Carole Landis

Carole Landis

Rex Harrison, who had dined with her the previous night, discovered her body the day she committed suicide.

A feminist at a young age, she once tried to start a girls football team at school but got into trouble because it was considered "un-lady like"

A keen amateur photographer, she developed her own pictures.

According to a biography of Darryl F. Zanuck, she had a brief affair with him.

Actress Diana Lewis once gave Carole a gold cross as a gift. Carole wore the cross for the rest of her life and was even buried wearing it.



Became friendly with future author Jacqueline Susann in 1944 when they appeared together in the Broadway revue "The Lady Says Yes". The character of fragile, blonde Jennifer North in "Valley of the Dolls" is partially based on Landis.

Carole desperately wanted to become a mother but she suffered from endometriosis and could not have children. She had numerous other health problems during her life including dysentery, malaria, pneumonia, and depression.

Carole protested strongly and publicly against the nonsensical nickname "Ping Girl" (apparently short for "purring") coined by Hal Roach publicist Frank N. Seltzer in April 1940.

Her name was legally changed to Carole Landis on April 23, 1942.

In her musicals, Carole usually sang in her own voice.

Interred at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, USA, in the Everlasting Love area, Lot #814, Section #8.

Measurements: 37C-24-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Parents: Alfred Ridste, Norwegian railroad mechanic; Clara Stentek Ridste (Polish). They separated when Carole was a baby.

She chose the name Carole because she was a fan of Carole Lombard.

She initiated divorce proceedings against her last husband in March 1948 but the divorce was not final when she died.

She was the youngest of five children. Two of her brothers died when they were toddlers. Jerome was burned by scalding water and Lewis was accidentally shot.

Spent more time visiting troops during World War II than any other Hollywood star. She nearly died from malaria she contracted while traveling overseas.

Two older siblings: Dorothy Ridste Ross, born 1917, and Lawrence Ridste.


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