Carole Landis was a beautiful and talented actress who rose to fame in the 1940s. She starred in movies such as One Million B.C., Topper Returns, and My Gal Sal. She was also a singer, a pin-up girl, and a USO entertainer who visited the troops during World War II. She had everything going for her, except happiness. On July 5, 1948, she was found dead in her home, a victim of suicide by an overdose of sleeping pills. She was only 29 years old. What drove her to take her own life? Here is the tragic story of Carole Landis cause of death.
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A Troubled Childhood
Carole Landis was born as Frances Lillian Mary Ridste on January 1, 1919, in Fairchild, Wisconsin. She was the youngest of five children of Clara, a Polish farmer’s daughter, and Alfred Ridste, a Norwegian-American railroad mechanic who abandoned the family after Carole’s birth. According to Carole’s biographer E.J. Fleming, there is evidence that Carole was actually the biological daughter of her mother’s second husband, Charles Fenner, who also left the family soon after. Carole’s mother struggled to support the children by working menial jobs. Carole grew up in poverty and neglect, and suffered from various illnesses and injuries. She also faced sexual abuse from a family friend when she was 11 years old.
Carole dreamed of escaping her miserable life by becoming a movie star. She idolized Carole Lombard, whom she later named herself after. She dropped out of high school at 15 and married Irving Wheeler, a man she barely knew. The marriage was annulled because Carole was underage, but they remarried in 1934 and moved to California. Carole soon realized that Wheeler was abusive and unfaithful, and divorced him in 1939. She started working as a dancer and a singer in nightclubs, and dyed her hair blonde. She also posed for hundreds of cheesecake photos to get noticed by Hollywood.
A Breakthrough Role
Carole’s first film appearance was as an extra in A Star Is Born in 1937. She also appeared in several other movies in minor roles, mostly as a chorus girl or a maid. She was not happy with the quality of her parts, and often complained to the studio executives. She also had a reputation for being outspoken and rebellious, which did not help her career. She was determined to prove herself as a serious actress, and took acting classes and read books to improve her skills.
Her big break came in 1940, when she was cast as Loana, the cave girl, in One Million B.C. The movie was a huge hit, and Carole became a star overnight. She was praised for her beauty and charisma, and was nicknamed “The Ping Girl” and “The Chest” because of her curvy figure. She was also featured on the cover of Life magazine, and received thousands of fan letters. She finally achieved the fame and fortune she had always wanted.
A Series of Disappointments
However, Carole soon discovered that being a star was not as glamorous as she had imagined. She was unhappy with the roles she was offered by Twentieth Century-Fox, the studio she was contracted with. She felt that she was typecast as a sex symbol, and wanted to play more challenging and diverse characters. She also clashed with the studio boss, Darryl F. Zanuck, who controlled her career and personal life. Zanuck was married, but he had affairs with many of his actresses, including Carole. He promised to divorce his wife and marry Carole, but he never did. He also prevented Carole from accepting better roles from other studios, and threatened to ruin her career if she left him.
Carole was also unlucky in love. She married three more times, but none of her marriages lasted. Her second husband, Willis Hunt Jr., was a wealthy socialite who beat her and cheated on her. Her third husband, Thomas Wallace, was a pilot who was away most of the time. Her fourth husband, Horace Schmidlapp, was a businessman who was older and boring. Carole was lonely and depressed, and sought comfort in alcohol and pills. She also had several miscarriages and abortions, which affected her health and self-esteem.
Carole’s career also declined in the mid-1940s. She was dropped by Fox, and had to work in low-budget movies for independent producers. She also tried to branch out into other fields, such as writing, singing, and producing, but with little success. She was frustrated by the lack of opportunities and recognition, and felt that she was wasting her talent and potential.
A Final Act of Despair
In 1947, Carole met Rex Harrison, a British actor who was married to actress Lilli Palmer. Carole fell in love with him, and hoped that he would be the one to make her happy. She divorced Schmidlapp, and put her mansion up for sale. She also planned to move to England with Harrison, and start a new life with him. However, Harrison did not share her feelings. He was only interested in a casual affair, and did not want to leave his wife. He also feared that Carole would expose their relationship to the public, and damage his reputation.
On July 4, 1948, Carole invited Harrison to her home for dinner. She hoped to convince him to marry her, but he refused. He also told her that he was leaving for New York the next day, and that he wanted to end their relationship. Carole was devastated, and begged him to stay with her. Harrison left her house around midnight, and went to a friend’s house. Carole tried to call him several times, but he did not answer. She also tried to call some of her friends, but no one was available. She felt hopeless and alone, and decided to end her life.
She wrote two suicide notes, one for Harrison and one for her mother. She also packed a suitcase with all the photos and mementos of her relationship with Harrison, and left it in his friend’s driveway. She then took an overdose of Seconal, a sleeping pill, and lay down on her bed. She was found the next morning by her maid, who called Harrison. Harrison came to the scene, and pretended to be shocked and saddened by Carole’s death. He also tried to cover up their affair, and claimed that he was just a friend of Carole. He later admitted the truth in his autobiography, but showed little remorse or guilt.
Carole Landis cause of death was officially ruled as suicide. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. She left behind her mother, her siblings, and her fans, who mourned her tragic death. She also left behind a legacy of films, songs, and books, that showcased her talent and charm. She was a star who burned brightly, but briefly, in the Hollywood sky.
