Marilyn Louis, known popularly by her stage name of Rhonda Fleming is a famous American former film and television actress and singer who rose to popularity in 1945 when she was cast as Mary Carmichael in Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘Spellbound’. Fleming became known as one of the most beautiful and glamourous actresses of the era between the 1940s and 1960s and earned the nickname of “Queen of Technicolor” owing to her flaming red hair and fair complexion.
Fleming has appeared in more than 45 films in supporting or lead roles and has numerous television credits to her name, mostly as a guest actor. She has featured in several commercially successful films like ‘The Spiral Staircase’, ‘Abilene Town’, ‘Out of the Past’, ‘Adventure Island’, ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’, ‘Inferno’, ‘Serpent of the Nile’ and ‘Tennessee’s Partner’. She has a star each on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
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Early Life and Education
Born as Marilyn Louis on 10 August 1923, in Hollywood, California, USA, Fleming is the daughter of insurance salesman Harold Cheverton Louis and his wife, model and theatre actress Effie Graham. She is the grand-daughter of prominent actor and theatre owner John C. Graham. Fleming has only one sibling, a sister named Beverly Louis.
Fleming’s grand-father and mother played a pivotal role in influencing her to pursue a career in acting. Fleming completed her elementary education from the Beverly Hills Public school and later attended the Private school in Beverly Hills from where she graduated in 1941. Fleming began her acting career as a high school student after renowned Hollywood agent Henry Wilson discovered her and gave her the stage named of Rhonda Fleming.
Career Rise
Fleming gained recognition for appearing in the supportive role of Mary Carmichael in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1945 thriller ‘Spellbound’. She then appeared in supporting roles in films like ‘The Spiral Staircase’ ‘Abilene Town’ and ‘Out of the Past’ before she was cast in the lead role of Faith Wishart in the 1947 film ‘Adventure Island’. Fleming’s portrayal of Alisande la Carteloise opposite Bill Crosby in the 1949 film ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’, also marked her debut as a singer. She also sang for Colgate Comedy Hour on NBC in 1951.
Fleming appeared in three successful films in 1953 including ‘Inferno’ (in 3D), ‘Those Redheads from Seattle’ and ‘Serpent of the Nile’ in which she played Cleopatra. Her performance as Elizabeth “Duchess” Farnham with co-star Ronald Reagan in the 1995 western film ‘Tennessee’s Partner’ earned her rave reviews. She also appeared with Reagan in films like ‘The Last Outpost’, ‘Tropic Zone’ and ‘Hong Kong’. Fleming also earned critical and commercial acclaim for her work in films like ‘While the City Sleeps’, ‘Slightly Scarlet’, ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’, ‘The Big Circus’ and the 1990 film ‘Waiting for the Wind’. She also guest-starred on several TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s.
Husbands and Children
Fleming has been married for a total of six times. Fleming’s first marriage to Tom Lane lasted form 1940-1942 and resulted in the birth of their son, Kent Lane. Fleming did not have any other children from her subsequent marriages to Dr. Lewis Morrill that lasted from 1952 – 1954, actor Lang Jeffries that lasted from 1960-62, producer Hall Bartlett, that lasted from 1966-1972 and producer Ted Mann that lasted from 1977 until his death in 2001. Fleming then married Darol Wayne Carlson in 2003.
Fleming and her fifth husband, producer Ted Mann founded the Rhonda Fleming Mann Clinic at the Medical Centre in UCLA in 1991. The establishment specializes in Women’s Comprehensive Care.
Rhonda Fleming – Net Worth
Fleming has an estimated net worth of approximately $10 Million.
Rhonda Fleming – Young Pictures
