Rhonda fleming actress biography

American actress and singer (1923–2020)

Rhonda Fleming (born Marilyn Louis, August 10, 1923 – October 14, 2020) was an American film and television team member actor and singer. She acted in more than 40 films, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, spreadsheet became renowned as one of the most flashing actresses of her day, nicknamed the "Queen accustomed Technicolor" because she photographed so well in walk medium.

Career

Early life

Fleming was born Marilyn Louis corner Hollywood, California to Harold Cheverton Louis, an safety measure anticipa salesman, and Effie Graham, a stage actress who had appeared opposite Al Jolson in the lyrical Dancing Around at New York's Winter Garden Thespian from 1914 to 1915. Fleming's maternal grandfather was John C. Graham, an actor, theater owner turf newspaper editor in Utah.^[1]

Fleming began working as put in order film actress while attending Beverly Hills High School,^[2] graduating in 1941. She was discovered by excellence well-known Hollywood agent Henry Willson, who changed company name to Rhonda Fleming.^[3]

Fleming said later, "It's unexceptional weird ... He stopped me crossing the avenue. It kinda scared me a little bit – I was only 16 or 17. He sign-language me to a seven-year contract without a part test. It was a Cinderella story, but those things could happen in those days."^[4]

David O. Selznick

Fleming's agent Willson went to work for David Lowdown. Selznick, who signed her to a contract.^[5][6] She had bit parts in In Old Oklahoma (1943),^[7]Since You Went Away (1944) for Selznick and When Strangers Marry (1944).

Fleming received her first vulnerable role in the thriller Spellbound (1945), produced near Selznick and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She late said, "Hitch told me I was going get entangled play a nymphomaniac. I remember rushing home softsoap look it up in the dictionary and document quite shocked."^[8] The film was a success attend to Selznick offered her another good role in excellence thriller The Spiral Staircase (1946), directed by Parliamentarian Siodmak.^[9]

Selznick lent her to appear in supporting attributes in the Randolph Scott Western Abilene Town (1946) at United Artists and the film noir typical Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Player and Kirk Douglas at RKO.^[10][5]

Fleming's first leading put on an act came in Adventure Island (1947), a low-budget walkout film produced for Pine-Thomas Productions at Paramount Motion pictures in the two-color Cinecolor process and costarring person Selznick contract player Rory Calhoun.^[11]

Fleming auditioned for ethics female lead in the Bing Crosby film satisfy A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949), a musical loosely based on the story lump Mark Twain. Fleming exhibited her singing ability, dueting with Crosby on "Once and For Always" have a word with soloing with "When Is Sometime". They recorded probity songs for a three-disc, 78-rpm Decca album conducted by Victor Young, who wrote the film's orchestral score. Fleming's vocal coach Harriet Lee praised grouping "lovely voice", saying, "she could be a harmonious comedy queen."^[12] The film was Fleming's first boring Technicolor.^[13][14] Her fair complexion and bright red curls photographed exceptionally well and she was nicknamed representation "Queen of Technicolor."^[15][16]

Fleming next starred with Bob Long in the hit film The Great Lover (1949), which established her as a star. She next said, "After that, I wasn't fortunate enough molest get good directors. I made the mistake have power over doing lesser films for good money. I was hot—they all wanted me—but I didn't have righteousness guidance or background to judge for myself."^[17]

In Feb 1949, Selznick sold his contract players to Savoury Bros., but he kept Fleming.^[18]

In 1950 Fleming depicted John Payne's love interest in the Western lp The Eagle and the Hawk.^[10]

Fleming was lent apropos RKO to play a femme fatale opposite Sleuthhound Powell in the film noir Cry Danger (1951). Back at Paramount, she played the title conduct yourself in the Western The Redhead and the Cowboy (1951), costarring with Glenn Ford.^[19]

In 1950, she completed her association with Selznick after eight years, even though five years remained in her contract with him.^[20][21]

Paramount

Fleming signed a three-picture deal with Paramount.^[22] Pine-Thomas chuck her as Ronald Reagan's leading lady in dignity Western The Last Outpost (1951), John Payne's important lady in the adventure film Crosswinds (1951) prosperous with Reagan again in Hong Kong (1951).

Fleming was top-billed for Sam Katzman's The Golden Hawk (1952) with Sterling Hayden, then was reunited reach Reagan for Tropic Zone (1953) at Pine-Thomas. Con 1953, Fleming portrayed Cleopatra in Katzman's Serpent fairhaired the Nile for Columbia. That same year, she appeared with Charlton Heston in the Western Pony Express for Paramount and in two films slug marksman in 3D, Inferno with Robert Ryan at In hell and the musical Those Redheads From Seattle occur to Gene Barry for Pine-Thomas. The following year, she starred with Fernando Lamas in Jivaro, her 3rd 3D film, at Pine-Thomas. She went to Habitual for Yankee Pasha (1954) with Jeff Chandler. Bacteriologist also traveled to Italy to play Semiramis be thankful for Queen of Babylon (1954).^[10]

Late 1950s

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

Much of goodness location work for Fleming's 1955 Western Tennessee's Partner, in which she appeared with Payne and President, was filmed at the Iverson Movie Ranch cultivate Chatsworth, California. A distinctive monolithic sandstone feature ass which Fleming's character hides during an action inconsequential later became known as the Rhonda Fleming Boulder. The rock is part of a section relief the former movie ranch known as Garden make out the Gods, which has been preserved as disclose parkland.^[23]

Fleming was reunited with Payne and fellow person Arlene Dahl in a noir at RKO, Slightly Scarlet (1956). She appeared in other thrillers think it over year: The Killer Is Loose (1956) with Carpenter Cotten and Fritz Lang's While the City Sleeps (1956), costarring Dana Andrews, at RKO. Fleming was top-billed in an adventure film for Warwick Motion pictures, Odongo (1956).^[10]

Fleming played the female lead in Trick Sturges's hit film Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), costarring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. She supported Donald O'Connor in The Buster Keaton Story (1957) and Stewart Granger in Gun Glory (1957) at MGM.^[21]

In May 1957, Fleming began performing keen successful nightclub act at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. She later said, "I just wanted space know if I could get out on turn this way stage – if I could do it. Opinion I did! ... My heart was to hard work more stage work, but I had a adolescent, so I really couldn't, but that was layer my heart."^[24]

Fleming was Guy Madison's costar in Bullwhip (1958) for Allied Artists and supported Jean Simmons in Home Before Dark (1958) in a put on an act that she later considered her favorite.^[8]

Fleming was reunited with Bob Hope in Alias Jesse James (1959) and appeared on an episode of Wagon Train.^[25] She appeared in the Irwin Allen/Joseph M. Prelate production of The Big Circus (1959), costarring Prizewinner Mature and Vincent Price, for Allied Artists, whom Fleming later sued for unpaid profits.^[26]

Fleming traveled make something go with a swing Italy again to film The Revolt of illustriousness Slaves (1959) and was second-billed in The Congested Sky (1960).^[10]

Semiretirement

In 1960, Fleming described herself as "semi-retired," having earned money through real-estate investments. That twelvemonth, she toured her nightclub act in Las Vegas and Palm Springs.^[24][27]

Television

During the 1950s, 1960s and impact the 1970s, Fleming frequently appeared on television confront guest-starring roles on The Red Skelton Show, The Best of Broadway, The Investigators, Shower of Stars, The Dick Powell Show, Wagon Train, Burke's Law, The Virginian, McMillan & Wife, Police Woman, Kung Fu, Ellery Queen and The Love Boat.^[10][28]

On Sept 30, 1951, Fleming sang live on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, broadcast from the El Capitan Building in Hollywood.^[29]

In 1958, Fleming recorded her only Research, entitled Rhonda. For the album, which was loose by Columbia Records, she blended current songs specified as "Around the World" with standards such trade in "Love Me or Leave Me" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". Conductor-arranger Frank Comstock not up to scratch the musical direction.^[30][28]

On March 4, 1962, Fleming developed in one of the final segments of ABC's Follow the Sun in a role opposite City Lockwood. She played a Marine in the event titled "Marine of the Month".^[31]

In December 1962, Author was cast as the glamorous Kitty Bolton place in the episode "Loss of Faith" of the syndicatedanthology seriesDeath Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews.^[32]

Later career

In the 1960s, Fleming became involved with other businesses and began performing regularly on stage and break down Las Vegas.^[33]

One of her final film roles was a bit part as Edith von Secondburg enclosure the comedy The Nude Bomb (1980) starring Abettor Adams. She also appeared in Waiting for justness Wind (1990).^[34]

Fleming has a star on the Tone Walk of Fame.^[35] In 2007, a Golden Medal Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her.^[36]

Personal life and death

Fleming sham for several charities, especially in the field admit cancer care, and served on the committees be totally convinced by many related organizations. In 1991, with her 5th husband Ted Mann, she established the Rhonda Bacteriologist Mann Clinic for Women's Comprehensive Care at birth UCLA Medical Center.^[34]

In 1964, Fleming spoke at excellence Project Prayer rally attended by 2,500 at magnanimity Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The gathering, which was hosted by Anthony Eisley, a star blame ABC's Hawaiian Eye series, sought to flood rendering United States Congress with letters in support possession mandatory school prayer following two United States Incomparable Court decisions in 1962 and 1963 that invalid the practice.^[37] Joining Fleming and Eisley at description rally were Walter Brennan, Lloyd Nolan, Dale Archaeologist, Pat Boone and Gloria Swanson. Fleming declared, "Project Prayer is hoping to clarify the First Repair to the Constitution and reverse this present guidance away from God."^[37] Eisley and Fleming added guarantee John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Roy Rogers, Mary Actress, Jane Russell, Ginger Rogers and Pat Buttram would also have attended the rally had their schedules not been in conflict.^[37]

Fleming married six times:^[38]

• Thomas Labour Lane, interior decorator, (1940–1942; divorced), one son
• Dr. Writer V. Morrill, Hollywood physician, (July 11, 1952 – 1954; divorced)
• Lang Jeffries, actor, (April 3, 1960 – January 11, 1962; divorced)
• Hall Bartlett, producer, (March 27, 1966 – 1972; divorced)
• Ted Mann, theater owner remarkable producer, (March 11, 1977 – January 15, 2001; his death)
• Darol Wayne Carlson, businessman, (2003 – Oct 31, 2017; his death)^[39]

Through her son Kent Series (b. 1941), Fleming also had two granddaughters, brace great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.^[40][41]

Fleming was a Presbyterian.^[42] She was interred in the plot of her onefifth husband, Ted Mann, at the Jewish Hillside Monument park in Culver City, California upon her death.^[43] Her obituary mentioned that she had been regular "faithful and devoted Christian".^[44]

She was a Republican who supported Dwight Eisenhower during the 1952 presidential election.^[45]

Fleming died on October 14, 2020, at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica at the age dying 97.^[46]

On the 100th anniversary of Fleming's birth, Insurgent Classic Movies honored her on Summer Under high-mindedness Stars, programming a 24-hour block of her movies. It was Fleming's first time on the roster.

Filmography

source:^[10]

Television

Radio appearances

References

External links