After her once-hot career fell apart in the 1970s, she fell victim to anorexia, alcoholism and depression. To the delight of her fans, she resurfaced briefly after two decades of seclusion and was warmly embraced at Beverly Hill's Canon Theatre in a stage production of "Love Letters" with her The Restless Years (1958) film co-star John Saxon.
Appeared with then-husband Bobby Darin in three films: Come September (1961), If a Man Answers (1962) and That Funny Feeling (1965).
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 135-136. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
By 1965, she was the last major star still under an exclusive contract. Was Universal Studios last actress under contract.
Has suffered from anorexia for most of her life.
Has two granddaughters - Alexa and Olivia (children of Sandra's son Dodd Darin and his wife, Audrey Tannenbaum).
Her mother, Mary Douvan, lied about Sandy's age so that she could put her in school and get a job. She was 4 when she entered the 2nd grade. Her mother kept this lie going for the rest of Sandy's life. In her first movie opposite the 20 year old John Saxon in The Restless Years (1958), Sandy was only 13 rather than the reported 15.
Is immortalized in the popular song "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" from the Grease (1978). The song mocked her squeaky-clean image but Dee reportedly said in a statement that she didn't mind, and always had a big laugh about it.
Is portrayed by Kate Bosworth in Beyond the Sea (2004/I)
Made her modeling debut in Girl Scouts Magazine.
Measurements: claims she rapidly developed as a girl and wore a 34D bra as a teen. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
One of the most successful teenage movie stars of the 20th century, Dee was listed on the Quigley Publications Top Ten Money-Making Stars poll four years in a row, from 1960 through 1963, achieving her highest ranking of #6 in 1961.
She received renewed attention after the release of the movie Beyond the Sea (2004/I), the biopic about her late husband Bobby Darin that recalled and detailed their stormy, headline marriage. Despite its painful aspects, she reportedly approved of the project and gave it her blessing.
Son, Dodd Mitchell Cossotto (aka Dodd Darin) with Bobby Darin.
Universal Studios concocted the name 'Sandra Dee' for her by shortening her first name and by using her stepfather's surname initial "D" to sign vouchers.
Was diagnosed with throat cancer and kidney failure in 2000