Jack Lemmon, who played her husband in Days of Wine and Roses (1962), was her favorite co-star.
A very weak, almost unrecognizable Lee made one of her last public appearances on April 29, 1991, to receive her star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." In the last stages of her kidney cancer, her face was extremely bloated by the chemo treatments she was receiving. Jack Lemmon, her Days of Wine and Roses (1962) co-star, was at the ceremony to lend love and support. She died two months later on July 2nd.
Discovered she had tumors on her kidneys and lungs while filming in France in 1989. She had a remission in 1990 before the cancer returned again.
Her role in Anatomy of a Murder (1959) was intended for Lana Turner, who got fired when she insisted that her off-the-rack costumes, (suitable for the part of an Army wife), be designed by splashy Jean Louis. Later, Remick was announced to replace Marilyn Monroe in the unfinished Something's Got to Give (1962), but loyal co-star Dean Martin demanded that the studio reinstate the fired Monroe.
Her son, Matt Colleran, was a founding member of Los Angeles-based rock band, Mary's Danish. He wrote (with Gretchen Seager) the band's biggest hit, "Don't Crash the Car Tonight".
In 1962, Lee, who was with 20th Century Fox, briefly replaced the excessively tardy Marilyn Monroe on the film Something's Got to Give (1962). Lee never got past a few wardrobe fittings. Dean Martin, the film's co-star, refused to work with anyone but Marilyn and threatened to quit. As a result, Marilyn was brought back. The project was eventually scrapped.
Lee and her husband, Bill Colleran, were good friends of Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy and frequent visitors to the White House. Lee was also an avid spokesperson for the Democratic Party.
Lee's second husband, British producer Kip Gowans, worked with Lee on a number of TV movies including The Women's Room (1980) (TV), and Rearview Mirror (1984) (TV).
Measurements: 34-21-34 (in 1959), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Mother of Matt Colleran (born June 7, 1961) and Kate Colleran Sullivan(born January 1, 1959) with Bill Colleran.
Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1990.
She died only four days before her "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill" (1974) co-star Thorley Walters.
She was cremated at Westwood Memorial Park and services held at a later date. Elizabeth Taylor attended and eulogies were delivered by good friends Jack Lemmon and Gregory Peck. Her children, Kate and Matt Colleran, sang the title song from one of her Broadway musical shows "Anyone Can Whistle."
Was nominated for Broadway's 1966 Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "Wait Until Dark."
Was originally cast in the role ultimately played by Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People (1980).