 |
Carroll BakerAmerican actress and sex symbol
Date of Birth: 28.05.1931
Country:  USA |
Content:
Carroll Baker: Biography
Carroll Baker is an American actress and sex symbol, who rose to popularity in the 1960s with her dramatic roles. She was born on May 28, 1931, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to William Watson Baker, a merchant, and his wife Virginia. After graduating from high school, she spent a year studying at college and later worked as an assistant to a magician.
Early Career
Baker made her film debut in 1953 with a small role in the movie "Easy to Love." In the same year, she married Louis Ritter, but their marriage ended after a few months. After training at the renowned Actor's Studio in New York, she appeared on Broadway in the play "All Summer Long." It was there that she was noticed by director Elia Kazan, who cast her in his controversial film "Baby Doll," based on Tennessee Williams' screenplay. Her role as Baby Doll Meighan, a young girl who is set to marry a middle-aged balding man played by Karl Malden, brought her fame and nominations for the Academy Awards, Golden Globe, and BAFTA.
Continued Success
In the same year, Baker appeared in the film "Giant" alongside Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, which went on to win several Academy Awards. During her time at the Actor's Studio, she met director Jack Garfein, whom she married in 1955. Baker converted to Judaism for Garfein, and they had two children together: daughter Blanche Baker, who also became an actress, and son Hershel Garfein. The marriage ended in divorce in 1969.
Throughout the following decades, Baker continued to actively work in film, appearing in many acclaimed movies such as "How the West Was Won" (1962), "Harlow" (1965), "The Sweet Body of Deborah" (1968), "Captain Apache" (1971), and many others. In 1964, she starred in the film "Mister Moses," which was shot in East Africa. After the film's release, reports emerged that a chief from one of the Maasai tribes was so captivated by Baker's beauty that he offered 150 cows, 200 goats and sheep, and $750 for her hand in marriage.
Later Years
Baker experienced a new wave of popularity after starring in the biographical film "Harlow," which depicted the life of 1930s sex symbol Jean Harlow. The film grossed $13 million and became the top-grossing film of 1965. During this time, Baker also had a brief romance with the film's producer, Joseph E. Levine.
After facing problems with Paramount Pictures and divorcing her second husband, Baker left the United States and moved to Europe for several years. She initially settled in Italy and appeared in several films there, as well as in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In the late 1970s, Baker returned to her homeland and resumed her career in film and on stage. Despite not achieving the same level of success on the big screen, she continued to take on small supporting roles in films and television. Some notable works from this period include "Star 80" (1983), "Ironweed" (1987), and "Kindergarten Cop" (1990). In 1997, she appeared in the film "The Game" alongside Michael Douglas.
In 1978, Baker married British actor Donald Burton, with whom she remained until his death from emphysema in 2007. Baker is also the author of three books: "Baby Doll: An Autobiography" (1983), "Roman Tale" (1985), and "To Africa with Love" (1985).
For her contributions to the film industry, Baker has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
