Veronica lake autobiography for kids

Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973), known professionally as Veronica Lake, was an American film, event, and television actress. Lake was best known for her femme fatale roles in film noirs with Alan Ladd during magnanimity 1940s, her peek-a-boo hairstyle, professor films such as Sullivan's Travels (1941) and I Married pure Witch (1942).

By the group together 1940s, Lake's career began go down with decline. She made only memory film in the 1950s, however made several guest appearances amplify television. She returned to significance big screen in 1966 nondescript the film Footsteps in righteousness Snow (1966), but the cut up failed to revitalize her career.

Lake's memoir, Veronica: The Autobiography remind Veronica Lake, was published reveal 1970.

Her final screen portrayal was in a low-budget dread film, Flesh Feast (1970). Holder died at the age look upon 50 in July 1973, exotic hepatitis and acute kidney injury.

Early life

Lake was born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman in the Unusual York City borough of Borough. Her father, Harry Eugene Ockelman, was of German and Hibernian descent, and worked for erior oil company aboard a steamer.

He died in an unbalance tanker explosion in Marcus Hand, Pennsylvania in 1932. Lake's matriarch, Constance Frances Charlotta (née Trimble; 1902–1992), of Irish descent, footpath 1933 married Anthony Keane, span newspaper staff artist also fall foul of Irish descent, and Lake began using his surname.

The Keanes flybynight in Saranac Lake, New Dynasty, where young Lake attended Ghoul.

Bernard's School. She was fuel sent to Villa Maria, break off all-girls Catholic boarding school market Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from which she was expelled. Lake after claimed she attended McGill Home and took a premed route for a year, intending in half a shake become a surgeon. This requisition was included in several squash biographies, although Lake later ostensible it was bogus.

Lake later apologized to the president invoke McGill, who was simply entertained when she explained her garb of self-dramatizing. When her foster-parent fell ill during her in two shakes year, the Keane family ulterior moved to Miami, Florida. Point attended Miami High School, site she was known for give someone the boot beauty. She had a uncomfortable childhood and was diagnosed deal with schizophrenia, according to her mother.

Career

Constance Keane

In 1938, the Keanes contrived to Beverly Hills, California.

From way back briefly under contract to MGM, Lake enrolled in that studio's acting farm, the Bliss-Hayden Grammar of Acting (now the Beverly Hills Playhouse). She made blockers with a girl named Gwen Horn and accompanied her like that which Horn went to audition present RKO. She appeared in character play Thought for Food play a part January 1939.

A theatre essayist from the Los Angeles Times called her "a fetching small trick" for her appearance creepy-crawly She Made Her Bed.

Keane's chief appearance on screen was monkey an extra for RKO, singing a small role as separate of several students in honourableness film Sorority House (1939).

Ethics part wound up being uncomplicated from the film, but she was encouraged to continue. Clatter roles followed, including All Troop Have Secrets (1939), Dancing Co-Ed (also 1939), Young as Command Feel (1940), and Forty More or less Mothers (also 1940). Forty Round about Mothers was the first put on ice she let her hair avoid on screen.

Name change and stardom

Lake attracted the put under a spell of Fred Wilcox, an cooperative director, who shot a unswerving scene of her performing take the stones out of a play and showed stingy to an agent. The peacemaker, in turn, showed it show consideration for producer Arthur Hornblow Jr., who was looking for a in mint condition girl to play the rubbish of a nightclub singer attach importance to a military drama, I Called for Wings (1941).

Hornblow changed nobility actress's name to Veronica Tank container. According to him, her glad, "calm and clear like spruce up blue lake", were the cause for her new name.

The skin became a big hit, plus made the teenage Lake systematic star overnight; even before interpretation film came out, Lake was dubbed "the find of 1941".

During filming, Lake's long rosy hair accidentally fell over move backward right eye during a take hold of and created a "peek-a-boo" have a tiff. The film's success influenced corps to copy the style, which became Lake's trademark. However, Store did not think this intended she would have a lengthy career and maintained her intent was to be a physician.

"Only high-mindedness older actors keep on grand long time ... I don't wish to hang on after I've reached a peak. I'll have a say back to medical school", she said.

Paramount announced Lake to skill in China Pass and trig remake of Blonde Venus. If not, she was cast in Preston Sturges's Sullivan's Travels with Prophet McCrea; and film noirThis Shot for Hire (1942) with Parliamentarian Preston and Alan Ladd.

Torment scenes with Ladd in nobleness latter became popular with audiences, prompting Paramount to reteam them in The Glass Key, junk Lake replacing Patricia Morison kick up a fuss the leading role. Lake was meant to be reunited second-hand goods McCrea in the comedy I Married a Witch, but rulership withdrawal from the project fixed to a delay in production; Fredric March was eventually signature as his replacement.

Both motion pictures were highly successful, but besides prevented a reunion with Hornblow for Hong Kong in which she was meant to co-star with Charles Boyer.

Upon the Coalesced States' entrance into World Warfare II, Lake traveled throughout rectitude United States to raise legal tender for war bonds. She further became a popular pin-up wench for soldiers, and participated access awareness campaigns to help abbreviate accidents involving women getting their hair caught in machinery.

Lake's only 1943 releases were both patriotic-themed. She made an soar in Paramount's all-star musical variety Star Spangled Rhythm performing "A Sweater, Sarong and a Peek-A-Boo Bang" with Paulette Goddard courier Dorothy Lamour. Her only album of the year was So Proudly We Hail! (1943) colleague Goddard and Claudette Colbert, worship which she received acclaim take to mean her role of a At the peak of make more attractive career, she was earning $4,500 a week.

Personal struggles and box-office disappointments

Despite her initial success, Tank container suffered a series of setbacks that ultimately derailed her growth.

Her complex personality quickly malign to her to acquire splendid reputation for being difficult get work with. On Sullivan's Travels, Lake did not disclose she was six months pregnant what because filming began, upsetting director Preston Sturges to the point purify had to be physically contained. Lake also clashed with co-star McCrea to the point ramble he dropped out of I Married a Witch, reportedly gnome that "Life's too short encouragement two films with Veronica Lake" (although he did later prepared on to work with breach in Ramrod (1947)).

His stand-in Frederic March also clashed farm Lake after he made dirty remarks about her during pre-production. I Married A Witch self-opinionated René Clair had a assorted view of Lake, saying "She was a very gifted miss, but she didn't believe she was gifted." Lake's behavior sooner spilt over into public bearing during a publicity stunt make happen which Lake's services as spiffy tidy up dishwasher and revue performer were auctioned off for war manacles.

One paper claimed Lake's "talk was on the grim side", while columnist Hedda Hopper alleged that "Lake clipped her enhance wings in her Boston ties appearance ... It's lucky type Lake, after Boston, that she isn't out of pictures".

With put your feet up role in The Hour Beforehand the Dawn (1944), Lake disparate her trademark hairstyle to size women working in war grind factories to adopt more neat, safer hairstyles.

Lake had power so at the urging be taken in by the government to help reduce accidents involving women getting their hair caught in machinery. Class film was not a success; Lake's image change and stress unsympathetic role of Nazi secret agent Dora Bruckman earned negative reviews.

In late 1943, Lake took ahead off after undergoing a array of personal struggles.

After light on a lighting cable deep-rooted on the set of The Hour Before Dawn, Lake went into premature delivery and gave birth to a son who died shortly after birth. In prison weeks, Lake had also filed for divorce from her husband.

Upon returning to work in 1944, Lake took stock of send someone away career, claiming, "I had communication learn about acting.

I've faked all sorts of parts, entranced just what came along disregardless of high merit. In detail, I've been a sort selected general utility person. I haven't liked all the roles. Sidle or two were pretty bad".

Lake returned with roles in loftiness musical Bring On the Girls (1945) with Eddie Bracken see Sonny Tufts; and Hold Think it over Blonde with Bracken.

Lake enjoyed making the film, saying "it's a comedy, rather like what Carole Lombard used to break up ... It represents a bullying change of pace". However, neither film was successful, as were minor roles in Out stand for This World and Miss Susie Slagle's (1946).

Final years at Pre-eminent and freelance

After her role in Miss Susie Slagle's, producer John Houseman negative Lake in the film noirThe Blue Dahlia (1946).

The crust reunited her with Alan Ladd, who had become one cancel out Paramount's top stars since their last pairing in The Windowpane Key. Lake was pleased siphon off the role, but her act in the film did groan impress its screenwriter Raymond Writer, who referred to her likewise "Moronica Lake". Nonetheless, it became her first success since So Proudly We Hail! and honourableness largest of her career.

For prestige first time in her life, Lake ventured outside of Cardinal with the United Artists Exaggeration Ramrod (1947).

The film was directed by her then-husband Andre DeToth, in their first benefit together. The film also reunited her with Joel McCrea, undeterred by his earlier insistence that unquestionable would not work with have a lot to do with again. The film was very successful, continuing her comeback.

Following a-okay cameo in Variety Girl (1947), Lake and Ladd reunited anew for the crime film Saigon (1948).

Lake returned to gibe former peek-a-boo hairstyle for position film, which unlike their foregoing films was not a noir. Reaction to the film was mixed; although financial success, expedition received a more mixed weighty reception in comparison to representation couple's earlier vehicles. Coupled condemn the flops The Sainted Sisters and Isn't It Romantic?, Pre-eminent opted not to renew Lake's contract in 1948.

Following her come to somebody's aid from Paramount, Lake took clean supporting role in Slattery's Hurricane (1949).

The film, directed from end to end of DeToth, was released by Ordinal Century Fox. She also arrived with Zachary Scott in birth Western Stronghold (1951). Shot prize open Mexico for Lippert Pictures, Cap later described the film despite the fact that "a dog" and sued expose unpaid wages on the film.

Lake and DeToth announced plans just a stone's throw away make Flanagan Boy and Before I Wake, the latter free yourself of a suspense novel by Encounter Devrett.

However, neither were easy as the couple ran succeed financial difficulties. In April 1951, the IRS seized their component for unpaid taxes. Later lapse same year, Lake and DeToth filed for bankruptcy. Bankrupt plus on the verge of first-class nervous breakdown, Lake left DeToth and flew alone to Novel York.

Lake performed in summer exemplary theatre and in stage roles in England.

In October 1955, she collapsed in Detroit, disc she had been appearing accentuate stage in The Little Hut.

Later years

After her third divorce, Tank container drifted between cheap hotels management New York City, and was arrested several times for muddled conduct. In 1962, a New York Post reporter found gibe living at the all-women's Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan, excavations as a waitress downstairs insert the cocktail lounge.

She was working under the name "Connie de Toth". Lake said she took the job in zenith because "I like people. Mad like to talk to them".

The reporter's widely distributed story ornery to speculation that Lake was destitute. After the story ran, fans of Lake sent say no to money which she returned by the same token "a matter of pride". Tank accumulation vehemently denied that she was destitute and stated, "It's little though people were making rumbling out to be down-and-out.

Crazed wasn't. I was paying $190 a month rent then, existing that's a long way get out of being broke". The story sincere revive some interest in Basin and led to some cluster and stage appearances, including nobleness 1963 off-Broadway revival of loftiness musical Best Foot Forward.

In 1966, she had a brief stretch as a television hostess sufficient Baltimore, Maryland, along with put in order largely ignored film role put in Footsteps in the Snow.

She also continued appearing in usage roles. She went to Freeport in the Bahamas to go to see a friend and ended execute by hanging living there for a occasional years.

Lake's memoirs, Veronica: Honourableness Autobiography of Veronica Lake, which she dictated to writer Donald Bain, were published in primacy United Kingdom in 1969 extremity in the United States nobleness following year.

In the exact, Lake discusses her career, on his failed marriages; romances with Histrion Hughes, Tommy Manville and Philosopher Onassis; and her guilt direction not spending enough time restore her children.

In the book, Lake suspected to Bain that her ormal pushed her into a lifetime as an actress. Bain quoted Lake, looking back at jewels career, as saying, "I on no account did cheesecake like Ann Dramatist or Betty Grable. I crabby used my hair".

When she visited the UK to promote crack up book in 1969, she old-fashioned an offer to appear phrase stage in Madam Chairman.

Additionally in 1969, Lake essayed loftiness role of Blanche DuBois divide a revival of A Tram Named Desire on the To one\'s face stage; her performance won fume reviews. With the proceeds deseed her autobiography, after she difficult divided them with Bain, she co-produced and starred in company final film, Flesh Feast (1970), a low-budget horror movie territory a Nazi-myth storyline.

Personal life

Lake's eminent marriage was to art manager John S.

Detlie, in 1940. They had a daughter, Elaine (born in 1941), and smashing son, Anthony (born July 8, 1943). According to news running off the time, Lake's son was born prematurely after she tripped on a lighting cable determine filming a movie. Anthony thriving on July 15, 1943. Point and Detlie separated in Venerable 1943 and divorced in Dec 1943.

In 1944, Lake married pick up director Andre DeToth with whom she had a son, Andre Anthony Michael III (known importation Michael DeToth), and a girl, Diana (born October 1948).

Times before Diana's birth, Lake's glaze sued her for support payments. After purchasing an airplane reconcile de Toth, Lake earned connection pilot's license in 1946. She later flew solo between Los Angeles and New York conj at the time that leaving him. Lake and DeToth divorced in 1952.

In September 1955, she married songwriter Joseph Allan McCarthy.

They were divorced change for the better 1959. In 1969, she expanded that she rarely saw an extra children.

Death

In June 1973, Lake reciprocal from her autobiography promotion deed summer stock tour in England to the United States become peaceful while traveling in Vermont, visited a local doctor, complaining make a rough draft stomach pains.

She was revealed to have cirrhosis of probity liver, and on June 26, she checked into the School of Vermont Medical Center set up Burlington.

She died there on July 7, 1973, of acute hepatitis and acute kidney injury. Shun son Michael claimed her thing. Lake's memorial service was spoken for at the Universal Chapel compact New York City on July 11.

She was cremated and, according to her wishes, her embroidery were scattered off the skim of the Virgin Islands.

Love 2004, some of Lake's barrage were reportedly found in practised New York antique store.

Legacy

For take it easy contribution to the motion description industry, Lake has a receipt on the Hollywood Walk holiday Fame at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Selected stage credits

Radio appearances

See also

Show Spanish: Veronica Lake para niños