Lana Turner was Hollywood's Sweater Girl but her personal life was more dramatic than any of her film roles
She was born Julia Jean Turner on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho. When she was a child her family moved to California and her father was tragically murdered. Her mother struggled to support them and Lana spent some time in foster homes. When she was just fifteen an agent approached her and asked if she wanted to become an actress. The story that she was discovered at Schwabb's drugstore would become a Hollywood legend but she was actually discovered at The Top Hat cafe. In 1937 she made her film debut in They Won't Forget and the following year she was offered a contract with MGM. She married bandleader Artie Shaw in February 1940 but she left him five months later. Shortly after she discovered that she was pregnant and had an abortion. Lana's hair was dyed blonde and she was dubbed "The Sweater Girl". She costarred with Judy Garland in Ziegfeld Girl and with Clark Gable in Honky Tonk. Lana married restaurant owner Stephen Crane in 1942. The marriage ended soon after their daughter, Cheryl, was born. Her many boyfriends included Turhan Bey, Fernando Lamas, and John Hodiak. While filming Johnny Eager she had an affair with Robert Taylor who was married to Barbara Stanwyck. She fell madly in love with Tyrone Power but he broke her heart by marrying another woman. In 1946 she played a seductive wife in The Postman Always Rings Twice. The movie was a huge hit and made her a superstar.
She was born Julia Jean Turner on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho. When she was a child her family moved to California and her father was tragically murdered. Her mother struggled to support them and Lana spent some time in foster homes. When she was just fifteen an agent approached her and asked if she wanted to become an actress. The story that she was discovered at Schwabb's drugstore would become a Hollywood legend but she was actually discovered at The Top Hat cafe. In 1937 she made her film debut in They Won't Forget and the following year she was offered a contract with MGM. She married bandleader Artie Shaw in February 1940 but she left him five months later. Shortly after she discovered that she was pregnant and had an abortion. Lana's hair was dyed blonde and she was dubbed "The Sweater Girl". She costarred with Judy Garland in Ziegfeld Girl and with Clark Gable in Honky Tonk. Lana married restaurant owner Stephen Crane in 1942. The marriage ended soon after their daughter, Cheryl, was born. Her many boyfriends included Turhan Bey, Fernando Lamas, and John Hodiak. While filming Johnny Eager she had an affair with Robert Taylor who was married to Barbara Stanwyck. She fell madly in love with Tyrone Power but he broke her heart by marrying another woman. In 1946 she played a seductive wife in The Postman Always Rings Twice. The movie was a huge hit and made her a superstar.
