Green-eyed, brown-haired beauty, with MGM from 1941 to 1958, who began playing walk-ons and bits in 1942 and landed an early featured role in the Dr. Gillespie movie "Three Men in White" (1944). Gardner achieved stardom playing femme fatale Kitty Collins opposite Burt Lancaster in "The Killers" (1946), with her earthy charm and magnetic beauty combining to make her one of Hollywood's reigning sex symbols through the next decade. Among her most notable film performances are her roles in "The Hucksters" (1947), "Show Boat" (1951), "Mogambo" (1953), "The Barefoot Contessa" (1954), "On the Beach" (1959), "Seven Days in May" and "The Night of the Iguana" (both 1964). Much to her chagrin, her private life--which included three marriages (Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra), some notorious escapades and a reputation as a spirited, hard-drinking, frank-talking playgirl--was well-documented in the press. She moved to Spain in the mid-1950s and then to England (continuing to work on a semi-regular basis into the 80s) where she lived quietly until her death in 1990.
Family
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Brother: Melvin Gardner.
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Sister: Inez Gardner.
Significant Others
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Companion: Anthony Franciosca.
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Companion: Dominguin. together c. 1953-56; four years younger than Gardner; met in Madrid; died in 1996 at age 69
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Companion: George C Scott. had relationship while filming "The Bible" (1968)
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Companion: Howard Duff. together c. 1947
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Companion: Robert Taylor. met while making "The Bribe"; relationship lasted four months during 1949
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Companion: Walter Chiari. Italian; together 1956-59; co-starred in "The Little Hut" (1957)
Education
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Rock Ridge Teacherage, Rock Ridge, North Carolina, 1939
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Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, North Carolina, secretarial studies
Milestones
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1935 Family moved from Grabtown, North Carolina to Newport News, Virginia (date approximate)
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1940 Gardner's photo in brother-in-law Larry Tarr's photographic studio window spotted by messenger in Loews legal department; Tarr sent photos to MGM; Gardner given audition with Marvin Schneck in MGM's New York headquarters (date approximate)
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1941 Short film acting debut in "Fancy Answers"
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1941 Went to Hollywood with sister Bappie; signed 7-year contract with MGM
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1942 Feature film debut (unbilled walk-on), "We Were Dancing"
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1942 Had first speaking role in film in "Calling Dr. Gillespie"
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1943 Recieved initial screen credit for "Ghosts on the Loose"
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1946 First leading role, "Whistle Stop"
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1948 Starred in the musical "One Touch of Venus"
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1951 Played Julie in the remake of "Show Boat"
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1953 Received sole Academy Award nomination as Best Actress in "Mogambo"
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1955 Moved to Spain
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1957 Cast as Lady Brett Ashley in the film version of Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises"
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1958 Left MGM
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1963 Settled in London
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1964 Delivered a fine turn as the blowsy hotel owner in "The Night of the Iguana"
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1968 Moved to London when Spanish tax authorities claimed Gardner owed $1 million in back taxes
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1972 Portrayed Lillie Langtry in "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean", opposite Paul Newman
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1974 Appeared in "Earthquake" opposite Charlton Heston
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1976 Traveled to the USSR to co-star in George Cukor's "The Blue Bird"
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1981 Played Mabel Dodge Luhan in "Priest of Love"
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1983 Final film "Regina/Regina Roma", a direct-to-video release
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1985 Acted in the NBC TV remake of "The Long Hot Summer"
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1985 Appeared on the CBS primetime serial "Knots Landing"
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1985 Portrayed Agrippina in the NBC miniseries "A.D."
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1986 Final TV role in the ABC miniseries "Harem"
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1986 Suffered a stroke which precluded any further acting roles
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Family returned to North Carolina