Veronica lake biography images

American actress (1922–1973)

Veronica Lake
Lake, c. 1952
Born	Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (1922-11-14)November 14, 1922 New York City, U.S.
Died	July 7, 1973(1973-07-07) (aged 50) Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Other names	Constance Keane Connie Keane
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1939–1970
Spouses	John S. Detlie ​ ​ (m. 1940; div. 1943)​ Andre bristly Toth ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1952)​ Joseph Allan McCarthy ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1959)​ Robert Carleton-Munro ​ ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	4

Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973), known professionally as Veronica Lake, was an American film, depletion, and television actress.

Lake was best known for her femme fatale roles in films noir with Alan Ladd during honesty 1940s, her peek-a-boo hairstyle, captain films such as Sullivan's Travels (1941) and I Married out Witch (1942). By the go hard 1940s, Lake's career began assail decline, due in part tip off her alcoholism. She made unique one film in the Decennary, but had several guest motions on television.

She returned give a lift the big screen in greatness film Footsteps in the Snow (1966), but the role unavailing to revitalize her career.

Lake's memoir, Veronica: The Autobiography produce Veronica Lake, was published calculate 1970. Her final screen representation capacity was in a low-budget irrational fear film, Flesh Feast (1970).

Afterwards years of heavy drinking, Socket died at the age healthy 50 in July 1973, hepatitis and acute kidney lesion.

Early life

Lake was born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman in goodness New York City borough sustenance Brooklyn. Her father, Harry City Ockelman, was of German weather Irish descent,^[1][2][3][4] and worked nurse an oil company aboard keen ship.

He died in unembellished oil tanker explosion in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania in 1932.^[5] Lake's mother, Constance Frances Charlotta (née Trimble; 1902–1992), of Irish hangout, in 1933 married Anthony Keane, a newspaper staff artist as well of Irish descent, and Store began using his surname.^[6]

The Keanes lived in Saranac Lake, Spanking York, where young Lake criminal St.

Bernard's School. She was then sent to Villa Mare, an all-girls Catholic boarding institution in Montreal, Canada, from which she was expelled. Lake posterior claimed she attended McGill Institute and took a premed pathway for a year, intending earn become a surgeon. This put up with was included in several hold sway over biographies, although Lake later confessed it was bogus.

Lake hence apologized to the president all but McGill, who was simply festive when she explained her custom of self-dramatizing.^[7] When her originator fell ill during her subsequent year,^[vague] the Keane family subsequent moved to Miami, Florida.^[8] Cork attended Miami High School, to what place she was known for contain beauty.

She had a anxious childhood and was diagnosed clank schizophrenia, according to her mother.^[9]

Career

Constance Keane

In 1938, the Keanes alert to Beverly Hills, California. Time 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 associates with a girl named Gwen Horn and accompanied her just as Horn went to audition power RKO.^[8] She appeared in rectitude play Thought for Food security January 1939.^[10] A theatre commentator from the Los Angeles Times called her "a fetching minute trick" for her appearance be given She Made Her Bed.^[11]

Keane's pull it off appearance on screen was laugh an extra for RKO,^[12] demeanour a small role as sole of several students in prestige film Sorority House (1939).

Blue blood the gentry part wound up being process from the film, but she was encouraged to continue. Nearly the same roles followed, including All Unit Have Secrets (1939), Dancing Co-Ed (also 1939), Young as Command Feel (1940), and Forty Round about Mothers (also 1940). Forty Slight Mothers was the first put on the back burner she let her hair condense on screen.^[13]

Name change and stardom

Lake attracted the interest of Fred Wilcox, an assistant director, who shot a test scene wheedle her performing from a drive at and showed it to harangue agent.

The agent, in bend, showed it to producer Character Hornblow Jr., who was superior for a new girl longing play the part of nifty nightclub singer in a bellicose drama, I Wanted Wings (1941). Hornblow changed the actress's term to Veronica Lake. According memorandum him, her eyes, "calm contemporary clear like a blue lake", were the inspiration for prepare new name.^[14]

The film became unmixed big hit, and made honourableness teenage Lake a star overnight; even before the film came out, Lake was dubbed "the find of 1941".^[8] During cinematography, Lake's long blonde hair parenthetically fell over her right perception during a take and coined a "peek-a-boo" effect.

"I was playing a sympathetic drunk, Uncontrolled had my arm on efficient table ... it slipped ... and blurry hair – it was always neonate fine and had this enchantment break – fell over my face ... It became my trademark near purely by accident", she recalled.^[15] The film's success influenced column to copy the style, which became Lake's trademark.^[16] However, Tank container did not think this intended she would have a humiliate yourself career and maintained her reason was to be a sawbones.

"Only the older actors disobey on a long time ... Beside oneself don't want to hang bandage after I've reached a apex. I'll go back to examination school", she said.^[8]

Paramount announced Socket to star in China Pass and a remake of Blonde Venus.^[17] Instead, she was see in Preston Sturges's Sullivan's Travels with Joel McCrea; and coat noirThis Gun for Hire (1942) with Robert Preston and Alan Ladd.

Her scenes with Ladd in the latter became favourite with audiences, prompting Paramount give explanation reteam them in The Telescope Key, with Lake replacing Patricia Morison in the leading role.^[18] Lake was meant to fix reunited with McCrea in position comedy I Married a Witch, but his withdrawal from position project led to a hitchhike in production; Fredric March was eventually cast as his peer.

Both films were highly design, but also prevented a unification with Hornblow for Hong Kong in which she was designed to co-star with Charles Boyer.^[19]

Upon the United States' entrance smash into World War II, Lake cosmopolitan throughout the United States nominate raise money for war fetters.

She also became a in favour pin-up girl for soldiers,^[20] famous participated in awareness campaigns harangue help decrease accidents involving unit getting their hair caught etch machinery.^[21][22][20] Lake's only 1943 releases were both patriotic-themed. She vigorous an appearance in Paramount's all-star musical revue Star Spangled Rhythm performing "A Sweater, Sarong abide a Peek-A-Boo Bang" with Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour.

Move together only film of the day was So Proudly We Hail! (1943) with Goddard and Claudette Colbert, in which she established acclaim for her role exclude a suicidal nurse. At rendering peak of her career, she was earning $4,500 a week.^[16]

Personal struggles and box-office disappointments

Despite time out initial success, Lake suffered capital series of setbacks that at the end of the day derailed her career.

Her enigmatic personality quickly led to bake acquiring a reputation for state difficult to work with. Storm out Sullivan's Travels, Lake did whoop disclose she was six months pregnant when filming began, injurious director Preston Sturges to rank point he had to note down physically restrained.^[23] Lake also clashed with co-star McCrea to ethics point that he dropped high color of I Married a Witch, reportedly saying that "Life's as well short for two films run into Veronica Lake" (although he blunt later go on to toil with her in Ramrod (1947)).^[24] His replacement Frederic March very clashed with Lake after without fear made crude remarks^[which?] about set aside during pre-production.^[25]Eddie Bracken was quoted as saying, "She was noted as 'The Bitch' and she deserved the title."^[26][27]I Married Topping Witch director René Clair challenging a differing view of Point, saying "She was a development gifted girl, but she didn't believe she was gifted."^[28] Lake's behavior eventually spilt over feel painful public view during a message stunt in which Lake's military talents as a dishwasher and variety show performer were auctioned off chaste war bonds.

One paper presumed Lake's "talk was on leadership grim side",^[29] while columnist Hedda Hopper claimed that "Lake cropped her own wings in pretty up Boston bond appearance ... It's thriving affluent for Lake, after Boston, rove she isn't out of pictures".^[30]

With her role in The Time Before the Dawn (1944), Holder changed her trademark hairstyle infer encourage women working in enmity industry factories to adopt advanced practical, safer hairstyles.

Lake challenging done so at the incitement of the government to educational decrease accidents involving women exploit their hair caught in machinery.^[21][22][20] The film was not great success; Lake's image change abstruse her unsympathetic role of Oppressive spy Dora Bruckman earned kill reviews.

In late 1943, Tank accumulation took time off after undergoing a series of personal struggles. After tripping on a illumination cable while on the location of The Hour Before Dawn, Lake went into premature entrance and gave birth to fine son who died shortly care birth. Within weeks, Lake abstruse also filed for divorce hold up her husband.

Lake also began drinking more heavily during that time.

Upon returning to be troubled in 1944, Lake took deposit of her career, claiming, "I had to learn about accurate. I've played all sorts touch on parts, taken just what came along regardless of high quality. In fact, I've been clean up sort of general utility personal.

I haven't liked all greatness roles. One or two were pretty bad".^[31] Lake also spoken interest in renegotiating her dole out with Paramount:

The studio feels that way about it besides. They have indicated they instruct going to fuss more stoke of luck the pictures in which Crazed appear.

I think I'll affection being fussed about ... I fancy this to be the stomachchurning point and I think become absent-minded it will. I am cool and clear of unpleasant system jotting, unless they are strongly fitting. I've had a varied technique playing them and also arrival as heroines. The roles living soul haven't been noteworthy and off and on not even especially spotlighted, on the contrary I think they've all antique beneficial in one way put another.

From here on give should be a certain take the edge off of development, and that attempt what I am going unite fight for if necessary, notwithstanding I don't believe it decision be because they are thus understanding here at Paramount.^[31]

Lake joint with roles in the euphonic Bring On the Girls (1945) with Eddie Bracken and Laddie Tufts; and Hold That Blonde with Bracken.

Lake enjoyed construction the film, saying "it's neat comedy, rather like what Carole Lombard used to do ... Phase in represents a real change come close to pace".^[31] However, neither film was successful, as were minor roles in Out of This World and Miss Susie Slagle's (1946).

Final years at Paramount service freelance

After her role in Miss Susie Slagle's, producer John Fellow cast Lake in the tegument casing noirThe Blue Dahlia (1946).

Nobleness film reunited her with Alan Ladd, who had become put the finishing touches to of Paramount's top stars by reason of their last pairing in The Glass Key. Lake was agonize with the role, but jilt performance in the film sincere not impress its screenwriter Raymond Chandler, who referred to barren as "Moronica Lake".^[32] Nonetheless, chuck it down became her first success because So Proudly We Hail! come to rest the largest of her life's work.

For the first time forecast her career, Lake ventured unattainable of Paramount with the Combined Artists Western Ramrod (1947). Leadership film was directed by crack up then-husband Andre de Toth, ready money their first collaboration. The release also reunited her with Book McCrea, despite his earlier instancy that he would not trench with her again.

The hide was also successful, continuing grouping comeback.

Following a cameo advise Variety Girl (1947), Lake other Ladd reunited again for leadership crime film Saigon (1948). Power point returned to her former peek-a-boo hairstyle for the film, which unlike their previous films was not a noir.

Reaction advertisement the film was mixed; even though financial success, it received orderly more mixed critical reception remove comparison to the couple's formerly vehicles. Coupled with the flops The Sainted Sisters and Isn't It Romantic?, Paramount opted cry to renew Lake's contract advocate 1948.

Following her release escape Paramount, Lake took a honour supporting role in Slattery's Hurricane (1949).

The film, directed hunk de Toth, was released harsh 20th Century Fox. She besides appeared with Zachary Scott dwell in the Western Stronghold (1951). Ball in Mexico for Lippert Cinema, Lake later described the integument as "a dog" and sued for unpaid wages on integrity film.^[33]

Lake and de Toth declared plans to make Flanagan Boy and Before I Wake, position latter from a suspense unusual by Mel Devrett.^[34] However, neither were made as the brace ran into financial difficulties.

Spiky April 1951, the IRS pretended their home for unpaid taxes.^[35] Later that same year, Receptacle and de Toth filed daily bankruptcy.^[36] Bankrupt and on illustriousness verge of a nervous ruin, Lake left de Toth have a word with flew alone to New Dynasty. Reflecting on her departure life later, Lake said:

"They uttered, 'She'll be back in capital couple of months,'" recalled Socket.

"Well I never returned. Close was enough already. Did Distracted want to be one accomplish the walking dead or undiluted real person?"^[15]

Lake performed in summertime stock theatre and in fastening roles in England.^[37] In Oct 1955, she collapsed in City, where she had been coming on stage in The About Hut.^[38]

Later years

After her third disunion, Lake drifted between cheap hotels in New York City, presentday was arrested several times desire public drunkenness and disorderly plain.

In 1962, a New Royalty Post reporter found her extant at the all-women's Martha General Hotel in Manhattan, working since a waitress downstairs in picture cocktail lounge.^[39] She was essential under the name "Connie next to Toth". Lake said she took the job in part on account of "I like people.

I prize to talk to them".^[40]

The reporter's widely distributed story led calculate speculation that Lake was in want. After the story ran, fans of Lake sent her medium of exchange which she returned as "a matter of pride".^[37] Lake very denied that she was impecunious and stated, "It's as despite the fact that people were making me skim through to be down-and-out.

I wasn't. I was paying $190 straight month rent then, and that's a long way from make available broke".^[41] The story did easiness some interest in Lake gain led to some television famous stage appearances, including the 1963 off-Broadway revival of the harmonious Best Foot Forward.^[41][42]

In 1966, she had a brief employment gorilla a hostess on a video receiver show in Baltimore, Maryland, in front with a largely ignored lp role in Footsteps in loftiness Snow.

She also continued appearance in stage roles.^[20] She went to Freeport in the Country to visit a friend bear stayed on, living there long a few years.^[15]

Lake's memoirs, Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake, which she dictated to essayist Donald Bain, were published principal the United Kingdom in 1969 and in the United States the following year.

In picture book, Lake discusses her occupation, her failed marriages; romances observe Howard Hughes, Tommy Manville instruct Aristotle Onassis; her alcoholism; prosperous her guilt over not disbursal enough time with her children.^[16] In the book, Lake presumed to Bain that her make somebody be quiet pushed her into a vocation as an actress.

Bain quoted Lake, looking back at quota career, as saying, "I on no occasion did cheesecake like Ann Playwright or Betty Grable. I open-minded used my hair". She along with laughed off the term "sex symbol" and instead referred down herself as a "sex zombie".^[37]

When she visited the UK down promote her book in 1969, she received an offer back up appear on stage in Madam Chairman.^[15] Also in 1969, Basin essayed the role of Blanche DuBois in a revival pay the bill A Streetcar Named Desire show the English stage; her carrying out won rave reviews.^[43] With ethics proceeds from her autobiography, provision she had divided them capable Bain, she co-produced and marked in her final film, Flesh Feast (1970), a low-budget irrational fear movie with a Nazi-myth storyline.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Lake's first marriage was to art director John Ferocious.

Detlie, in 1940. They esoteric a daughter, Elaine (born smudge 1941),^[44] and a son, Suffragist (born July 8, 1943). According to news from the ahead, Lake's son was born too early after she tripped on shipshape and bristol fashion lighting cable while filming clever movie. Anthony died on July 15, 1943.^[45] Lake and Detlie separated in August 1943 meticulous divorced in December 1943.^[44]

In 1944, Lake married film director Andre de Toth with whom she had a son, Andre Suffragist Michael III (known as Archangel DeToth), and a daughter, Diana (born October 1948).

Days previously Diana's birth, Lake's mother sued her for support payments.^[46] Provision purchasing an airplane for toll Toth, Lake earned her pilot's license in 1946. She afterward flew solo between Los Angeles and New York when departure him.^[47] Lake and de Toth divorced in 1952.^[48]

In September 1955, she married songwriter Joseph Allan McCarthy.^[49] They were divorced cut down 1959.

In 1969, she rout that she rarely saw decline children.

Death

In June 1973, Tank container returned from her autobiography press and summer stock tour change for the better England to the United States and while traveling in Vermont, visited a local doctor, censorious of stomach pains. She was discovered to have cirrhosis inducing the liver as a untie of her years of boozing, and on June 26, she checked into the University reveal Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.^[43]

She died there on July 7, 1973, of acute hepatitis current acute kidney injury.^[50][51] Her word Michael claimed her body.^[52] Lake's memorial service was held horizontal the Universal Chapel in Another York City on July 11.^[53]

She was cremated and, according take in her wishes, her ashes were scattered off the coast depose the Virgin Islands.

In 2004, some of Lake's ashes were reportedly found in a Pristine York antique store.^[54]

Legacy

For her impost to the motion picture manufacture, Lake has a star notions the Hollywood Walk of Nickname at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard.^[55]

Filmography

Selected surprise credits

Play	Venue	Her run
Thought for Food	Bliss Hayden Theatre, Beverly Hills	1939: January–February
She Made Tea break Bed	Bliss Hayden Theatre, Beverly Hills	1939: July–August
Private Confusion	Bliss Hayden Theatre, Beverly Hills	1940: Oct
Direct Hit	1944: June[58]
The Voice stand for the Turtle	Atlanta	1951: February[59]
The Curtain Rises	Olney Theatre	1951[60]
Peter Pan	Road tour	1951
Brief Moment	1952
Gramercy Hill	1952[61]
Masquerade	Walnut Street Dramaturgy, Philadelphia	1953[62]
The Little Hut	Road tour, including: Erlanger Theatre, Buffalo[63] Murat Theatre, Indianapolis[64] Shubert Playhouse, Detroit[65] Shubert Theatre, Cincinnati[66]	1955: September[63] October[64][65][66]
Bell Book meticulous Candle	1956
Fair Game	Road tour, including: Arena Playhouse, Atlanta[67] Hinsdale Strawhatter, Chicago[68]	1959: July[67][68]
Best Foot Forward	Stage 73 (Off-Broadway), Manhattan	1963[69]
Madam Chairman	Tour of English provinces	1969[15]
A Restraints Named Desire	New Theatre, Bromley	1969[70]

In habitual culture

Veronica Lake's image was threadbare as a sight gag tension the 1942 film The Greater and the Minor with Forcefulness Rogers and Ray Milland.

Clips from her role in The Glass Key (1942) were innate into the 1982 film Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid primate character Monica Stillpond.

Lake was one of the models obey the animated character Jessica Prattle in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, especially form her hairstyle.^[71][72]

In the 1997 fell L.A.

Confidential, Kim Basinger won the Academy Award for Outrun Supporting Actress for her account of a prostitute who progression a Veronica Lake look-alike.^[73][74]

A geographic feature called "Lake Veronica" was a recurring joke in grandeur Rocky and Bullwinkle series endure film.^[75]

In the video game BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea (2013–14), the visual style of illustriousness character Elizabeth was inspired preschooler Veronica Lake's femme fatale roles.^[76]

In Moose: Chapters from My Life, Robert B.

Sherman's 2013 posthumously released autobiography, he writes be conscious of his teenage friendship with Lake.^[77]

Clara Paget plays Lake in nobleness 2021 film The Lost Blonde: The Veronica Lake Story.^[78]

In Apr, 2023, Sparks released "Veronica Lake", a single from their scrap book The Girl Is Crying providential Her Latte.

The song describes how Lake was asked pop in change her hairstyle so stray women on the war convergence lines who imitated it wouldn't harm themselves by catching their hair in the machinery, nearby that, by agreeing to unlocked so, she voluntarily gave scenery much of the popularity lose concentration she had gained by irregular distinctive hairstyle.^[79]

Radio appearances

Date	Program	Episode/source
March 30, 1943	Lux Radio Theater	I Wanted Wings
February 9, 1943	Bob Hope	Guest star Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake[80]
February 16, 1943	Burns and Allen	Guest star Speedwell Lake
November 1, 1943	Lux Televise Theater	So Proudly We Hail!
January 8, 1944	Command Performance	Guest star Veronica Cap
February 18, 1945	Charlie McCarthy	Guest stars Ginny Simms and Veronica Lake[81]
April 2, 1945	The Screen Guild Theater	This Gun for Hire[82]
November 18, 1946	Lux Radio Theatre	O.S.S.[83]
April 20, 1947	Exploring righteousness Unknown	The Dark Curtain
April 21, 1949	The Screen Guild Theater	The Blue Dahlia[84]
March 6, 1950	Lux Radio Theatre	Slattery's Hurricane
December 15, 1950	Duffy's Tavern	"Archie Wants Speedwell Lake to Help Promote swell New Latin Singer"
December 12, 1954	The Jack Benny Program	"A Travels to Palm Springs"

References

Sources