Linda Darnell was one of Hollywood's most beautiful and popular leading ladies but she died young in a fire.
She was born Monetta Eloyse Darnell on October 16, 1923, in Dallas, Texas. During her childhood she worked as a model and appeared in local stage productions. Her mother became obsessed with making her a star. A Hollywood talent scout got Linda a screen test in 1937 but when the studio discovered that she was only thirteen they sent her home. Two years later she was offered a contract with 20th Century Fox. She made her film debut in the 1939 comedy Hotel For Women. The following year she had a starring role in the drama Star Dust, a movie loosely based on her own life. Although she was only a teenager Linda became the mistress of studio head Darryl Zanuck. During the early 1940s she appeared in many successful films including Blood And Sand, Centennial Summer, and The Mark Of Zorro. She became known as the "girl with the perfect face". Nineteen year old Linda married forty-three year old cameraman Peverell Marley in 1943. Their marriage was rocky and Peverell was an alcoholic. She had an affair with billionaire Howard Hughes and separated from her husband. When Hughes refused to marry her she was heartbroken and reconciled with Peverell. The couple adopted a daughter named Lola. In 1947 Linda was given the lead role in the highly anticipated drama Forever Amber.
She was born Monetta Eloyse Darnell on October 16, 1923, in Dallas, Texas. During her childhood she worked as a model and appeared in local stage productions. Her mother became obsessed with making her a star. A Hollywood talent scout got Linda a screen test in 1937 but when the studio discovered that she was only thirteen they sent her home. Two years later she was offered a contract with 20th Century Fox. She made her film debut in the 1939 comedy Hotel For Women. The following year she had a starring role in the drama Star Dust, a movie loosely based on her own life. Although she was only a teenager Linda became the mistress of studio head Darryl Zanuck. During the early 1940s she appeared in many successful films including Blood And Sand, Centennial Summer, and The Mark Of Zorro. She became known as the "girl with the perfect face". Nineteen year old Linda married forty-three year old cameraman Peverell Marley in 1943. Their marriage was rocky and Peverell was an alcoholic. She had an affair with billionaire Howard Hughes and separated from her husband. When Hughes refused to marry her she was heartbroken and reconciled with Peverell. The couple adopted a daughter named Lola. In 1947 Linda was given the lead role in the highly anticipated drama Forever Amber.
The room where Linda died