Sandra Dee

Sandra Dee- Biography

Sandra Dee was an American actress who received a Golden Globe Award. She began her career as a child in commercials and print modeling before moving on to the film industry in her adolescence. Sandra’s mother wished for her to have a successful career in the entertainment world, and Sandra had everything it required to make her mother’s wish come true. She quickly rose to prominence as one of the top models of her era, and in order to remain in the modeling industry, she drastically slimmed down, nearly starved herself to death, and eventually succumbed to life-long Anorexia Nervosa.

Her cinematic career, however, flourished, and she became well-known for her roles in the films ‘Gidget’ and ‘Imitation of Life.’ She married the famous singer Bobby Darin when she was young, and the celebrity pair enjoyed a lot of attention until they decided to split up after six years. Sandra continued her profession as an actress after her divorce, but she began to suffer from many ailments, and she died in 2005 as a result of a kidney condition.

Sandra Dee- Birth, Age, Ethnicity, Siblings, Education

Dee was born in 1942 in Bayonne, New Jersey, to Mary and John Zuck. Her parents split when she was a child; she was raised by her mother in the Russian Orthodox faith.

Because of her remarkable appearance, she began modeling at the age of four and has been in advertisements for major brands such as Coca-Cola. Her mother remarried when she was still a child. Unfortunately, Sandra was sexually abused as a child by her stepfather.
While juggling her work, she attended Hollywood Professional School and graduated from ‘University High School’ in Los Angeles.

Sandra Dee- Relationship, Married Life

In 1960, Dee married her ‘Come to September’ co-star Bobby Darin. The next year, on December 16th, she gave birth to their son, Dodd Mitchell Darin. Trouble, however, came six years after their marriage. The couple divorced in 1967, and Bobby remarried the following year. Sandra was depressed after their divorce, and after Bobby Darin died in 1973, she was unable to focus on her career.

She died on February 20, 2005, at the age of 62, after suffering from serious complications from an existing kidney illness. She was laid to rest in Hollywood Hills’ Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Sandra Dee- Professional Career

She was a well-known model by the age of twelve. Ross Hunter, an actor, and producer, noticed her and her mother walking down Park Avenue. Soon after, offers poured in, and she rose to become one of America’s top young models. She got more mindful of her appearance over time, and in order to conform to the traditional methods of models, she began slimming down. She would virtually starve herself, resulting in skin, hair, and nail problems.

Her body couldn’t digest the meals she ate because she had lost weight. As a result, she was put on medication. Anorexia Nervosa, a permanent eating disorder, was born as a result of this experience. Despite her poor health, she was able to make approximately $75,000 per year as a model and continue to assist her mother.

Career as an Actor

In 1957, she relocated from New York to Hollywood to pursue a career in movies. Her first assignment as a voice actor was in the animated feature ‘The Snow Queen,’ where she voiced the character ‘Gerda’ in the English version. She also co-starred in her debut film, ‘Until They Sail,’ with Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, and Paul Newman in 1957. In the comedic film ‘The Reluctant Debutante,’ she played the 17-year-old Jane Broadbent.

Sandra rose through the ranks of the Hollywood fraternity actors in a matter of years. She portrayed Melinda Grant in the film ‘The Restless Years,’ with John Saxon. In 1959, she co-starred with June Allyson and Jeff Chandler in the drama film ‘A Stranger in My Arms’ as Pat Beasley. In the same year, she starred as little Susie in ‘Imitation of Life,’ Frances Lawrence in ‘Gidget,’ and Rosalie Stocker in ‘The Wild and the Innocent.’ She also appeared in ‘A Summer Place,’ ‘Portrait in Black,’ and ‘Romanoff and Juliet.’ She was cast in Harry Keller’s ‘Tammy Tell Me True,’ starring John Gavin, and in Robert Mulligan’s romantic comedy ‘Come September,’ both in 1961.

A Prominent Actress

She played Chantal Stacy in Henry Levin’s comedy picture ‘If a Man Answers,’ opposite Bobby Darin, in 1962. The following year, she was cast as ‘Tammy’ in the romantic comedy ‘Tammy and the Doctor.’ Sandra co-starred with iconic actor James Stewart in the 1963 picture ‘Take her, She’s Mine,’ which became a box office success. Following that, she gave an amazing performance as Cynthia Dulaine in the musical comedy ‘I’d Rather Be Rich.’ Over the next few years, she had lead roles in films such as ‘That Funny Feeling,’ ‘A Man Could Get Killed,’ ‘Doctor, You’ve Got to Be Kidding!,’ and David Lowell Rich’s ‘Rosie.’

Career Reduction

Her career began to decline once she divorced her husband. She disappeared from the industry from 1967 until 1970, only to reappear in the horror picture ‘The Dunwich Horror’ by ‘American International Pictures. The offers that followed, however, were for guest appearances on television series and a couple of roles in television movies. She appeared in two episodes of the TV show ‘Night Gallery’ in 1971.
Dee appeared in two television films in 1972, ‘The Manhunter’ and ‘The Daughters of Joshua Cabe,’ as well as the TV programs ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Houston, We’ve Got a Problem.’

She last appeared as a lead in a low-budget Al Adamson film, ‘Lost,’ in 1983, and as a voice artist on the TV sitcom ‘Frasier,’ in the episode ‘The Botched Language of Cranes.’ She fought throat cancer in her later years as a result of years of drinking and smoking, as well as depression, anorexia nervosa, and renal failure.

Major Projects

• Her role in the film Imitation of Life’ received critical acclaim. Critics voted it fourth on their list of the greatest films of 1959. It grossed 6.4 million dollars and was Universal Studios’ most successful film until the release of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ in 1967.
• Her strongest performance as a teenager is remembered in the film ‘Gidget.’ Sandra Dee was praised by critics for her portrayal of a 16-year-old with adolescent difficulties. In fact, the film inspired a “Miss Gidget” beauty pageant.

Achievements & Awards

• Sandra Dee was nominated for various honors in her early career, including ‘Most Promising Newcomer – Female’ at the renowned ‘Golden Globe Awards’ in 1958.
• She received the ‘Golden Laurel Awards’ for ‘Top Female New Personality in 1959 and was nominated for ‘Top Female Star’ and ‘Top Female Comedy Performance’ from 1960 to 1967.

Trivia

• She began her modeling career with the magazine ‘Girl Scouts.’

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