Who was Linda Darnell? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Monetta Eloyse Darnell

Died At Age: 41

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Merle Roy Robertson (m. 1957 - div. 1963), Peverell Marley (m. 1943 - div. 1951), Phillip Liebmann (m. 1954 - div. 1955)

father: Calvin Roy Darnell

mother: Pearl Brown

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'4" (163 cm), 5'4" Females

Died on: April 10, 1965

place of death: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Cause of Death: House Fire

City: Dallas, Texas

U.S. State: Texas

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1

What were some of Linda Darnell's most famous movies?

Some of Linda Darnell's most famous movies include "Forever Amber," "A Letter to Three Wives," and "Unfaithfully Yours."
2

How did Linda Darnell start her acting career?

Linda Darnell began her acting career at a young age and signed a contract with 20th Century Fox when she was just 15 years old.
3

Did Linda Darnell have any notable collaborations with directors?

Yes, Linda Darnell worked with renowned directors such as Otto Preminger and Joseph L. Mankiewicz during her career in Hollywood.
4

What was Linda Darnell known for in terms of her acting style?

Linda Darnell was known for her versatility as an actress, being able to portray a wide range of characters convincingly on screen.
5

How did Linda Darnell's career evolve over time in the film industry?

Linda Darnell's career evolved from being a teenage starlet to a respected actress known for her talent and beauty in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born on October 16, 1923, in Dallas, Texas, USA, Linda Darnell was the second of four children of postal clerk Calvin Roy Darnell and the former Pearl Brown.

Her older sister’s name was Undeen. She also had a younger sister named Monte Maloya and a brother named Calvin Roy, Jr. Furthermore, she had two half-siblings from her mother’s previous marriage.

Of all her children, Pearl believed that only Linda could achieve stardom and virtually disregarded her other children. Her parents’ marriage was not an ideal one and she became more and more reserved as she grew up in a turbulent family. However, she shared her mother’s dreams of success in the entertainment industry.

Darnell studied at Sunset High School and eventually graduated from University High School in 1941. She started modelling when she was 11 years old and debuted on stage two years later.

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Career

After making her debut in ‘Hotel for Women’ in 1939, Linda Darnell went on star in films like ‘Star Dust’ (1940), ‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1940), ‘Chad Hanna’ (1940), ‘Blood and Sand’ (1941), ‘The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe’ (1942), ‘Summer Storm’ (1944), ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ (1946), ‘The Walls of Jericho’ (1948), and ‘A Letter to Three Wives’ (1949).

Darnell signed her contract with 20th Century Fox at the age of 15 and spent the most of career with the studio. In March 1951, she asked for and was given a new contract which allowed her to work for other studios.

In the early days of her professional life, she was one of the favourite actresses of Fox executive Darryl F. Zanuck. However, their relationship gradually deteriorated.

Besides ‘Celebrity Playhouse’, Darnell has appeared in TV shows like ‘Playhouse 90’ (1957), ‘Studio 57’ (1958), and ‘Burke’s Law’ (1959). Her last screen appearance was in the 1965 western film ‘Black Spurs’.

Major Works

In the 1949 romance drama ‘A Letter to Three Wives’, Linda Darnell portrayed Lora Mae Hollingsway, an ambitious woman married to her former employer, Porter Hollingsway (Paul Douglas), who is also significantly older than her.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards and won two. Darnell had high hopes that she would receive an Oscar nomination for her performance. When that did not happen, she was extremely disappointed. Her career started to decline after this.

Family & Personal Life

Linda Darnell had several affairs and three marriages. In April 1943, 19-year-old Darnell eloped with 42-year-old cameraman Peverell Marley and got married in Las Vegas. They did not have any biological children of their own, but adopted a girl, Charlotte Mildred "Lola" Marley (born January 5, 1948), in 1948. Darnell and Marley parted ways and got back together several times before finally divorcing in 1951.

She was subsequently married to brewery heir Phillip Liebmann from 1954 to 1955 and to pilot Merle Roy Robertson from 1957 to 1963. She was engaged to be married at the time of her death. Her fiancé was the one who identified her body.

While Darnell was living with her secretary and her daughter at her home in Glenview, Illinois, she was caught in a house fire on April 10, 1965. She sustained burns on 80% of her body and was taken to a hospital. She passed away later that day. At the time, she was 41 years old.

A coroner’s inquest into her death revealed that it was accidental and the fire was likely the result of careless smoking. Her body was cremated and the ashes were buried at the Union Hill Cemetery, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Facts About Linda Darnell

Linda Darnell was known for her love of animals and often rescued strays, including dogs and cats.

She had a talent for painting and enjoyed creating art in her spare time, with a particular interest in watercolors.

Linda Darnell was a skilled cook and enjoyed experimenting with new recipes, often hosting dinner parties for friends and colleagues.

She had a passion for gardening and spent hours tending to her flower beds and vegetable patch, finding it to be a therapeutic outlet.

Linda Darnell was known for her quick wit and sense of humor, always ready with a clever remark or funny anecdote to lighten the mood on set.

Linda Darnell Biography

You wanted to know

What were some of Linda Darnell's most famous movies?

How did Linda Darnell start her acting career?

Did Linda Darnell have any notable collaborations with directors?

What was Linda Darnell known for in terms of her acting style?

How did Linda Darnell's career evolve over time in the film industry?