Grave Hunter
Carole Lombard
D.O.B.: October 6, 1908 (Fort Wayne, IN)
D.O.D.: January 16, 1942 (Las Vega, NV)
Cause of Death: Plane Crash
Location: Forest Lawn Glendale; Great Mausoleum
Biographical Notes:
Carole
Lombard was born Jane Alice Peters.. Her parents divorced in 1916 and Carole's
mother took the family on a trip out West. While there they decided to settle
down in Los Angeles. After being spotted playing baseball in the street with the
neighborhood boys by a film director, Carole was signed to a one picture
contract in 1921 when she was 12. The film in question was "A Perfect
Crime". Although she tried for other acting jobs, she would not be seen
again for four years.
For
the time being she returned to a normal life, going to school and participating
in athletics at which she was very good particularly track and field. At 15,
Carole had had enough of school and quit. She joined a theater troupe and played
in several stage shows, which were for the most part nothing to write home
about. In 1925, she passed a screen test and was signed to a contract with 20th
Century Fox. Her first role as a Fox player was "Hearts and Spurs"
where she had the lead. Other films that year included a number of shorts. In
1926, Carole was seriously injured in an automobile accident which left the left
side of her face scarred. Once she had recovered, Fox canceled her contract. She
did find work in a number of shorts during 1928 (thirteen of them), but did go
back for a one time shot with Fox called "Me, Gangster".
By
now, the film industry was moving from the silent era to "talkies".
While some had their careers end due to sound, Carole made a very smooth
transition. Her first film with sound was "High Voltage" with Pathe
(her new studio employer) in 1929.
In
1931, Carole was teamed with William Powell in "Man of the World".
"No Man of her Own" (1932) put Carole opposite Clark Gable for the
first and only time. By now she was with Paramount Studios and was one of their
top stars. But it was 1934's Twentieth Century that showed her true comedic
talents and proved to the world what a fine actress she really was.
In
1936, Carole received her only Oscar nomination for Best Actress in "My Man
Godfrey". As Irene Bullock, she was superb in the role. Unfortunately, the
coveted award went to Luise Ranier in "The Great Ziegfeld" which also
won for Best Picture.
In
1939, Carole married Clark Gable. They bought and lived in a 20 acre ranch in
San Fernando Valley. They nick named each other Ma and Pa and were role
modeled as the ideal marriage.
She
commanded and received one of the top salaries in the business. At one time it
was reported she was making $35, 000 a week. Her last film was in 1942, when
Carole played Maria Tura in "To Be or Not To Be".
She did not live to see its release. Finished in 1941 at the time the US entered
World War II, Carole went home to Indiana for a war bond rally. On January 16,
1942, Carole, her mother, and 20 other people were flying back to California
when the plane went down outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. All perished. Her last
words, in her home state of Indiana, to all the people were just before boarding
the plane, "Before I say goodbye to you all - come on - join me in a big
cheer- V for victory!" Clark Gable, her husband, was devastated by
losing her. The highly acclaimed comedy actress was dead at the age of 33 and
few have been able to match her talents since.
During
World War II and after her death, a Liberty ship was named after Carole Lombard.
Appeared in:
"To Be or Not To Be" (1942) Movie
"Made for Each Other" (1939) Movie
"My
Man Godfrey" (1936) Movie
|