Biography for
Sharon Tate (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

24 January 1943, Dallas, Texas, USA

Date of Death

9 August 1969, Beverly Hills, California, USA (homicide)

Birth Name

Sharon Marie Tate

Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Sharon's early life was one of constant moving as her father served in the military. When she lived in Italy, she was voted "Homecoming Queen" of her high school. After being an extra in a few Italian films, Sharon headed to Hollywood where she would again start as an extra. Her first big break came when she was cast as the shapely bank secretary, "Janet Trego", in the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) (1963-1965). In 1967, she would meet her future husband, director Roman Polanski, on the set of the English film The Fearless Vampire Killers: Vampires 101 (1967). Sharon's big role would be that same year when she was the starlet in Valley of the Dolls (1967). With her marriage to Roman, her life became one of parties, travel and meeting influential movie people. She would appear as a red-haired beauty in the spy spoof The Wrecking Crew (1969) working with Dean Martin and the equally beautiful Elke Sommer. Sharon then took time off from films as she awaited the birth of her first child. On August 9, 1969, a pregnant Sharon Tate and four other people where murdered by members of the "Manson family".

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana < tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>

Spouse

Roman Polanski

(20 January 1968 - 9 August 1969) (her death)

Trivia

Had enormous brown eyes and a dazzling smile. At the time of her death, she was known as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.

Buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Drove a 1967 red Ferrari with tags # VMP659.

In high school, she was a cheerleader, baton twirler, star basketball player, and played Juliet in the school production of "Romeo and Juliet." She was also voted Homecoming Queen and Senior Prom Queen.

The house at 10050 Cielo Drive, rented by Tate and Roman Polanski at the time of the murders, was demolished in 1994. An Italian-style mansion has been erected in its place and the street address has been changed. The new mansion was originally priced at $12.5 million in an attempt to cash in on the locations notoriety but no sale was made. Recently, the price was reduced to $7.7 million but the house still remains vacant.

Sharon Tate's unborn baby boy (who died with her) was to be named Paul Richard Polanski.

Was crowned Sophomore Princess at Columbia High School in 1958.

Lived in Richland, Washington from the summer of 1954 to the fall of 1959 and attended Spalding Elementary School from 1954-55, Chief Joseph Junior High School (now Chief Joseph Middle School) from 1955-58, and Columbia High School (now Richland High School) from 1958-1959.

Measurements: 36-22-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

When, in 2003, E! Entertainment Television ranked the 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) (TV), the murder of Sharon Tate was listed at number nine.

Had two younger sisters, Debra (born November 6, 1952) and Patricia (born October 30, 1957; died June 3, 2000). She was very close to both of them.

Her parents' names are Paul James Tate and Doris Gwendolyn Willet. They were married on January 25, 1942. Her mother was born on January 19, 1924 and died on July 10, 1992.

Her favorite lip makeup was vaseline. She kept little jars of it in her car.

Spent her junior year of high school in three different schools: Columbia High School in Richland, Washington, from September to late fall 1959; Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas, from late fall 1959 to April 1960; and Vicenza American High School in Vicenza, Italy, from April to June 1960. She graduated from Vicenza American High School in 1961.

She was engaged to celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring from 1966-67. She broke off the engagement to marry Roman Polanski, but they remained good friends. Sebring was a house guest on the night that four of Charles Manson's minions broke into the house, and murdered Sharon, Jay, Abigail "Gibby", Voytek, and Steven Parent. Susan Atkins used a towel to write 'Pig' on the front door in Sharon's blood before throwing it on Jay's head and fleeing the house with her accomplices.

Born at 5:47 pm-CST on a Sunday.

In 1959 she was the winner of 5 different beauty pageants: Miss Frontier Days, Miss Richland, Miss Tri-Cities, Miss Water Follies, and Miss Auto-Rama.

Lived in Pasadena, Texas from 1948 to 1951 and attended St. Pius V Catholic School from kindergarten to the second grade (1948-1951).

When the house was demolished in 1994, Trent Reznor having used the house to record his 8th Halo album 'The Downward Spiral (1994)' alledgedly took the 'Pig' door and used it for his studio in Louisiana.

Older sister of Debra Tate and Patricia Tate.

Was a distant cousin of Bo Brinkman, Dakota Brinkman, Dennis Quaid, and Randy Quaid.

Auditioned for the role of Liesl in The Sound of Music (1965) that went to Charmian Carr.

Sharon became close friends with her Valley of the Dolls (1967) costars, Patty Duke and Barbara Parkins. Parkins later served as Sharon's Maid of Honor when she married Roman Polanski in 1968.

Last book she read was Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" which she convinced Roman Polanski would make a great film one day. Polanski's film Tess (1979) is dedicated simply "For Sharon".

Her character, 'Freya Carlson', in The Wrecking Crew (1969) was the inspiration for 'Felicity Shagwell' in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999).

Was originally cast in the role of "Billie Jo" on "Petticoat Junction" (1963), but she walked away from the show on advice from her manager (Martin Ransohoff). He didn't feel it was a good launching pad for her career.

A January 25, 1965, brief in Daily Variety announced that she would play the lead, on loan from Filmways, in producer Sy Weintraub's Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966). The role eventually went to Nancy Kovack.

Is portrayed by Whitney Dylan in Helter Skelter (2004) (TV), Brienne De Beau in Polanski (2009) and Tina Martin in The Manson Family (2003).

The Barbie Doll "Malibu Barbie" was created based on Sharon Tate's character in Don't Make Waves (1967).

Was originally cast in the role of Christian Rudd in The Cincinnati Kid (1965) by producer Martin Ransohoff, who had her under contract. She was replaced with Tuesday Weld by the film's director, Norman Jewison, after Sam Peckinpah was fired several days into filming by Ransohoff. Ransohoff was dismayed by Peckinpah's desire to shoot the film in black and white and to feature Tate in a nude scene.

Her friend Christopher Jones was emotionally devastated by her August 9th, 1969 murder by the acolytes of Charles Manson. Jones suffered what he described as a "nervous breakdown" and abandoned his acting career.

On "E!'s Most Shocking Hollywood Murders", her murder was ranked #1.

Was a friend of Julie Christie.

Received "introducing" designation in the credits of two films. Internationally with Eye of the Devil (1966) and domestically in Don't Make Waves (1967), both produced by her mentor, Marty Ransohoff.

Spoke fluent Italian.

Her favorite color for clothing was ecru.

She was sensitive to strong perfumes and toilet water but did enjoy using a scent enhanced body soap called Milk & Pearls.

Her closest girlfriends were actresses Wende Wagner, Sheilah Wells, and Barbara Parkins.

When the house was demolished in 1994, Trent Reznor having used the house to record his 8th Halo album 'The Downward Spiral (1994)' allegedly took the 'Pig' door and used it for his studio in Louisiana.

Personal Quotes

My whole life has been decided by fate. I've never planned anything that's happened to me.

Sexiness is all in the eye of the beholder. I think it should be. Absolutely. My sex appeal, whatever it might be, isn't obvious . . . at least to me.

My definition of love is being full. Complete. It makes everything lighter. Beauty is something you see. Love is something you feel.

Everything that's realistic has some sort of ugliness in it. Even a flower is ugly when it wilts, a bird when it seeks its prey, the ocean when it becomes violent.

Salary

The Wrecking Crew (1969)	$125,000
Don't Make Waves (1967)	$750 per week

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