Lana Turner
Biography
Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner, was an American actress. She was born on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho, and died on June 29, 1995. Discovered and signed to a film contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of sixteen, she made her feature film debut in the crime drama They Won't Forget in 1937. Throughout her career, she appeared in numerous films, establishing herself as a leading actress during the early 1940s. Her known film appearances include Love Finds Andy Hardy, Johnny Eager, Ziegfeld Girl, Somewhere I'll Find You, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Zpívání v dešti, and Město iluzí.
Career overview
Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner in Wallace, Idaho, was an American actress. Discovered and signed to a film contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of sixteen, she made her feature-length film debut in the crime drama They Won't Forget in 1937. Following the suggestion of director Mervyn LeRoy, she adopted the stage name Lana Turner.
During the early stages of her career, she played featured roles, often appearing as the ingenue in such films as Love Finds Andy Hardy in 1938. By the early 1940s, she successfully established herself as a leading actress through roles in films including Johnny Eager, Ziegfeld Girl, both released in 1941, and Somewhere I'll Find You in 1942. Turner is recognized as one of the first Hollywood scream queens due to her performance in the 1941 horror film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and her status as a glamorous femme fatale was further solidified throughout her career. Her extensive filmography also includes appearances in films such as Zpívání v dešti, Město iluzí, and Strictly G.I. Over her lifetime, she amassed numerous known acting credits on film before her passing on June 29, 1995.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
100 titles- Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- This Is Bob Hope... (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Murders of Hollywood (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song (2002) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Reflections of Evil (2002) as Tracy Carlyle Hastings (archive footage)
- Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Lana Turner (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- La Classe américaine (1993) as Isabelle (archive footage)
- Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files (1992) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) as (in "Johnny Eager" / "The Postman Always Rings Twice") (archive footage)
- Showbiz Goes to War (1982) as (archive footage)
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Jacqueline Perrault
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Witches' Brew (1980) as Vivian Cross
- The Hollywood Clowns (1979) as (archive footage)
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Love Boat (1977) as Elizabeth Raley
- The Love Boat (1977) as Elizabeth Raleigh
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- Bittersweet Love (1976) as Claire
- Persecution (1974) as Carrie Masters
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Harold Robbins' The Survivors (1969) as Tracy Carlyle Hastings
- The Big Cube (1969) as Adriana Roman
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- Madame X (1966) as Holly Parker
- Love Has Many Faces (1965) as Kit Jordon
- Who's Got the Action? (1962) as Melanie Flood
- By Love Possessed (1961) as Marjorie Penrose
- Bachelor in Paradise (1961) as Rosemary Howard
- Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1961) as Self - Actress 'Gone with the Wind' screen test (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Portrait in Black (1960) as Sheila Cabot
- Imitation of Life (1959) as Lora Meredith
- The Lady Takes a Flyer (1958) as Maggie Colby
- Another Time, Another Place (1958) as Sara Scott
- Another Time, Another Place (1958) Co-Producer
- Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958) as Cynthia Potter (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Peyton Place (1957) as Constance MacKenzie
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- Diane (1956) as Diane de Poitiers - Countess de Breze
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self
- The Prodigal (1955) as Samarra
- The Sea Chase (1955) as Elsa Keller
- The Rains of Ranchipur (1955) as Lady Edwina Esketh
- Betrayed (1954) as Carla Van Oven
- Great Lady Has an Interview (1954) as The Star
- Flame and the Flesh (1954) as Madeline
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Latin Lovers (1953) as Nora Taylor
- Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Actress in The Royal Rascal (uncredited)
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Georgia Lorrison
- The Merry Widow (1952) as Crystal Radek
- Mr. Imperium (1951) as Fredda Barlo
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- A Life of Her Own (1950) as Lily Brannel James
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Three Musketeers (1948) as Lady De Winter
- Homecoming (1948) as Lt. Jane 'Snapshot' McCall
- Cass Timberlane (1947) as Virginia 'Jinny' Marshland
- Green Dolphin Street (1947) as Marianne Patourel
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) as Cora Smith
- Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) as Bunny Smith
- Keep Your Powder Dry (1945) as Valerie Parks
- Twenty Years After (1944) as (archive footage)
- Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944) as Theodora "Theo" Scoffield West
- The Youngest Profession (1943) as Lana Turner
- Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) as Lana Turner (uncredited)
- Show-Business at War (1943) as Self
- Slightly Dangerous (1943) as Peggy Evans aka Carol Burden
- Strictly G.I. (1943) as Self - Guest Star
- Somewhere I'll Find You (1942) as Paula Lane
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) as Beatrix 'Bea' Emery
- Honky Tonk (1941) as Elizabeth Cotton
- Ziegfeld Girl (1941) as Sheila Regan
- Johnny Eager (1941) as Lisbeth Bard
- We Who Are Young (1940) as Marjorie White Brooks
- Two Girls on Broadway (1940) as Pat Mahoney
- Trifles of Importance (1940) as Self (archive footage)
- A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound (1940) as Self
- These Glamour Girls (1939) as Jane Thomas
- Dancing Co-Ed (1939) as Patty Marlow
- Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) as Rosalie Lewett
- Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga (1939) as Herself (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) as Maid
- Four's a Crowd (1938) as Passerby (uncredited)
- Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) as Cynthia
- Dramatic School (1938) as Mado
- Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938) as Helen
- Topper (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- The Great Garrick (1937) as Mlle. Auber
- They Won't Forget (1937) as Mary Clay
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lana Turner best known for?
Lana Turner is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment! III (1994), The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988), Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982), Anatomy of a Murder (1959).
When and where was Lana Turner born?
Lana Turner was born on February 8, 1921 in Wallace, Idaho, USA. They passed away on June 29, 1995.
How many credits does Lana Turner have?
Lana Turner has accumulated over 100 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1936 to 2018.
What is Lana Turner's background in cinema and television?
Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner, was an American actress. She was born on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho, and died on June 29, 1995. Discovered and signed to a film contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of sixteen, she made her feature film debut in the crime drama They Won't Forget in 193...
Lana Turner by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 67
- Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Actress in The Royal Rascal (uncredited) — aged about 31
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters — aged about 46
- Imitation of Life (1959) as Lora Meredith — aged about 38
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self — aged about 34
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Georgia Lorrison — aged about 31
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