire] <1> By Love Possessed (1961) [Marjorie Penrose] <1> Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) [Rosalie Lewett] <5> Cass Timberlane (1947) [Virginia Marshland] <2> Chaser, The (1938) (uncredited) [Miss Rutherford] Circus of the Stars #10 (1985) (TV) [Performer] Dancing Co-Ed (1939) [Patty Marlow] <1> Diane (1956) [Diane de Poitiers] <1> Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) [Beatrix Emery] <3> Dramatic School (1938) [Mado] <4> Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) (uncredited) [Herself, Cameo role] Flame and the Flesh, The (1954) [Madeline] <1> Four's a Crowd (1938) (uncredited) [Bit Part] Great Garrick, The (1937) [Auber] <7> Green Dolphin Street (1947) [Marianne Patourel] <1> Homecoming (1948) [Lieutenant Jane 'Snapshot' McCall] <2> Honky Tonk (1941) [Elizabeth Cotton] <2> Imitation of Life (1959) [Lora Meredith] <1> Johnny Eager (1942) [Lisbeth Bard] <2> Keep Your Powder Dry (1945) [Valerie Parks] <1> Lady Takes a Flyer, The (1958) [Maggie Colby] <1> Last of the Powerseekers, The (1971) (TV) [Tracy Carlyle Hastings] Latin Lovers (1953) [Nora Taylor] <1> Life of Her Own, A (1950) [Lily Brannel James] <1> Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) [Cynthia Potter] <6> Love Goddesses, The (1965) [Herself] Love Has Many Faces (1965/I) [Kit Jordan] <1> Madame X (1966) [Holly Parker] <1> Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song (2000) (archive footage) (uncredited) [Herself] Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944) [Theo Scofield West] <1> Merry Widow, The (1952) [Crystal Radek] <1> Mr. Imperium (1951) [Fredda Barlo] <1> Persecution (1974) [Carrie Masters] <1> Peyton Place (1957) [Constance MacKenzie] <1> Portrait in Black (1960) [Sheila Cabot] <1> Postman Always Rings Twice, The (1946) [Cora Smith] <1> Prodigal, The (1955) [Samarra] <1> Rains of Ranchipur, The (1955) [Edwina Esketh] <1> Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938) [Helen Thayer] <4> Sea Chase, The (1955) [Elsa Keller] <2> Show Business at War (1943) [Herself] Slightly Dangerous (1943) [Peggy Evans/Carol Burden] <1> Somewhere I'll Find You (1942) [Paula Lane] <2> Star Is Born, A (1937) (uncredited) [Marion (Santa Anita bar)] That's Dancing! (1985) (archive footage)That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) (archive footage) [Appearance] <87> These Glamour Girls (1939) [Jane Thomas] <2> They Won't Forget (1937) [Mary Clay] <6> Three Musketeers, The (1948) [Lady de Winter] <1> Thwarted (1991) [Margo Lane] <4> Topper (1937) (uncredited) [Extra] Two Girls on Broadway (1940) [Patricia 'Pat' Mahoney] <1> Watch the Birdie (1950) (uncredited) [Scenes from 'Johnny Eager'] We Who Are Young (1940) [Margy White Brooks] <1> Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) [Bunny Smith] <2> Who's Got the Action? (1962) [Melanie Flood] <2> Witches' Brew (1980) [Vivian Cross] <3> Youngest Profession, The (1943) [Cameo appearance] <18> Ziegfeld Girl (1941) [Sheila 'Red' Regan/Flatbush] <4> "Falcon Crest" (1981) [Jacqueline Perrault (1982-1983)] "Survivors, The" (1969) [Tracy Carlyle Hastings] <1>
Guest apperance(s)
'"Ghostwriter" (1992/I)' , as Herself
'"Love Boat, The" (1977)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Call Me Grandma / A Gentleman of Discretion / The Perfect Divorce / Letting Go" (Caribbean part 1)')
'"Love Boat, The" (1977)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Call Me Grandma / A Gentleman of Discretion / The Perfect Divorce / Letting Go" (Caribbean part 2)')
'"Bob Hope Show, The" (1952)' , as Herself (3/10/1957)
Trivia
Born at 12:30pm-PST
Her eyebrows were shaved off for the bit part of a harem girl early in
her screen career. They never grew back.
In her autobiography, she stated that her true birthdate is February 8,
1921. She stated that "I am one year younger than the records show."
Fainted during her 1953 wedding to Lex Barker.
One daughter: Cheryl Crane (fathered by Steve Crane).
Billy Wilkerson of The Hollywood Reporter found her sipping a Coke in a
drugstore and was so taken by her he blurted out that standard
Hollywood line, "How'd you like to be in pictures?". Her first role,
sure enough, had her in a tight skirt and even tighter sweater sitting
at a drugstore counter.
Quotes
"She was amoral. If she saw a stagehand with tight pants and a muscular
build, she'd invite him into her dressing room." - An M-G-M executive
"A successful man is one who makes more money than a wife can spend. A
successful woman is one who can find such a man." - Lana Turner
"I find men terribly exciting, and any girl who says she doesn't is an
anemic old maid, a streetwalker, or a saint."
"She's not Madame X; she's brand X; she's not an actress, she's a
commodity." -- Pauline Kael, movie critic
"Even when I was a toddler, I knew there were certain rules I had to
observe regarding mother's profession. I was on the set of The Postman
Always Rings Twice. I knew then not to tug on her hair as babies do or
mess her up. It became so ingrained that it was just a natural act for
me not to do." -- Cheryl Crane, her daughter
Filming Salary
'Postman Always Rings Twice, The (1946)' -> $4,000 a week
Book(s) Biography
'The Films of Lana Turner' by Lou Valentino (1976)
'Lana Turner' by Jeanine Basinger (1976)
'Always, Lana' by Taylor Pero (1982)
'Lana: The Public and Private Lives of Lana Turner' by Joe
Morella and Edward Z. Epstein (1971)
'Detour: A Hollywood Story' by Cheryl Crane (1988)
Lana Turner. 'Lana: The Lady, The Legend, The Truth.' New York: Dutton, 1982.
Others film(s) apperance
'L.A. Confidential (1997)'
'Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV)'
Article(s)
"Vox" (Hungary), June 2000, Iss. 38, pg. 96, by: Dénes Orosz, "A selyemfiú halála"
"The New Yorker" (USA), 1996, Vol. 71, Iss. February 12, pg. 68-75, by: John Updike
Cover photo(s)
"Epoca" (Italy), 13 April 1958, Iss. 393
"Life" (USA), 13 October 1941
"Life" (USA), 29 January 1940
Other work(s)
"LANA: THE LADY, THE LEGEND AND THE TRUTH" (1983 autobiography)
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