Up-and-coming blonde actor of the 1960s, perhaps best remembered for her role as the untalented aspirant who drifts into making soft-core porn films in the campy cult classic, "Valley of the Dolls" (1967). Tate married director Roman Polanski in 1968, having acted in his horror spoof "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (1967), but her career was tragically ended the next year, when she and three of Polanski's friends were brutally murdered by Charles Manson's followers.
Family
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Sister: Debborah Tate.
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Sister: Patricia Tate.
Significant Others
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Companion: Jay Sebring. remained friends after their breakup; was murdered with Tate on August 9, 1969
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Companion: Philippe Forquet. involved in the early 1960s; reportedly was abusive to Tate, who ended the relationship after being hospitalized
Education
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Vicenza American High School, Verona, Italy
Milestones
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1962 Made film debut in bit role in "Barabbas"
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1963 Had regular role as bank secretary Janet Trego on the CBS comedy series "The Beverly Hillbillies"
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1963 Cast as one of the leads in the CBS sitcom "Petticoat Junction"; replaced after her Playboy pictorial was discovered
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1964 First notable appearance in a film, small part in "The Americanization of Emily"
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1965 Co-starred with David Niven and Deborah Kerr in "Eye of the Devil"
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1966 Had leading role in "The Fearless Vampire Killers", directed by future husband Roman Polanski
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1967 Played actress Jennifer North in "Valley of the Dolls"
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1968 Last film, "The Wrecking Crew"
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Appeared in TV commercials
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Posed nude for Playboy