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Mary Pickford

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(April 8, 1892 - May 29, 1979)

Mary Pickford was born Gladys Louise Smith on April 8, 1892, in Toronto, Canada. When Mary was six years old her father died. As a child Mary began acting to help support her family. By 1910 Mary had appeared in more than fifty silent films. She was just five feet tall and often played the role of a child. Mary married Owen Moore, an actor, in 1911. She starred in a string of hit movies including Stella Maris, Pollyanna, and My Best Girl. Mary became the highest paid actress in Hollywood. She was nicknamed "America's Sweetheart". Her brother, Jack, and sister, Lottie, also became actors. Mary divorced Owen and married actor Douglas Fairbanks in March 1920. Later that year Mary's sister-in-law, Olive Thomas, died after accidentally being poisoned. Mary joined Douglas, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith to form United Artists Studios. She was also a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.



Mary and Douglas lived in a lavish mansion in Beverly Hills called "Pickfair". In 1929 Mary starred in Coquette, her first sound film, and won an Academy Award. Tired of making movies Mary decided to retire. Her final film was the 1933 western Secrets. Mary and Douglas divorced in 1936. The following year she married actor Charles "Buddy" Rogers. She and Charles adopted two children (Ronnie and Roxanne). Mary was offered the role of Norma Desmond in the 1950 drama Sunset Boulevard but she turned it down. She published her autobiography, Sunshine And Shadow, in 1955. Mary had a drinking problem and rarely made public appearances. She was presented with an honorary Oscar at the 1976 Academy Awards. Mary died on May 29, 1979 from a cerebral hemorrhage. She was cremated and her ashes are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006
 

"I never liked one of my pictures in its entirety." ~ Mary


A letter from Mary


Alice White

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 (August 24, 1904 - February 19, 1983)

Alice White was born Alva White on August 24, 1904. Her mother, a former chorus girl, died when she was just three years old. When Alice was a teenager she moved to Hollywood and began working as a secretary. She found a job working for Charlie Chaplin who encouraged her to start acting. In 1928 she appeared in eight films including Gentleman Prefer Blondes and Show Girl. Alice had a bubbly onscreen personality and was often compared to Clara Bow. Her "helmet" blonde hair and slim figure would become her trademark. In 1931 she took a break from her career. There were rumors that she was unhappy with her salary and had become difficult to work with. Alice became involved in a love triangle with British actor John Warburton and producer Sy Bartlett. She accused Warburton of beating her so badly she needed reconstructive surgery on her nose. Warburton claimed that as retaliation Alice and Sy hired thugs to disfigure him.



In 1933 Alice married Sy and tried to make a comeback. Unfortunately the scandals had damaged her reputation and she could only get minor roles. Her marriage to Sy came to an end 1937. She married screenwriter John Roberts in 1941 but she divorced him eight years later. In court she said he "threw things and wasn't very nice". Alice's last film role was in the 1949 drama Flamingo Road. For many years she lived with musician William Hinshaw. She never had any children. With her movie star days behind her Alice went back to work as a secretary. In 1958 she made a rare television appearance on The Ann Sothern Show. As she grew older Alice stayed out of the spotlight but continued to answer the fan mail she received from around the world. She died on February 19, 1983 after suffering a stroke. Alice is buried at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2012



"I never look back. What's past is past. I never saved a clipping when I
was a star." ~ Alice



Maria Montez

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(June 6, 1912 - September 7, 1951)

Maria Montez came from the Domican and starred in a string of hit adventure films. Her exotic beauty made her the "Queen of technicolor". She married her second husband French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont in 1942. Maria's life came to a sudden end at age thirty-nine when she had a heart attack and drowned in her bathtub.


From the New York Times:

Maria Montez, screen star, died today in a bathtub of her palatial home in Suresnes, a Paris suburb. She was 31 years old. Physicians said they believed death had been caused by a heart attack while the actress - proud that her figure never topped 125 pounds - was taking her daily bath in extremely hot water mixed with reducing salts. But the possibility of an accidental drowning following a heart attack was not entirely ruled out. A hard worker in Hollywood and Continental studios who had just completed her twenty-eighth film, Miss Montez complained about her heart. "I'd better watch that because it might end up by playing me a dirty trick," she remarked half jokingly. She was found unconscious in the bath by her sister, Anita.  Only her forehead was above water.  Anita called a doctor and firemen. The firemen used artificialrespiration for three hours in a vain effort to resuscitate the auburn-haired, brown-eyed actress.



"When I look at myself, I am so beautiful I scream with joy!" ~ Maria


Maria is buried at the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris, France


Party Time

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Classic stars always knew how to have a good time!


 Janet Gaynor, Marion Davies, and Dolores del Rio at a party

 Jean Harlow, Irving Thalberg, and Norma Shearer at a wedding

Jayne Mansfield at her birthday party

Gloria Swanson, Marion Davies, and Jean Harlow at a costume party

 Rita Hayworth at a Halloween party

 Norma Shearer at a party

 Joan Crawford and Constance Bennett at a costume party

 Jean Harlow and Sally Eilers at a premiere

Lana Turner and Tyrone Power at a dinner party

 Clark Gable and Carole Lombard at a western party

Mary Pickford and Marion Davies at a party

Betty Grable, Martha Raye, and Dorothy Lamour at a costume party

Silent Stars

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These beauties were Hollywood's first real stars


 Barbara La Marr ~ The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful

Marie Prevost ~ Poverty led to her early death

 
Mary Miles Minter ~ Scandal destroyed her career

 
Alice White ~ Her success ended with the talkies


Thelma Hill ~ A Mack Sennett bathing beauty

 Gwen Lee - Always played supporting roles

Olive Borden ~ The Joy Girl

 Marion Davies ~ Produced her own films

Mary Pickford ~ America's Sweetheart

Janet Gaynor ~ Won the first Academy Award

Clara Bow ~ The It Girl

 Billie Dove - Retired from films in 1932

 Mae Murray - The Girl With The Bee Stinged Lips

 Mabel Normand - Died from tuberculosis at age thirty-four

Linda Darnell

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(October 16, 1923 - April 10, 1965)

Linda Darnell was born Monetta Eloyse Darnell on October 16, 1923, in Dallas, Texas. When she was a child Linda worked as a model and appeared in local stage productions. Linda's mother became obsessed with making her a star. A Hollywood talent scout got Linda a screen test in 1937 but when the studio discovered that Linda was only thirteen they sent her home. Two years later she was offered a contract with 20th Century Fox. Linda's first starring role was in the 1940 drama Star Dust. The movie was loosely based on her own life. Over the next decade she appeared in many successful films including Blood And Sand and The Mark Of Zorro. Linda married J. Peverell Marley, a cameraman, in 1944. That same year Look magazine named her one of the four most beautiful women in the world. In 1947 Linda was cast in the lead role in the highly anticipated film Forever Amber. The movie got a lot of publicity but it failed to live up to expectations. Linda and J. Peverell adopted a daughter, Lola, in 1948.



During the making of the 1949 film A Letter To Three Wives Linda began a tumultuous affair with director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Linda divorced J. Peverell in 1952. Her second marriage, to brewery heir Phillip Liebmann, lasted only a year. In 1957 she married Merle Robertson, an airline pilot, and decided to take a break from making movies. Linda made occasional appearances on television shows like What's My Line. She and Merle divorced in 1962. By this time Linda had a serious drinking problem and was close to bankruptcy. She wanted to make a comeback and landed a role in the 1965 western Black Spurs. In April 1965 Linda went to Illinois to visit a friend. On April 9 she watched Star Dust on television and went to sleep. During the night the house caught on fire and Linda was burned over eighty percent of her body. She died the next day from her injuries. Linda was just forty-one years old. She was cremated and her ashes were buried at Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006

With her mother


"Rumors don't bother me. I learned long ago to disregard them." ~ Linda

 With her daughter

A letter from Linda

Peggy Shannon

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(January 10, 1907 - May 11, 1941)

Peggy Shannon was a red-headed starlet who was supposed to be the next Clara Bow. Although she got some good roles her movie career never took off. In 1941 Peggy was married to her second husband and suffering health problems due to her drinking. She died of a heart attack at the young age of thirty-four.





"I am as much like Clara Bow as onion soup is like a fine day." ~ Peggy




Peggy is buried at Hollywood Forever in California with the epitaph "That
Red Headed Girl"

A card from Peggy

Gloria Dickson

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(August 13, 1917 - April 10, 1945)

Gloria Dickson was called "the luckiest girl in Hollywood" after she landed her first leading role at the age of nineteen. Unfortunately her career was a failure and she made mostly low budget movies. She was married three times and her heavy drinking took a toll on her looks. Gloria's life came to an early end when she died in a 1945 fire.





"Clothes are my worst extravagance and costume jewelry’s my secret sorrow and
little cross." ~ Gloria



Gloria is buried at Hollywood Forever in California under her real name
of Thais Dickerson

A note from Gloria


Jeanette Loff

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(October 9, 1906 - August 4, 1942)

 Jeanette Loff had a beautiful face and a soprano voice. She played ingenues in several films but never became a major star. By age thirty-six her career was over and she was married to her second husband. Jeanette's life ended suddenly after she ingested ammonia but it's unclear whether it was a suicide or accident.



From the New York Times:

"Mrs. Bert Friedlob, who was known on the screen a few years ago as Jeanette Loff, died in a Hollywood hospital last night of ammonia poisoning. Beverly Hills police said that she took ammonia Saturday morning, either accidentally or intentionally. There is to be an autopsy. The former actress was the wife of a wholesale liquor dealer. She was 35 years old. She was married before to Harry Roesbloom, from whom she obtained a divorce in 1929. Miss Loff achieved minor prominence in the films in the Twenties and in 1930. Of Scandinavian descent, she was born in Idaho on Oct. 9, 1906. Her real name was Jeanett Lov. At the age of 11 she played the title role of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." At 16 she was a lyric soprano and had the leading role in an operetta, "Treasure Hunters."Among the motion pictures in which Miss Loff appeared were: "Annapolis," "Geraldine," "At Yale," "Love Over Night," "The Sophomore," "Man Made Women," "Party Girl," "Racketeer," "The Boudoir Diplomat," and "The King of Jazz."


"They chose me from 50 other girls tested - do you suppose Broadway could have done all that for me." ~ Jeanette



Jeanette is buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California


Sally Eilers

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(December 11, 1908 - January 5, 1978)

Sally Eilers became a popular actress after she was discovered by Mack Sennett. She was named a WAMPAS baby star of 1928 and appeared in more than sixty films. Her tumultuous love life included four divorces and several engagements. As she grew older Sally suffered from health problems and died of a heart attack at age sixty-nine.




 
"I like the limelight. I'm the girl who yearned to be an actress and got her wish." ~ Sally

With her husband Harry Brown and their son


Sally is buried in the Freedom Mausoleum at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California


Jean Harlow

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(March 3, 1911 - June 7, 1937)

Jean Harlow was born Harlean Harlow Carpenter on March 3, 1911, in Kansas City, Missouri. When she was a child her parents divorced and Jean moved to California with her mother. At the age of sixteen Jean married Charles McGrew. The marriage lasted two years. Jean's mother, a failed actress, encouraged her to go into show business. She appeared as an extra in movies like Double Whoopee and The Love Parade. In 1930 she landed her first starring role in the drama Hell's Angels. It was hit and Jean became one of Hollywood's hottest actresses. Women all over the country began to copy her platinum blonde hairstyle. In July 1932 Jean married MGM executive Paul Bern. Two months after their wedding Paul committed suicide by shooting himself. There were rumors that Paul had been impotent but Jean always claimed they had a happy marriage.



Her success continued with starring roles in Dinner At Eight, Bombshell, and Wife Vs. Secretary. Jean shocked people by not wearing underwear and putting ice on her breasts before shooting a scene. Despite her sexy image Jean's friends all called her "The Baby". In 1933 she married Harold Rosson, a cameraman. They divorced in 1934 and she began dating actor William Powell, ex-husband of Carole Lombard. Jean became pregnant but she had an abortion because William would not marry her. In the spring of 1937 she began working on the film Saratoga with Clark Gable. She got sick and collapsed on the set. Although her mother was a Christian Scientist Jean was given medical treatment. She died on June 7, 1937 from uremic poisoning. Jean was just twenty-six years old. She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. William paid for her crypt which is inscribed "Our Baby".

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006



“Underwear makes me uncomfortable and besides my parts have 
to breathe.” ~ Jean Harlow



Norma Shearer

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(August 10, 1902 - June 12, 1983)

Norma Shearer was born Edith Norma Shearer on August 10, 1902, in Montreal, Canada. After seeing the legendary Dolly Sisters perform on stage she decided she was going to become an actress. Her mother took Norma and her sister to New York in 1920. Norma auditioned for the Ziegfeld Follies but was told she wasn't beautiful enough to be in the show. She got work as an extra in several silent films including The Flapper. Norma began dating producer Irving Thalberg, who helped her get a contract with MGM. She appeared in silent films like He Who Gets Slapped and easily made the transition to talkies. Norma converted to Judaism and married Irving in September 1927. They had two children together - Irving Jr was born in 1930 and Katherine was born in 1935. She was not very maternal and had a distant relationship with her children. Norma won an Academy Award for her performance in the 1931 drama The Divorcee. She starred in some of MGM's most prestigious films including Smilin' Through, Romeo And Juliet, and The Barretts Of Wimpole Street. Norma earned more than six thousand dollars a week. Other actresses at the studio were jealous of her success and claimed she only got the roles because she was married to Irving. She was nicknamed "Queen Norma". Her brother, Douglas Shearer, became an Oscar 
winning sound engineer.

 
With her husband Irving


In 1936 Irving died from lobular pneumonia at the age of thirty-seven. She was devastated and took two years off from making movies. In 1938 she returned to the screen starring in the epic Marie Antoinette. Her performance earned her another Oscar nomination but she lost to Bette Davis. Norma started dating again and was romantically linked to actors Jimmy Stewart and Mickey Rooney. She also had a serious relationship with George Raft. She costarred with Joan Crawford in The Women and with Clark Gable in Idiot's Delight. Norma was offered the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind but turned it down. In 1942 she married Martin Arrouge, a ski instructor who was twenty years younger than her. By this time she had lost interest in her career and decided to retire. Her final film was the 1942 comedy Her Cardboard Lover. Norma spent much of her time traveling and enjoyed living life away from the spotlight. During the 1960s she began suffering from insomnia and underwent electric shock treatments. In her later years she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and lived at the Motion Picture Retirement Home. She died on June 12, 1983, from pneumonia. Norma is buried next to Irving at Forest Lawn Memorial Park 
in Glendale, California.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006



"Never let them see you in public after you've turned thirty-five. You're finished if you do!" ~ Norma


A letter from Norma

My Hollywood Treasures

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I love finding rare movie memorabilia for my collection


A skirt worn by Bette Davis in The Great Lie

A painting done by Janet Gaynor

Lana Turner's lipstick holder

 Paulette Goddard's book with a bookplate designed by Charlie Chaplin

Mary Pickford's trinket box

 A porcelain poodle owned by Ann Rutherford

A prop from Betty Grable's movie The Shocking Miss Pilgrim

Ava Gardner's sugar bowl

Judy Garland's book autographed by Sophie Tucker

 A statue owned by Marion Davies

Jeanette MacDonald

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(June 18, 1903 - January 14, 1965)

Jeanette Anna MacDonald was born on June 18, 1903, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of three daughters. Jeanette was a talented singer and went to New York to study music. She began her career on Broadway. In 1929 Jeanette made her film debut in the musical The Love Parade. It was a hit and Jeanette became one of Hollywood's hottest actresses. Jeanette's success continued with starring roles in The Lottery Bride and Love Me Tonight. Her sister, Marie Blake, also became an actress. Jeanette signed a lucrative contract with MGM in 1934. The following year she was paired with baritone Nelson Eddy in Naughty Marietta. Jeanette and Nelson became one of Hollywood's most popular duos and were nicknamed "America's Singing Sweethearts". They made seven more movies together including Maytime and Sweethearts.



Jeanette and Nelson were romantically involved for many years but kept their affair a secret. In June 1937 Jeanette married actor Gene Raymond. Although they appeared happy in public Jeanette and Gene had a troubled marriage. Jeanette was unable to have children and their were rumors that Gene was gay. In 1939 Jeanette was voted "Queen Of Hollywood" in a nationwide poll. Her $300,000 a year salary made her one of the highest paid actresses. After making several unsuccessful films Jeanette decided to leave MGM in 1942. Jeanette performed live concerts and appeared in several stage productions. In 1958 Jeanette re-teamed with Nelson to record an album of duets. As Jeanette got older health problems forced her to stop working. She died on January 14, 1965 from a heart attack. Jeanette is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006

 
   

"The one thing I missed was never having children. It just wasn't in the
cards, I guess." ~ Jeanette



My Autograph Collection

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I enjoy collecting autographs from classic actresses


Judy Garland

 Ava Gardner

 Marion Davies

 Lucille Ball

Joan Crawford

Jean Harlow (signed by her mother)

Jayne Mansfield

Norma Shearer

 Myrna Loy

 Betty Grable

 Lana Turner

 Lupe Velez

 Gloria Grahame

Susan Peters

Poodle Lovers

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For many classic actresses an adorable poodle was the perfect accessory


Natalie Wood

 Elizabeth Taylor

Lana Turner

Bette Davis

 Betty Grable

Jayne Mansfield

Joan Crawford

 Audrey Hepburn

Gloria Grahame

 Ann Miller

 Gloria DeHaven

 Grace Kelly

 Greer Garson

 Constance Bennett

Living In Luxury

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Classic stars lived in the most luxurious homes


 Jayne Mansfield in her pink bathroom

 Joan Crawford in her living room

 Jean Harlow sitting by her pool

 Jeanette MacDonald playing her piano

 Ava Gardner in her bedroom

 Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks at their mansion "Pickfair"

 Carole Lombard by her fireplace

 Norma Shearer at her beach home

Rita Hayworth sets her table

 Carole Landis and her dog Donner at home

 Lana Turner on her tennis court

Centennial Summer - Linda Darnell's Dress

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I own a dress Linda Darnell wore in the 1946 movie Centennial Summer







Joan Crawford

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 (March 23, 1904 - May 10, 1977)

Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1904, in San Antonio, Texas. Her parents separated before she was born. The family was poor and Joan worked as a maid to pay for her school tuition. Her first marriage, to James Welton, lasted less than a year. When she was nineteen she won an amateur dance contest and decided to go to Hollywood. There are rumors that in her early days she appeared in pornographic films. In 1925 she was offered a contract with MGM. Joan was given bit parts in movies like Pretty Lady and The Circle. Her big break came when she landed the lead role in the 1928 film Our Dancing Daughters. She married actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr in 1929. Their marriage lasted four years. She worked with Clark Gable in eight movies including Laughing Sinners and Dancing Lady. The two stars had an off-screen romance that lasted for decades. Joan became one of the most successful actresses of the 1930s with starring roles in The Women, Grand Hotel, and Rain. She loved her fans and personally responded to much of her fan mail. In October 1935 she married actor Franchot Tone. She wanted to have a baby but suffered several miscarriages. Joan divorced Franchot in 1939. That same year she adopted a daughter, Christina.



Joan would later adopt a son named Christopher and twin daughters named Cynthia and Cathy. She married Phillip Terry, an actor, in 1942, but the marriage ended after four years. Joan was bisexual and enjoyed numerous affairs with women. After making several flops MGM dropped her contract in 1943. Joan made a comeback with the 1945 drama Mildred Pierce. She won an Academy Award for her performance. Two years later she was nominated for another Oscar for her role in Possessed. Joan married Pepsi-Cola executive Alfred Steel in 1956. After his death in 1959 Joan served on the board of directors of Pepsi-Cola. In 1963 she teamed up with her longtime rival Bette Davis to star in the horror film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. Now in her fifties Joan had a drinking problem and was having trouble finding work. She appeared in low budget movies like Berserk and Trog. Joan died on May 10, 1977, from pancreatic cancer. She was cremated and her ashes were interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. In her will she left a small sum of money to Cathy and Cynthia and nothing to Christopher and Christina. A few years later Christina wrote a book, Mommie Dearest, that portrayed Joan as an abusive mother. Cathy and Cynthia have always disputed Christina's claims.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006



"I never go out unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door" ~ Joan


A letter from Joan

Ava Gardner

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(December 24, 1922 - January 25, 1990)

Ava Lavinia Gardner was born on December 24, 1922, in Grabtown, North Carolina. She was the youngest of seven children. In 1941 an MGM talent scout saw a photo of Ava and arranged for her to have a screen test. When MGM president Louis B. Mayer saw the test he said "She can't act. She can't talk. She's terrific". Shortly after arriving in Hollywood Ava began dating actor Mickey Rooney. Ava and Mickey married in 1942. Mickey was unfaithful and Ava left him a year later. Ava got small parts in movies like Ghosts On The Loose and Maisie Goes To Reno. She married bandleader Artie Shaw in 1945 but this marriage also ended in divorce. Ava's first leading role was in the 1946 film-noir The Killers. More hit films followed including The Barefoot Contessa, Showboat, and One Touch Of Venus. Ava was romantically involved with actor Robert Taylor and billionaire Howard Hughes.


 

In 1948 Ava started having an affair with married superstar Frank Sinatra. He divorced his wife and married Ava in November 1951. Ava became pregnant but she had an abortion because her marriage to Frank was so rocky. She and Frank separated in 1953 and divorced four years later. In 1954 Ava was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Mogambo. Tired of living in Hollywood Ava moved to Spain. Ava spent her time flamenco dancing and going to bullfights. She had a torrid romance with bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguin. In 1968 tax problems forced her to move to England where she would live the rest of her life. Ava continued acting in movies and on television until she suffered a stroke in the 1980s. Ava died on January 25, 1990 from pneumonia. She is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield, North Carolina. Her autobiography, Ava: My Story, was published after her death.

~ Original biography by Elizabeth Ann 2006

 

"What I'd really like to say about stardom is that it gave me 
everything I never wanted." ~ Ava


A letter from Ava

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