Carroll Baker

Born on May 28, 1931, Carroll Baker experienced a remarkable journey through the world of cinema as both a dramatic actress and a movie sex symbol. After studying under the renowned Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1954. Her outstanding talent did not go unnoticed for long, as director Elia Kazan soon cast her in the lead role for the film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' plays, Baby Doll (1956).

In the mid-1960s, Baker became a sex symbol with her captivating portrayal of a hedonistic widow in The Carpetbaggers (1964), which earned her a contract as a leading player for Paramount Pictures. This newfound fame led to Joseph E. Levine casting her as Sylvia and later, the iconic Jean Harlow in the biopic Harlow (1965). Despite the high expectations surrounding this film, it ended up being a critical disappointment, prompting Baker to leave Hollywood and relocate to Italy in 1966 amidst contract disputes.

Her European journey was far from disappointing. Over the next decade, she starred in several hard-edged giallo and horror films that showcased her versatility as an actress. These included Romolo Guerrieri's The Sweet Body of Deborah (1968), a series of four films with Umberto Lenzi beginning with Orgasmo (1969) and ending with Knife of Ice (1972), and Corrado Farina's Baba Yaga (1973).

Baker returned to the United States in the 1980s, where she took on supporting roles in several critically acclaimed dramas. Notably, she starred as Dorothy Stratten's mother in Star 80 (1983) and as the character Tom in the racially-charged drama Native Son (1986), based on Richard Wright's novel. In the 1990s, Baker appeared in guest roles on popular TV series such as Murder, She Wrote; L.A. Law, and Roswell.

After an illustrious career spanning decades, Carroll Baker formally retired from acting in 2003, leaving behind a legacy filled with unforgettable performances that continue to captivate audiences today.