Biography for
Arlene Dahl More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

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Mini Biography

Elegance and femininity are fitting descriptions for Arlene Dahl. She became one of the most beautiful actresses to grace the screen during the postwar period. Audiences were captivated by her breathtaking beauty, and the way she used to it to her advantage, progressing from claimer to character roles.

Of Norwegian extract, Miss Dahl was born in Minneapolis. Following high school, she joined a local drama group supporting herself with a variety of jobs. These included modeling for a number of department stores.

In Hollywood by 1946, she signed a brief contract with Warner Brothers, but she is best remembered for her work at MGM. The Bride Goes Wild (1948) was her first work at Metro. It was an odd but rather humorous tale of love, which starred Van Johnson and June Allyson.

Although her beauty captivated audiences, it ultimately limited her to claimer roles, and the mark she made at MGM was small. Some of her best films were: Reign of Terror (1949), Three Little Words (1950), Woman's World (1954/I), Slightly Scarlet (1956), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959).

Leaving films behind her in 1959, her typecasting would pay off financially as she became a beauty columnist and writer. She later established herself as a business woman, founding Arlene Dahl Enterprises which marketed lingerie and cosmetics.

She was married six times; her husbands included actors Lex Barker and Fernando Lamas. She is the mother of actor / action star Lorenzo Lamas, and actually made a guest appearance in his film Night of the Warrior (1991).

Spouse

Trivia

Mother of Lorenzo Lamas, Carole Holmes McCarthy and Rounsevelle Andreas "Sonny" Schaum

Rheingold Beer Girl of 1946.

Mother-in-law of Michelle Smith.

Mother-in-law of Kathleen Kinmont.

Grandmother of A.J. Lamas, Shayne Lamas and Paton Ashbrook.

Measurements: 35-22 1/2-35 (starlet 1950), 38-25-37 (as a self-proclaimed "Size 10" in 1976) (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Her granddaughter Shayne Lamas was a contestant on 'The Bachelor: London Calling' and was chosen at the end by bachelor Matt Grant.

Arlene graduated from Washburn High and the following year was voted Miss Rheingold Beer of 1946. The Rheingold ad campaign was one of the most famous campaigns of one of the most popular beer in New York from the 1940s through the 1950s. There was a Miss Rheingold contest each year, and by the early 1950s, more than 25 million votes were cast annually. The winner received a cash payment as well as a modeling contract and many other opportunities. The first winner, Jinx Falkenburg, had a long career on radio. Other winners were Tippi Hedren, Hope Lange and Grace Kelly.

Personal Quotes

I considered the years in Hollywood nothing but an interim. What I always wanted was to be was a musical comedy star.

With enthusiasm anything is possible.

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