A lyric soprano, her early singing idol was Deanna Durbin. She was trained in voice by an aunt and entered singing contests.
A member of the Westwood Presbyterian Church.
A one-time Las Vegas showroom singing act at the Tropicana, she also performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a one-woman concert of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin songs. Also did a 10-week tour with Skitch Henderson that focused on the music of George Gershwin. She recorded an album in 1958 for Columbia Records.
According to an interview with Ms. Fleming which was featured in an issue of "Films of the Golden Age," writer Paul Phaneuf states that Rhonda's very first taste of Hollywood came when she was 15 years old. Her mother took some pictures of her in their backyard and sent them to big-time Hollywood producer Jesse Lasky for an upcoming show of his. She lost out in the final audition.
Attended the same High School as Angelina Jolie, Michael Klesic, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz, David Schwimmer, Jonathan Silverman, Gina Gershon, Jackie Cooper, Rob Reiner, Antonio Sabato Jr., Pauly Shore, Michael Tolkin, Betty White, Corbin Bernsen, Elizabeth Daily, Albert Brooks and Crispin Glover.
Had an older sister, Beverly.
Her grandfather on her mother's side was a well known actor in Utah, John C. Graham. He also owned a theater and was editor of the local newspaper.
Her mother was a famous Swedish blonde model in New York who made the cover of Harper's and other major magazines, and later appeared in the Al Jolson show "Dancing Around" at the Wintergarden Theater for two years and progressed from understudy to leading role. Her father was a non-professional (insurance man). Her parents divorced when Rhonda was ten.
In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Dhia Cristiani. She was dubbed on occasion by Lidia Simoneschi, Rosetta Calavetta and Tina Lattanzi.
Measurements: 37-25-36 (in 1956), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).
Mother of Kent Lane.
Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1995.
She is a strong supporter of the Republican party and was an honored speaker at the National Federal of Republican Women in 2007.
She, Jane Russell, Connie Haines and Beryl Davis were once part of a traveling gospel quartet at their church called "The Four Girls" and made an album called "Make a Joyful Noise" that sold over a million copies.
Was "discovered" by talent agent Henry Willson while a student at Beverly Hills High.