Rhonda Fleming

Rhonda Fleming (born Marilyn Louis; August 10, 1923 – October 14, 2020) was an American film and television actress and singer. She acted in more than 40 films, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, and became renowned as one of the most glamorous actresses of her day, nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor" because she photographed so well in that medium.

Career Early life Fleming was born Marilyn Louis in Hollywood, California to Harold Cheverton Louis, an insurance salesman, and Effie Graham, a stage actress who had appeared opposite Al Jolson in the musical Dancing Around at New York's Winter Garden Theatre from 1914 to 1915. Fleming's maternal grandfather was John C. Graham, an actor, theater owner, and newspaper editor in Utah. She was named after Marilyn Miller, who was a friend of her mother. graduating in 1941. She was discovered by the well-known Hollywood agent Henry Willson, who changed her name from Marilyn Louis to Rhonda Fleming.

Fleming said later, "It's so weird ... He stopped me crossing the street. It kinda scared me a little bit – I was only 16 or 17. He signed me to a seven-year contract without a screen test. It was a Cinderella story, but those things could happen in those days."

David O. Selznick

Fleming's agent Willson went to work for David O. Selznick, who signed her to a contract. She had bit parts in In Old Oklahoma (1943), Since You Went Away (1944) for Selznick, and When Strangers Marry (1944).

Fleming received her first substantial role in the thriller Spellbound (1945), produced by Selznick and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She later said, "Hitch told me I was going to play a nymphomaniac. I remember rushing home to look it up in the dictionary and being quite shocked." The film was a success and Selznick offered her another good role in the thriller The Spiral Staircase (1946), directed by Robert Siodmak.

Selznick lent her to appear in supporting parts in the Randolph Scott Western Abilene Town (1946) at United Artists and the film noir classic Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas at RKO.

Fleming auditioned for the female lead in the Bing Crosby film in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949), a musical loosely based on the story by Mark Twain. Fleming exhibited her singing ability, dueting with Crosby on "Once and For Always" and soloing with "When Is Sometime". They recorded the songs for a three-disc, 78-rpm Decca album conducted by Victor Young, who wrote the film's orchestral score. Fleming's vocal coach Harriet Lee praised her "lovely voice", saying, "she could be a musical comedy queen." The film was Fleming's first in Technicolor. Her fair complexion, bright red hair, and green eyes photographed exceptionally well and she was nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor".

Fleming next starred with Bob Hope in the hit film The Great Lover (1949), which established her as a star. She later said, "After that, I wasn't fortunate enough to get good directors. I made the mistake of doing lesser films for good money. I was hot—they all wanted me—but I didn't have the guidance or background to judge for myself."

In February 1949, Selznick sold his contract players to Warner Bros., but he kept Fleming.

In 1950 Fleming portrayed John Payne's love interest in the Western film The Eagle and the Hawk.

In 1950, she ended her association with Selznick after eight years, although five years remained in her contract with him.

Paramount Fleming signed a three-picture deal with Paramount. Pine-Thomas cast her as Ronald Reagan's leading lady in the Western The Last Outpost (1951), John Payne's leading lady in the adventure film Crosswinds (1951) and with Reagan again in Hong Kong (1951).

Fleming was top-billed for Sam Katzman's The Golden Hawk (1952) with Sterling Hayden, then was reunited with Reagan for Tropic Zone (1953) at Pine-Thomas. In 1953, Fleming portrayed Cleopatra in Katzman's Serpent of the Nile for Columbia. That same year, she appeared with Charlton Heston in the Western Pony Express for Paramount and in two films shot in 3D, Inferno with Robert Ryan at Fox and the musical Those Redheads From Seattle with Gene Barry for Pine-Thomas. The following year, she starred with Fernando Lamas in Jivaro, her third 3D film, at Pine-Thomas. She went to Universal for Yankee Pasha (1954) with Jeff Chandler. Fleming also traveled to Italy to play Semiramis in Queen of Babylon (1954).

Fleming was reunited with Payne and fellow redhead Arlene Dahl in a noir at RKO, Slightly Scarlet (1956). She appeared in other thrillers that year: The Killer Is Loose (1956) with Joseph Cotten and Fritz Lang's While the City Sleeps (1956), costarring Dana Andrews, at RKO. Fleming was top-billed in an adventure film for Warwick Films, Odongo (1956). She later appeared at the Hollywood Bowl in a one-woman concert. She appeared in the Irwin Allen/Joseph M. Newman production of The Big Circus (1959), costarring Victor Mature and Vincent Price, for Allied Artists, whom Fleming later sued for unpaid profits.

Fleming traveled to Italy again to film The Revolt of the Slaves (1959) and was second-billed in The Crowded Sky (1960).

Television During the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s, Fleming frequently appeared on television with guest-starring roles on The Red Skelton Show, The Best of Broadway, The Investigators, Shower of Stars, The Dick Powell Show, Wagon Train, Burke's Law, The Virginian, McMillan & Wife, Police Woman, Kung Fu, Ellery Queen and The Love Boat.

On September 30, 1951, Fleming sang live on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, broadcast from the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

In 1958, Fleming recorded her only LP, entitled Rhonda. For the album, which was released by Columbia Records, she blended current songs such as "Around the World" with standards such as "Love Me or Leave Me" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". Conductor-arranger Frank Comstock provided the musical direction.

In December 1962, Fleming was cast as the glamorous Kitty Bolton in the episode "Loss of Faith" of the syndicated anthology series Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews.

Later career In the 1960s, Fleming became involved with other businesses and began performing regularly on stage and in Las Vegas.

One of her final film roles was a bit part as Edith von Secondburg in the comedy The Nude Bomb (1980) starring Don Adams. Her final film appearance was in the TV movie Waiting for the Wind (1991) with Robert Mitchum and Jameson Parker.

Fleming has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her.

Personal life and death

Fleming worked for several charities and was a supporter of numerous organizations fighting cancer, homelessness, and child abuse, and served on the committees of many related organizations. was an ambassador for Childhelp, committed to the treatment of victims of child abuse, established two Rhonda Fleming Family Centers for P.A.T.H. (People Assisting the Homeless), supported the Providence Saint John’s Health Center, and established The Rhonda Fleming Mann Research Fellowship at the City of Hope Hospital, a National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center. Further, she supported the ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists), was a Life Associate of Pepperdine University, supported the Alzheimer's Research Foundation in France (Fondation Recherche Alzheimer), was a lifetime member of the Freedoms Foundation, was a benefactor of the Los Angeles Music Center, was a trustee board member of World Opportunities International (WOI) (a faith-based religious and broadcast ministry), and a trustee of The UCLA Foundation. Joining Fleming and Eisley at the rally were Walter Brennan, Lloyd Nolan, Dale Evans, Pat Boone and Gloria Swanson. Fleming declared, "Project Prayer is hoping to clarify the First Amendment to the Constitution and reverse this present trend away from God."

Thomas Wade Lane, interior decorator, (1940–1942; divorced), one son Lewis V. Morrill, Hollywood physician, (July 11, 1952 – 1954; divorced) Lang Jeffries, actor, (April 3, 1960 – January 11, 1962; divorced) Hall Bartlett, producer, (March 27, 1966 – 1972; divorced) Ted Mann, theater owner and producer, (March 11, 1977 – January 15, 2001; his death) Darol Wayne Carlson, businessman, (2003 – October 31, 2017; his death)

Through her son, Fleming had two granddaughters, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Fleming was a Presbyterian. She was interred in the plot of her fifth husband, Ted Mann, at the Jewish Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, upon her death. Her obituary mentioned that she had been a "faithful and devoted Christian".

Fleming was a member of the Republican Party, was a lifelong activist in the party, and on the 100th anniversary of Fleming's birth, Turner Classic Movies honored her on Summer Under the Stars, programming a 24-hour block of her films. It was Fleming's first time on the lineup.

Fleming died on October 14, 2020, due to complications from aspiration pneumonia at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica at the age of 97.

Filmography source:

Theater Dates Title Role Theater Ref April 25, 1973 - June 17, 1973 The Women Miriam Aarons Broadway: 46th Street Theatre now Richard Rodgers Theatre Summer 1975 The Boy Friend Madame Dubonnet Touring including at Packard Music Hall and Memorial Hall, Ohio