Lombard, Carole (1908-1942)
The quintessential comedienne of the 'screwball' comedy, Lombard starred in many film classics of the 1930s and early 1940s, such as Nothing Sacred and her Oscar-nominated performance in My Man Godfrey. Known offscreen as much for her coarse language as her beauty, during her short life she married two motion picture super-stars, William Powell and Clark Gable.
Born Jane Alice Peters in Indiana, she was discovered by director Allan Dwan at the age of twelve. She became one of MackSennett's bathing beauties and later made the transition to sound motion pictures. She was popular with the Hollywood community, particularly the film crews. Her costar in the Twentieth Century, the legendary John Barrymore, called her the greatest actress he ever worked with. She was active selling war bonds during World War II. She died in a plane crash near Las Vegas on the way home from a bond-selling tour.
Further Reading:
Harris, Warren G. Gable and Lombard. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1974.
Ott, Frederick W. The Films of Carole Lombard. New Jersey, Citadel, 1972.
Swindell, Larry. Screwball: The Life of Carole Lombard. New York, Morrow, 1975.
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