Lynne Maria Frederick British actress Date of Birth: 25.07.1954 Country: USA

Biography of Lynn Maria Frederick

Lynn Maria Frederick, also known as Linni, was born on July 25, 1954, in Hillingdon, Middlesex, UK. She was the daughter of Andrew and Iris Frederick, a casting manager for television. Shortly after Lynn's birth, her father left her and her mother, never to be seen again. Lynn was raised by her mother and grandmother, Cecilia.

She attended Notting Hill and Ealing High School, a private girls' school, and initially planned to become a physics and mathematics teacher. However, she decided to pursue a career in acting and dropped out of school. Despite her initial concerns, Lynn's mother supported her decision and stood by her side during the early stages of her career.

Lynn made her debut in 1969, playing Mary Custance in the post-apocalyptic thriller "The Death of Grass." However, her most notable works were the films about the Russian Tsar and the English King. In the 1971 biographical drama "Nicholas and Alexandra," Lynn portrayed Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia, the second daughter of Nicholas II. In her next film, "Henry VIII and His Six Wives," Lynn played Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII who was executed on charges of adultery.

It was during the filming of "Henry VIII and His Six Wives" that Lynn caught the attention of the renowned British comedic actor, Peter Sellers. They met in 1973 at a dinner with mutual friends and soon developed a close relationship. In 1974, Peter divorced his fourth wife, and his relationship with Lynn became public. However, Peter's children opposed the relationship as Lynn was their contemporary and 29 years younger than him.

Lynn continued to have a successful acting career and received the Most Promising Newcomer film award in 1973. In 1975, she had another notable role in the Spanish melodrama "A Long Return." Her last role was as Princess Flavia in the 1979 adventure film "The Prisoner of Zenda," in which she co-starred with Peter.

Lynn and Peter married on February 18, 1977, in Paris, despite objections from Lynn's mother, Iris. The public perceived Lynn as a gold digger due to Peter's wealth, but she always maintained that their union was based on love and that she sacrificed her career for it. Peter was pathologically jealous and hired detectives to spy on Lynn. In 1979, he even consulted a divorce lawyer, suspecting her of infidelity.

However, on July 24, 1980, Peter, aged 54, died of a heart attack, leaving his entire estate to Lynn and leaving his children from previous marriages nearly penniless. Lynn was in the United States when she heard about her husband's death on the radio and rushed back to London for the funeral.

Exactly six months later, Lynn remarried to television journalist David Frost in a short-lived marriage that ended in divorce in 1982. Lynn battled severe depression and made several suicide attempts. In Los Angeles, she met Dr. Barry Unger, whom she married in December 1984. They had a daughter named Cassie, but they divorced in 1991.

Lynn rejected all offers for film roles and sank deeper into depression. She isolated herself from others, gained weight, and struggled with substance abuse. On April 27, 1994, Lynn Frederick, aged 39, was found dead in her bed by her mother. The funeral was attended by Iris, Cassie, Lynn's ex-husband Barry, and a few others. Lynn's ashes were buried next to Peter Sellers' remains.