By: Sweepea
"The Sweater Girl" was a nickname that Lana hated the first time she heard it; she thought it detracted from her skill as a serious actress. But the public loved her sweet yet sultry image.
She was born Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner on February 8, 1921 in Wallace, Idaho. She eventually moved to Southern California with her mother in search of greater job opportunities. She was discovered at The Top Hat Café, a shop across the street from Hollywood High, when she was just 15-years-old. W.R. Wilkerson, publisher of the
Hollywood Reporter caught sight of Lana, helping her team up with director Mervyn LeRoy. LeRoy gave her the name Lana.
She began in small-time films that didn't bring her a lot of notoriety. Finally her small part in
Love Finds Andy Hardy launched her career and gave her the name the "Sweater Girl" and made audience members flock to theaters.
Eventually her stardom garnered the attention of John Steele, who Lana discovered - too late - was the dangerous mob associate Johnny Stompanato. Lana fought to end the relationship, but Stompanato became abusive, vowing that if she left him, he'd kill her.
Oscar night, Lana (nominated for
Peyton Place) was engaged in such a violent argument, that her 14-year-old daughter Cheryl intervened, stabbing Johnny Stompanato to death with a kitchen knife.
The trial that proceeded was the O.J. Simpson-media-circus of the day. There were many missing details of Lana's account of the murder, leaving the police confused and suspicious. During the trial, a mysterious man jumped up from the gallery and shouted "Lies! All lies! This mother and daughter were both in love with Stompanato! Johnny was a gentleman!" He was taken away by security and then disappeared, never to be identified. The jury finally ruled the death a justifiable homicide, and Cheryl was free.
Lana Turner's career, which hit a plateau before Johnny's death, was revived with the release of
Imitation of Life in 1959 She did her final work for TV series
Falcon Crest from 1982-1983.
She sums up her life best in her autobiography: "I'm grateful that my bed of roses was made up equally of blossoms and thorns. I've had a privileged, creative, exciting life, and I think that the parts that were less joyous were preparing me, testing me, strengthening me."
Lana lost her fight with throat cancer in June 25, 1995, when she died at the age of 75.
