Linda Darnell — Biography
Born Monetta Eloyse Darnell in Dallas, Texas, she was one of five children. Her father worked for the post office. From an early age, her striking looks were apparent, and her mother encouraged a path in modeling. By the age of 11, she was modeling for a local department store. Her mature appearance, which made her seem older than she was, aided her in securing modeling work, a fact neither she nor her mother felt compelled to correct. By 13, she was acting in local theater productions, where her natural talent began to shine.
When Hollywood talent scouts visited the Dallas-Fort Worth area, her mother saw an opportunity and took her to an audition. Her looks and acting ability immediately impressed the scouts, leading to a screen test offer. She traveled to Hollywood, but when her true age was revealed, she was sent home. After two years of continued local theater work, Linda returned to California, and her film career began in earnest.
Her debut came in 1939 with a role in Hotel for Women. She was only 16, making her Hollywood's youngest leading lady at the time. Her subsequent films that year included Day-Time Wife. In 1940, she appeared in Star Dust. Linda quickly rose to stardom, taking on roles in more prominent films. She captivated audiences as a beautiful lead in the swashbuckling adventure The Mark of Zorro, starring opposite Tyrone Power. She reunited with Power for the successful Blood and Sand and held her own in the comedic football film Rise and Shine alongside Jack Oakie.
In 1945, she played Netta Longdon in the highly successful Hangover Square. The following year, she shared the screen with the iconic Lillian Gish in Centennial Summer. Later that same year, she co-starred with Henry Fonda and Victor Mature in My Darling Clementine, a film that earned her critical praise. Her 1947 role opposite Cornel Wilde in Forever Amber was another hit, portraying a character who navigated the Great London Fire. In 1952, she starred in Blackbeard, the Pirate. Her final film appearance was in the Western Black Spurs in 1965.
Linda Darnell was married and divorced three times. Her first marriage was to cinematographer J. Peverell Marley from 1944 to 1952. She then married Phillip Liebmann, a New York brewer, from 1954 to 1955. Her third marriage was to Merle Roy Robertson, an airline pilot, from 1957 to 1962.
Tragically, on April 10, 1965, Linda died from severe burns sustained in a fire at the home of her former secretary. Ironically, earlier that evening, she had been watching Star Dust, one of the films that had launched her career
When Hollywood talent scouts visited the Dallas-Fort Worth area, her mother saw an opportunity and took her to an audition. Her looks and acting ability immediately impressed the scouts, leading to a screen test offer. She traveled to Hollywood, but when her true age was revealed, she was sent home. After two years of continued local theater work, Linda returned to California, and her film career began in earnest.
Her debut came in 1939 with a role in Hotel for Women. She was only 16, making her Hollywood's youngest leading lady at the time. Her subsequent films that year included Day-Time Wife. In 1940, she appeared in Star Dust. Linda quickly rose to stardom, taking on roles in more prominent films. She captivated audiences as a beautiful lead in the swashbuckling adventure The Mark of Zorro, starring opposite Tyrone Power. She reunited with Power for the successful Blood and Sand and held her own in the comedic football film Rise and Shine alongside Jack Oakie.
In 1945, she played Netta Longdon in the highly successful Hangover Square. The following year, she shared the screen with the iconic Lillian Gish in Centennial Summer. Later that same year, she co-starred with Henry Fonda and Victor Mature in My Darling Clementine, a film that earned her critical praise. Her 1947 role opposite Cornel Wilde in Forever Amber was another hit, portraying a character who navigated the Great London Fire. In 1952, she starred in Blackbeard, the Pirate. Her final film appearance was in the Western Black Spurs in 1965.
Linda Darnell was married and divorced three times. Her first marriage was to cinematographer J. Peverell Marley from 1944 to 1952. She then married Phillip Liebmann, a New York brewer, from 1954 to 1955. Her third marriage was to Merle Roy Robertson, an airline pilot, from 1957 to 1962.
Tragically, on April 10, 1965, Linda died from severe burns sustained in a fire at the home of her former secretary. Ironically, earlier that evening, she had been watching Star Dust, one of the films that had launched her career
