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Veronica Lake

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Veronica Lake
circa 1942
Born
Constance Frances Marie Ockelman

(1922-11-14)November 14, 1922
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 1973(1973-07-07) (aged 50)
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Cause of deathhepatitis and acute renal failure
Other namesConstance Keane, Connie Keane
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1970
Spouse(s)John S. Detlie (1940–1943; divorced); 2 children
André De Toth (1944–1952; divorced); 2 children
Joseph A. McCarthy (1955–1959; divorced)
Robert Carleton-Munro (1972–1973; her death)
ChildrenElaine Detlie (b. 1941)
William Detlie (b. 1943–d. 1943)
Andre Michael De Toth III (b. 1945)
Diana De Toth (b. 1948)

Veronica Lake (November 14, 1922[1] – July 7, 1973) was an American film actress and pin-up model.[2] She received both popular and critical acclaim, most notably for her role in Sullivan's Travels and for her femme fatale roles in film noir with Alan Ladd during the 1940s including This Gun for Hire. She was well known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle. Lake had a string of broken marriages and, after her career declined, long struggles with mental illness and alcoholism.

Early life and career

Lake was born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Harry E. Ockelman, of Danish-Irish descent,[3] worked for an oil company aboard a ship. Her father died in an industrial explosion in Philadelphia in 1932 when she was ten. Her mother, Constance Charlotta (née Trimble; 1902–1992), of Irish descent,[4] married Anthony Keane, a newspaper staff artist, also of Irish descent, in 1933, and Lake began using his last name.[5]

Lake lived in Saranac Lake, New York and went to St. Pius High School. She was sent to Villa Maria, an all-girls Catholic boarding school in Montreal, Canada, from which she was expelled. The Keane family later moved to Miami, Florida. Lake attended Miami Senior High School in Miami, where she was known for her beauty. She had a troubled childhood and was diagnosed as schizophrenic, according to her mother.[6]

In 1938 Lake moved with her mother and stepfather to Beverly Hills, where her mother enrolled her in the Bliss-Hayden School of Acting. Her first appearance on screen was for RKO, playing a small role among several coeds in the 1939 film, Sorority House. Similar roles followed, including All Women Have Secrets and Dancing Co-Ed. During the making of Sorority House director John Farrow first noticed how her hair always covered her right eye, creating an air of mystery about her and enhancing her natural beauty. She was then introduced, while still a teenager, to the Paramount producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. He changed her name to Veronica Lake because the surname suited her blue eyes.

RKO subsequently dropped her contract. She married art director John S. Detlie, 14 years her senior, in 1940. A small role in the comedy Forty Little Mothers brought unexpected attention. In 1941 she was signed to a long-term contract with Paramount Pictures. On August 21, 1941, she gave birth to her first child, Elaine Detlie.

1940s icon

Lake in her first starring role, opposite Joel McCrea in Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Her breakthrough film was I Wanted Wings in 1941, a major hit in which Lake played the second female lead and was said to have stolen scene after scene from the rest of the cast. This success was followed by Hold Back the Dawn later that year. She had starring roles in more popular movies, including Sullivan's Travels, This Gun for Hire, I Married a Witch, The Glass Key, and So Proudly We Hail!. René Clair, the director of I Married a Witch, said of Lake "She was a very gifted girl, but she didn't believe she was gifted."[7]

For a short time during the early 1940s Lake was considered one of the most reliable box office draws in Hollywood. She became known for onscreen pairings with actor Alan Ladd. At first, the couple was teamed together merely out of physical necessity: Ladd was just 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall and the only actress then on the Paramount lot short enough to pair with him was Lake, who stood just 4 feet 11+1⁄2 inches (1.51 m). They made four films together.

A stray lock of her shoulder-length, blonde hair during a publicity photo shoot led to her iconic "peekaboo" hairstyle, which was widely imitated. During World War II, Lake changed her trademark image to encourage women working in war industry factories to adopt more practical, safer hairstyles,[8] although doing so may have damaged her career.[9]

Although popular with the public, Lake had a complex personality and acquired a reputation for being difficult to work with. Eddie Bracken, her co-star in Star Spangled Rhythm, was quoted as saying, "She was known as 'The Bitch' and she deserved the title."[10] In that movie, Lake took part in a song lampooning her hair style, "A Sweater, A Sarong and a Peekaboo Bang", performed with Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour.[11] Joel McCrea, her co-star in Sullivan's Travels, reputedly turned down the co-starring role in I Married a Witch, saying, "Life's too short for two films with Veronica Lake."[12]

Lake's career stumbled with her unsympathetic role as Nazi spy Dora Bruckman in 1944's The Hour Before the Dawn. During filming, she tripped on a lighting cable while pregnant and began hemorrhaging. She recovered, but her second child, William, was born prematurely on July 8, 1943, dying a week later from uremic poisoning.[13] By the end of 1943, her first marriage ended in divorce. Meanwhile, scathing reviews of The Hour Before Dawn included criticism of her unconvincing German accent.

Nonetheless, Lake was earning $4,500 per week under her contract with Paramount. She had begun drinking more heavily during this period and people began refusing to work with her.[citation needed] Paramount cast Lake in a string of mostly forgotten films. A notable exception was The Blue Dahlia (1946), in which she again co-starred with Ladd. During filming, screenplay writer Raymond Chandler referred to her as "Moronica Lake".[14] Paramount decided not to renew her contract in 1948.

Looking back at her career years later, Lake remarked, "I never did cheesecake; I just used my hair."[15]

She married film director Andre De Toth in 1944 and had a son, Andre Anthony Michael De Toth III, known as Michael De Toth in Ms. Lake's autobiography, but who introduced himself as Andre, (October 25, 1945 – February 24, 1991), and a daughter, Diana De Toth (born October 16, 1948). Lake was sued by her mother for support payments in 1948.

Lake earned her pilot's license in 1946 and later flew solo between Los Angeles and New York.[16]

Later years

After a single film for 20th Century Fox, Slattery's Hurricane (1949), her career collapsed. By the end of 1951 she had appeared in one last film (Stronghold, which she later described as "a dog"), filed for bankruptcy, and divorced de Toth. The IRS seized the remainder of her assets for unpaid taxes. Lake turned to television and stage work and in 1955 married songwriter Joseph A. McCarthy.

After breaking her ankle in 1959, Lake was unable to continue working as an actress. She and McCarthy divorced, after which she drifted between cheap hotels in Brooklyn and New York City and was arrested several times for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. A New York Post reporter found her working as a barmaid at the all-women's Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan.[17] At first, Veronica claimed that she was a guest at the hotel and covering for a friend. Soon afterward, she admitted that she was employed at the bar. The reporter's widely distributed story led to some television and stage appearances, most notably in the off-Broadway revival of the musical Best Foot Forward. (Her contract overlapped with the departing Liza Minnelli and the two briefly co-starred together.) In 1966, she had a brief stint as a TV hostess in Baltimore, Maryland, along with a largely ignored film role in Footsteps in the Snow.

Her physical and mental health declined steadily. By the late 1960s, Lake was in Hollywood, Florida, apparently immobilized by paranoia (which included claims she was being stalked by the FBI).[citation needed]

She spent a brief period in England, where she appeared in the plays Madame Chairman and A Streetcar Named Desire.

When Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake (Bantam, 1972) was published, she promoted the book with a memorable interview on The Dick Cavett Show, as well as an episode of To Tell the Truth, on which the panel had to guess which of three disguised women was the "real" Veronica Lake. Two of the panelists, Bill Cullen and Peggy Cass, quickly disqualified themselves because they knew her. With the proceeds, she co-produced and starred in her last film, Flesh Feast (1970), a very low-budget horror movie with a Nazi-myth storyline. She then moved to the UK, where she had a short-lived marriage with an "English sea captain", Robert Carleton-Munro, before returning to the U.S. in 1973, having filed for divorce.[citation needed]

Lake was immediately hospitalized. Although she had made a cheerful and positive impression on the nurses who cared for her, she apparently was estranged from her three surviving children, particularly her daughters. Elaine Detlie became known as Ani Sangge Lhamo after becoming a member of the Subud faith in New Zealand.[18] Diana became a secretary for the U.S. Embassy in Rome in the 1970s.[18] Michael De Toth stayed with his mother off and on through the 1960s and 1970s. He married Edwina Mae Niecke. When Lake died, he claimed her body.

Death

Lake died on July 7, 1973, of hepatitis and acute renal failure (complications of her alcoholism) in Burlington, Vermont, where her death was certified by Dr. Wareen Beeken at the Fletcher Allen Hospital, and where she was seen by many staff members during her nearly two-week stay.[19] A rumor persists that she died in Montreal and was smuggled across the border to Vermont.[20] Vermont state death records, however, confirm that she died in Burlington, Vermont.[21]

A memorial service was held in Manhattan, but only her son and a handful of onlookers attended. Although the mainstream media of print and television were present to cover the service, her son drove the media out, knocking over television cameras and herding the reporters out the door. He later gave an interview to a reporter working for The National Enquirer, which shortly later ran an article wherein her son mostly complained about his father.

As she requested, her ashes were scattered off the coast of the Virgin Islands. In 2004 some of Lake's ashes were reportedly found in a New York antique store.[22] Her son, Michael, died on February 24, 1991, at age 45 in Olympia, Washington.

Lake has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard for her contributions to the motion picture industry. She remains a legendary star today and her autographs and other memorabilia continue to draw high prices[citation needed] on eBay and other popular outlets.

Lake was one of the models for the animated character of Jessica Rabbit in the 1988 film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", especially for her hairstyle.[23][24] In the 1997 film L.A. Confidential (based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel), Kim Basinger won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a prostitute who is a Veronica Lake look-alike, and who is complimented by a police officer who tells her, "You look better than Veronica Lake".[25][26]

Film and television credits

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1939 Sorority House Coed Uncredited, alternative title: That Girl from College
The Wrong Room The Attorney's New Bride Credited as Connie Keane
Dancing Co-Ed One of Couple on Motorcycle Uncredited, alternative title: Every Other Inch a Lady
All Women Have Secrets Jane Credited as Constance Keane
1940 Young as You Feel Bit part Credited as Constance Keane
Forty Little Mothers Granville girl Uncredited
1941 I Wanted Wings Sally Vaughn First major film role
Hold Back the Dawn Movie Actress Uncredited
Sullivan's Travels The Girl First leading role
1942 This Gun for Hire Ellen Graham First of four films with Alan Ladd
The Glass Key Janet Henry Second of four films with Alan Ladd
I Married a Witch Jennifer
Star Spangled Rhythm Herself
1943 So Proudly We Hail! Lt. Olivia D'Arcy
1944 The Hour Before the Dawn Dora Bruckmann
1945 Bring on the Girls Teddy Collins
Out of This World Dorothy Dodge
Duffy's Tavern Herself
Hold That Blonde Sally Martin
1946 Miss Susie Slagle's Nan Rogers
The Blue Dahlia Joyce Harwood Third of four films with Alan Ladd
1947 Ramrod Connie Dickason
Variety Girl Herself
1948 Saigon Susan Cleaver Fourth and final film with Alan Ladd
The Sainted Sisters Letty Stanton
Isn't It Romantic? Candy Cameron
1949 Slattery's Hurricane Dolores Greaves
1951 Stronghold Mary Stevens
1966 Footsteps in the Snow
1970 Flesh Feast Dr. Elaine Frederick Alternative title: Time is Terror
Television series
Year Title Role Notes
1950 Your Show of Shows 1 episode
1950 Lights Out Mercy Device 1 episode
1950–1953 Lux Video Theatre Various 3 episodes
1951 Somerset Maugham TV Theatre Valerie 1 episode
1952 Celanese Theatre 1 episode
1952 Tales of Tomorrow Paula 1 episode
1952 Goodyear Television Playhouse Judy "Leni" Howard 1 episode
1953 Danger 1 episode
1954 Broadway Television Theatre 1 episode

References

  1. ^ U.S. Census, April 1, 1930, State of Washington, County of Kings, enumeration district 1657, page 8-B, family 151, Constance Ockelman (sic), age 7 years, born in Seattle. Her father, Harry Ockelman, Jr., is listed as unmarried in the 1920 U.S. Census of Pennsylvania.
  2. ^ Obituary Variety, July 11, 1973, page 63.
  3. ^ Veronica's paternal grandfather was born in Denmark, as were his parents. Her paternal grandmother was born in Ireland, as were her parents. U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, State of Pennsylvania, County of Delaware, enumeration district 188, p. 9-B, family 186.
  4. ^ Her maternal grandparents were the children of Irish immigrants. U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, State of New York, County of Kings, enumeration district 290, p. 8-A, family 189. U.S. Census, April 15, 1910, State of New York, County of Kings, enumeration district 655, p. 5-A, family 125.
  5. ^ Lenburg, Jeff. Peekaboo, iUniverse., 2001. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  6. ^ Chierichetti, David (2004). Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood's Celebrated Costume. HarperCollins. p. 70. ISBN 0-06-056740-6.
  7. ^ Terkel, Studs The Spectator. The New Press. ISBN 1-56584-633-8. p. 168.
  8. ^ "Veronica Lake's remains resurface". USA Today. 2004-10-12. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  9. ^ Starr, Kevin (2003). Embattled Dreams: California in War and Peace, 1940-1950. Oxford University Press. pp. 128–129. ISBN 0-19-516897-6.
  10. ^ Donnelley, Paul (2003). Fade to black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 392. ISBN 0-7119-9512-5.
  11. ^ Parish, James Robert (2003). Hollywood Songsters: Singers Who Act and Actors Who Sing: A Biographical Dictionary. Taylor & Francis. p. 480. ISBN 0-415-94333-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Robert Osborne, Turner Classic Movies, October 6, 2010
  13. ^ Parish, Robert James (2001). The Hollywood Book of Death: The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols. Contemporary Books. p. 74. ISBN 0-8092-2227-2.
  14. ^ Hiney, Tom (1999). Raymond Chandler: A Biography. Grove Press. p. 154. ISBN 0-8021-3637-0.
  15. ^ Bloomfield, Gary L. (2004). Duty, Honor, Applause: America's Entertainers in World War II. Davidson, Arlen C. Globe Pequot. p. 409. ISBN 1-59228-550-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Turner Classic Movies". Tcmdb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  17. ^ "Veronica Lake is a Waitress Now", Milwaukee Journal, March 22, 1962, p11
  18. ^ a b Lake, Veronica. Veronica Lake. p. 257.
  19. ^ "Veronica Lake". BunksPlace.
  20. ^ Gravenor, Kristian (2001-05-17). "report on death of Veronica Lake". Montreal Mirror.
  21. ^ Vermont Death Records, 1909–2003. Published by Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Montpelier, Vermont.
  22. ^ "Veronica Lake's Ashes For Sale?"
  23. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (1988-08-01). "An Animator Breaks Old Rules and New Ground in 'Roger Rabbit'". New York Times.
  24. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2011). Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company. p. 214. ISBN 978-0786462711. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) Excerpt available at Google Books.
  25. ^ "Video: Period films connected by the past". Los Angeles Daily News. April 17, 1998. Retrieved 2012-07-07.  – via HighBeam (subscription required)
  26. ^ Hare, William (2008). L.A. Noir: Nine Dark Visions of the City of Angels. McFarland & Company. p. 219. ISBN 978-0786437405. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) Excerpts available at Google Books

Further reading

  • Lenburg, Jeff, Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake. iUniverse, 2001. ISBN 978-0-595-19239-7.
  • Oderman, Stuart, Talking to the Piano Player 2. BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-320-3.
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