Biography for
Rhonda Fleming More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

10 August 1923, Hollywood, California, USA

Birth Name

Marilyn Louis

Nickname

Queen of Technicolor

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

A native-born Californian, Rhonda Fleming attended Beverly Hills public and private schools. Her mother, Effie Graham, was a famous model and actress in New York. She has a son, Kent Lane, two granddaughters, Kimberly and Kelly, and four great-grandchildren, Wagner, Page, Lane and Cole. She has appeared in over 40 films, starting with featured roles in David O. Selznick's Spellbound (1945), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Jacques Tourneur's Out of the Past (1947) and Robert Siodmak's The Spiral Staircase (1945) and leading into starring roles in such classics as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Home Before Dark (1958), Pony Express (1953), Slightly Scarlet (1956), While the City Sleeps (1956) and The Big Circus (1959). While Fleming was always a competent actress, she was more renowned for her exquisite beauty, and the camera absolutely adored her. At one time, a cameraman on one of her films remarked on how he was so struck by her beauty that, as a gag, he intentionally tried to photograph her badly; he was astonished to discover that no matter how deliberately he botched it, she still came out looking ravishing. Among her co-stars over the years were Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Glenn Ford, Burt Lancaster, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Rock Hudson and Ronald Reagan (with whom she made four films).

In addition to motion pictures, Fleming made her Broadway debut in Clare Boothe Luce's "The Women", essayed the role of "Lalume" in "Kismet" at the Los Angeles Music Center and toured as "Madame Dubonnet" in "The Boyfriend". She made her stage musical debut in Las Vegas at the opening of the Tropicana Hotel's showroom. Later, she appeared at the Hollywood Bowl in a one-woman concert of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin compositions. She also starred in a national ten-week concert tour with Skitch Henderson, featuring the music of George Gershwin. She has guest-starred on numerous television series, including "Wagon Train" (1957), "Police Woman" (1974), "The Love Boat" (1977), Last Hours Before Morning (1975) (TV), and a two-hour special of "McMillan & Wife" (1971). Waiting for the Wind (1990) reunited her with her former co-star, Robert Mitchum.

In private life, Fleming resides in Century City, California, and was married for 23 years to Ted Mann, producer and chairman of Mann Theatres, until his death in January 2001. She is a member and supporter of Childhelp USA, ARCS (Achievement Rewards For College Scientists); a Life Associate of Pepperdine University; a Lifetime Member of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge; a Founding Member of the French Foundation For Alzheimer Research; a Benefactor of the Los Angeles Music Center: and a Member of the Center's Blue Ribbon Board of Directors. She is a Member of the Advisory Board of Olive Crest Treatment Centers for Abused Children and serves as a Board of Directors Trustee of World Opportunities International. Along with Ted Mann, she helped build the Jerusalem Film Institute in Israel. Miss Fleming also is a member of the Board of Trustees of The UCLA Foundation and a member of the Board of Advisors of the REVLON/UCLA Women's Health Research Program. In addition, she created at the City of Hope Hospital The Rhonda Fleming Mann Research Fellowship to further advance research and treatment associated with women's cancer.

In 1991, she and her husband established the Rhonda Fleming Mann Clinic for Women's Comprehensive Care at UCLA Medical Center. This clinic provides a full range of expert gynecologic and obstetric care to women. Since 1992, she has devoted her time to a second facility at UCLA - the Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women with Cancer, which opened in early 1994. This Center is the fulfillment of her vision to create a safe, warm place where women cancer patients and their families might receive the highest quality psychosocial and emotional care as well as assistance with the complex practical problems that arise with cancer. In August 1997, the Center opened "Reflections", a unique retail store and consultation suite that carries wigs, head coverings, breast prostheses and other items to help men, women and children deal with the physical appearance changes brought on by cancer and its treatments. The staffs of the clinic, center and store are guided by her belief that caring, compassion, communication and commitment are essential components of the healing process.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Darol Wayne Carlson	(2003 - present)
Ted Mann	(11 March 1978 - 15 January 2001) (his death)
Hall Bartlett	(27 March 1966 - 1972) (divorced)
Lang Jeffries	(3 April 1960 - 11 January 1962) (divorced)
Dr. Lew Morrell	(11 July 1952 - 1958) (divorced)
Thomas Lane	(? - 1948) (divorced) 1 son

Trivia

Mother of Kent Lane.

Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1995.

Measurements: 37-25-36 (in 1956), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

A member of the Westwood Presbyterian Church.

Attended the same High School as Angelina Jolie, Michael Klesic, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz, David Schwimmer, Jonathan Silverman, Gina Gershon, Jackie Cooper, Rob Reiner, Antonio Sabato Jr., Pauly Shore, Michael Tolkin, Betty White, Corbin Bernsen, Elizabeth Daily, Albert Brooks and Crispin Glover.

In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Dhia Cristiani. She was dubbed on occasion by Lidia Simoneschi, Rosetta Calavetta and Tina Lattanzi.

Had an older sister, Beverly.

She, Jane Russell, Connie Haines and Beryl Davis were once part of a traveling gospel quartet at their church called "The Four Girls" and made an album called "Make a Joyful Noise" that sold over a million copies.

A one-time Las Vegas showroom singing act at the Tropicana, she also performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a one-woman concert of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin songs. Also did a 10-week tour with Skitch Henderson that focused on the music of George Gershwin. She recorded an album in 1958 for Columbia Records.

Was "discovered" by talent agent Henry Willson while a student at Beverly Hills High.

A lyric soprano, her early singing idol was Deanna Durbin. She was trained in voice by an aunt and entered singing contests.

Her grandfather on her mother's side was a well known actor in Utah, John C. Graham. He also owned a theater and was editor of the local newspaper.

Her mother was a famous Swedish blonde model in New York who made the cover of Harper's and other major magazines, and later appeared in the Al Jolson show "Dancing Around" at the Wintergarden Theater for two years and progressed from understudy to leading role. Her father was a non-professional (insurance man). Her parents divorced when Rhonda was ten.

According to an interview with Ms. Fleming which was featured in an issue of "Films of the Golden Age," writer Paul Phaneuf states that Rhonda's very first taste of Hollywood came when she was 15 years old. Her mother took some pictures of her in their backyard and sent them to big-time Hollywood producer Jesse Lasky for an upcoming show of his. She lost out in the final audition.

Personal Quotes

What I didn't care for was everything made in those days was black and white, very hard black and white too, there was nothing really pretty about it, even my auburn hair became jet black.

Mine was a very rare and wonderful Cinderella story, a complete Cinderella story that could have only happened during the studio system era.

Where Are They Now

(1993) Established Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women for Cancer at UCLA.

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