ACTOR · BORN 1921 · DIED 1995
Lana Turner
- Born
- 8 February 1921, Wallace, Idaho, USA
- Died
- 29 June 1995
- Known for
- Imitation of Life (1959), Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
48 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Lana Turner (8 February 1921 – 29 June 1995) was an actor best known for Imitation of Life and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.
Lana Turner over the years
48 Interesting Facts About Lana Turner
Interesting Facts (12)
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"The Private Diary of My Life With Lana", a memoir, written by one of her closest friends, Eric Root, was published one year after her death. Root, a long time friend and hairdresser of Turner's, has a large collection of jewelry that belonged to Miss Turner. He still owns the beauty salon in Beverly Hills where Turner and many other iconic stars were clients.
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In her autobiography, Turner claimed that her real date of birth was February 8, 1921, and that the records made her a year younger. The statement shed light on long-standing uncertainties about her age. At a time when looking young mattered in Hollywood, such a correction was interpreted as an effort to protect her image.
- #011
This special episode, broadcast on CBS on February 14, 1954, was an hour-long tribute prepared to celebrate MGM's 30th anniversary. Turner appeared on the program live and performed the 'Madame Crematante' number (also known as 'A Great Lady Has An Interview') that Judy Garland had sung in the 1946 film 'Ziegfeld Follies'. The show also featured names such as Steve Forrest, Edmund Purdom and John Ericson.
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Production Story (6)
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William Wilkerson of The Hollywood Reporter found her sipping a Coke in a drugstore and was so taken by her he blurted out that standard Hollywood line, "How'd you like to be in pictures?". Her first role, sure enough, had her in a tight skirt and even tighter sweater sitting at a drugstore counter.
- #014
In her autobiography, she wrote that she had skipped a typing class at Hollywood High School. She went to the Top Hat Cafe, on Sunset Boulevard, and was sitting at the counter sipping a Coke. According to the Sunset Boulevard website, William Wilkerson, who wrote for the Hollywood Reporter, noticed her and thought she was attractive enough to be in films. With her mother's approval, he introduced Turner to the agent, Zeppo Marx, who was Groucho Marx's brother. Soon she was put under contract to MGM.
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She was set to appear in Anatomy of a Murder (1959) with James Stewart until she objected to the off-the-rack wardrobe that director Otto Preminger had selected for her. Lee Remick took over the role.
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Was offered the role of Mrs. Cabot on the series Hotel (1983), but made so many demands that she was dropped and replaced by Anne Baxter.
Behind the Scenes (3)
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In 1958, while filming Another Time, Another Place (1958) in London, England, she was visited by her boyfriend, gangster Johnny Stompanato. He suspected that she was having an affair with co-star Sean Connery and at one point confronted Connery and threatened to kill him. Connery knocked him unconscious with one punch. He then waited until Stompanato regained consciousness and told him that if he ever saw him again he would kill him. He left London the next day.
Characters & Cast (2)
Career & Awards (9)
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Five months after giving birth to her daughter Cheryl Crane, Turner returned to work to shoot the film 'Marriage Is a Private Affair' (1944). This rapid return showed her commitment to her career and her effort to balance motherhood with her working life. Among the actresses of the era, Turner stood out for this kind of dedication.
Life & Family (16)
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Once when she was being interviewed by Hedda Hopper, Lex Barker, Lana's future husband, was in the same room. There was a large vase of flowers blocking her view of Lex, so Lana got up, walked across the room and removed them, remarking, "He's brand new and I want to look at him!"
- #038
Bequeathed her companion & housekeeper her entire trust estate, valued at almost $2 million, including her apartment in Century City and rights to all income producing assets, such as the profit participation in films such as The Imitation of Life. She changed the beneficiary of her trust estate in the last years of her life, from her daughter to her housekeeper, and instead left her daughter a cash bequest of only $50,000.
- #039
Daughter Cheryl Crane fatally stabbed Turner's lover, gangster Johnny Stompanato, during a physical altercation in 1958. Stompanato physically attacked Turner, and Crane, who was 14 at the time, wanted to protect her mother. Jerry Giesler represented Crane. The murder was deemed justifiable homicide at a coroner's inquest and Crane was acquitted.
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Because of the Rh factor, Turner had three stillbirths over the course of her life: in 1949, 1951 and 1956. These losses caused deep pain in her private life and laid bare her struggle with health problems. These tragic experiences make her strong stance and her commitment to her career all the more meaningful.
- #048
Turner became pregnant by her first husband, Artie Shaw, in 1940 and by her then-lover Tyrone Power in 1946; both pregnancies ended in abortion. These events were kept secret because of the social pressures of the era and Turner's commitment to her career. The experiences show the difficulties she faced in her private life and the hard decisions she made.
Related pages
- The Barefoot Contessa — Lana Turner comes up in the facts on that page
- Falcon Crest — Lana Turner comes up in the facts on that page
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 — Lana Turner comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work