Z is for Mai Zetterling

Born: May 24, 1925

Died: March 17, 1994

Aged: 68 years from cancer

Married: 2 times

Affairs: Herbert Lom, Tyrone Power (he gets around!)

Beautiful green-eyed Swede who enraptured audiences by her elfin features. She was born in Sweden, lived a very short time in Australia but they went back to Sweden where she started her film career under the tutelage of Ingmar Bergman. Her early films with Bergman catapulted her to stardom and starring with some of the big names of the day. She became  a sex symbol and could act in drama as well as comedy. In the mid 60's controversy erupted when she started to direct! (How dare she). She directed film that often dealt with sexual themes of homosexuality and sexual repression. her one film " Alskande Pir" was banned at Cannes for being sexually explicit and showing nudity. She is ahead of her time since women directors were and still are rare in the Hollywood industry. She went back to acting in the early 90's.

Films: "Torment", "Frieda", "Music in Darkness", "Quartet", "Only Two Can Play", "Knock on Wood", "The Witches"

Quote: "I have been a child, a girl, a party doll, a mistress, a wife, a mother, a professional woman, a virgin, and a grandmother. I have been a woman for more than 50 years and yet I have never been able to discover precisely what it is I am, how real I am. I ask myself-perhaps my femaleness is just a human disease."

Y is for Gig Young

Born: November 4, 1913

Died: October 19, 1978

Aged: 64 years-suicide

Real Name: Byron Elsworth Barr

Married: 5 Times-Elizabeth Montgomery

Affairs: Bette Davis, stripper Sherry Britton, Elaine Stritch and many others

Played the affable, unassuming guy but in real life, he carried dark insecurities that eventually took their toll. He was the youngest of 3 children who always wanted his father's approval but his father favoured his older brother. He also seemed to often have affairs with older women and needed their care due to his underlying insecurities. He showed a passion for acting in high school and won a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse. He started getting small roles under his original name but when he made a film with Barbara Stanwyck called "The Gay Sisters" he changed his name to the character he played in that film. He steadily rose in the ranks but was bothered that he was never given the lead and was destroyed when he received no offers to star in his own picture after his Oscar win. When his second wife died from cancer in 1952, he went into a deep depression and began to drink heavily. Against her father's wishes, Elizabeth Montgomery married the much older Young but he was abusive and drank so the marriage failed. He continued to have affairs and drink more and more and finally started taking LSD and other drugs. He was hired to play the Character, The Wacko Kid" that Gene Wilder ended up playing in "Blazing Saddles" but, because he was suffering delirium tremors from alcohol abuse, he was fired. He married for the 5th time but it was an unhappy marriage as they often fought. On the eve of October 18th, 1978 he called a friend in California asking that she come to New York and bring him back with her to California. Either not taking him too seriously or thinking the tough love approach would be best, she declined. The next day, he took his gun, shot his wife in the head( married only 3 weeks) and then he turned the gun on himself. His Oscar was found between them. Despite friends trying to help him in the past get help for his drinking and other problems, he always refused.

Oscar Nominations: "Come Fill The Cup", "Teacher's Pet"

Oscar Win: "They Shoot Horses Don't They"

Films: "Only the Valiant", "Desk Set", "The Tunnel of Love", :That Touch of Mink", "Strange bedfellows",  "Lovers and Other Strangers", "The Hindenburg", "Game of Death"

The films in bold are the ones to try to see first:)

X is for Xavier Cugat

Born: January 1, 1900

Died: October 27, 1990

Aged: 90 years of heart failure

Real Name: Francisco De Asis Javier Cugat Mingall De Brue Y Deulofeu (whew!)

Married: 4 times maybe 5:)-Charro-last wife (Goochi, Goochi, Goo)

Affairs: Oh my-did he ever

Famous Family: Niece-Margo (dancer/actress married Eddie Albert)

Famous Friend: Enrico Caruso

A lover of life, women and music who always had a Chihuahua on his arm and popularized Latin music. He was born in Spain but his family moved to Havana, Cuba when he was 5. He learned to play the violin and was considered a child prodigy. He was so good that Enrico Caruso hired him to play first violin when he was still a young boy and they became friends. He moved to the United States to play music but he didn't want to be a starving artist so he got a job as a caricaturist for the L. A. Times. He did not give up music though and had a Latin relief band at the Cocoanut Grove with his niece Margo as the main dancer. The manager of the Waldorf-Astoria saw Margo so he signed her and Cugat came along with the deal. Over the years he rose in ranks to become the star band playing popular Latin numbers, dressing the band members in Latin-American outfits, the women in seductive dresses and he, having the time of his life. He became a hit on the radio and was a household name. He ventured to Hollywood appearing as himself in many Latin style films that were popular for the day often in Esther Williams films. He loved women, had many affairs and was in the headlines often because his wives would often have him followed and found in ...er....compromising positions. Except for Charro, the other marriages did not end on a friendly note although he stated he would never change a thing and would marry them all over again:)

Films: "Weekend At The Waldorf", "On An Island With You", " A Date With Judy", "Neptune's Daughter"

Quote: "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have a swimming pool than play Bach and starve" (he had a swimming pool:))

Any film you see with him is great really:)

W is for Anna May Wong

Born: January 3, 1905

Died: February 3, 1961

Aged: 56 years from Heart Attack

Real Name: Huang Liu Tsong which means "Frosted Yellow Willow"

Affairs: Many, mainly Caucasian-Marshall Neillan, Eric Maschwitz (wrote a song about her called "These Foolish Things")

Friends: Leni Riefenstahl

The first major oriental star who should have become a major actress but the racial biases of the day prevented this. Her father worked in the laundry but she was American through and through. She grew up near the picture industry and, as young as 9 years old, she begged to be in pictures. She was so often on the studio lots she was called CCC for Curious Chinese Child.  She would always appear in public in traditional Chinese fashion but in private, she preferred jeans. She started out as a photographer's model but soon broke into films and was in the first full length feature film done in two-tone colour called "The Toll Of The Sea".  She continued playing typical Asian roles of  either a innocent Chinese girl or usually an evil temptress. Due to the laws of the day, she was not allowed to marry Caucasian men, be shown in a leading role kissing or married to a Caucasian in film. In the Chinese culture of the day, any Chinese actress was considered little more than a prostitute so  Asian men would not consider her marriage material.  Since her roles were so biased, she travelled to Germany and got roles suited to her talents. She became re-known for her roles she made in Europe and became friends with the film elite like Leni Riefenstahl and Marlene Dietrich. At this time, rumours started that she was a lesbian due to her associations with members of the same sex.  She became fluent in German and French, was part of the intellectual elite and was known for her intelligence and humour. When in England, Hollywood again came calling and she answered. She was able to work with Joseph Von Sternberg (Director). She really wanted the lead, O-Lan in "The Good Earth" but the studio gave the part to Luise Rainer who was Austrian and won the Oscar for the role. By this point her father (mother died in 1930) and her siblings returned to China so she decided to visit. She received such bad publicity and protests from her fellow Chinese, depression sank in and she started drinking and smoking heavily. She made very few films after, developed her home into apartments and got into real estate. Due to her excessive drinking her liver was compromised. She was offered a role in "Flower Drum Song" which she was excited to do when she died in her sleep from a massive heart attack. She never married.Sorry another sad one but she paved the way for so many others and is listed as one of the greats now.

Films: "The Toll Of The Sea", "The Thief of Bagdad", "Mr. Wu", "Old San Francisco", "Piccadilly", "Daughter of the Dragon", "Shanghai Express", "Tiger Bay", "Jar Head", "Limelight Blues", "Portrait in Black".

Quote: "I see no reason why Chinese and English people should not kiss on the screen, even though I prefer not to."

The films in bold are the ones to try and see:)

V is for Vera-Ellen

Born: February 16, 1921

Died: August 30, 1981

Aged: 60 years from Cancer

Real Name: Vera Ellen Westmeier Rohe

Married: 2 times

A dancing dynamo! She started off dancing because she was very sickly and this helped her gain her strength. From this, a passion for dance was formed and she became one the greatest dancers ever to grace the screen. Both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly had nothing but the highest regards for her.  She started in nightclub acts and was once part of the Rockettes as one of the youngest dancers.  She was let go because she was "too original". She started appearing on the Great White Way which led to Hollywood. She starred with Danny Kaye in "Wonder Man" and did a show-stopping number called "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" with Gene Kelly in "Words and Music."  She is to have had the smallest waist in Hollywood where some estimates put it at 17 inches round! I think my thigh is bigger than that! It is now thought that she suffered from the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia or a combo of both. By the time she made "White Christmas" the costumes she wore were all turtlenecks since her neck and upper area showed the effects of not eating. By the way, she could not sing a note, all her singing was dubbed! When the musicals left Hollywood, so did Vera-Ellen's career. She retired by the time she was 40. She was dealt a harsh blow when her daughter died of SIDS in 1963. With her failed marriages, her frail body and arthritis setting in, she became a virtual recluse.  She would still dance an hour a day but she left Hollywood behind her.

Films: "Wonder Man", "Words and Music", "Three Little Words", "On The Town", "The Belle of New York", "Call Me Madam", "White Christmas"

Quote: "I'm a dancer, and I can never really get away from my career. On the days I don't dance at the studio, I have to practise at least an hour in the evening to keep in shape. Dancing is like breathing-missing a day doing either is very bad."

The films in bold are ones I recommend seeing first. "Words and Music" is a compilation of musical works

U for Miyoshi Umeki

Born: May 8, 1929

Died: August 28, 2007

Aged: 78 years from cancer

Married: 2 times

Great Friend: Bill Bixby

Tiny powerhouse who stole many scenes from much bigger stars. The youngest of 9 children, she was born into a prosperous family and showed a passion for music. She could play the Piano, Mandolin and Harmonica plus she could sing. Much to her parent's chagrin she loved American songs and sang them in the English language. This helped her after the war since she could play with a G.I. band on radio and in nightclubs becoming very popular under the name Nancy Umeki.  She was noticed for her talent and came to the United States joining the Arthur Godfrey show. From there she hit the jackpot acting in "Sayonara" with Red Buttons and Marlon Brando. She became the first Asian and, so far, only Asian woman to win an Oscar (she accepted the Oscar wearing her traditional dress which is beautiful). She then conquered Broadway receiving a Tony nomination for "Flower Drum Song" which she repeated in film. She guest starred on several shows and became a regular on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" where she met and became a life-long friend of Bill Bixby. Once that show was done, she retired with her 2nd husband, raised a family and started a business, with her husband, renting editing equipment. Once widowed, she moved closer to her son to be near him and his family.

Oscar Win: "Sayonara"

Films: "Flower Drum Song", "Cry For Happy", "The Horizontal Lieutenant".

Quote: After receiving Oscar " I really don't know what to say. I wish somebody would help me right now. I did not expect this cos I have nothing in my mind right now. I thank you, you  and all fo you thank you American People."

T is for Gene Tierney

Born: November 20, 1920

Died: November 6, 1991

Aged: 70 years from emphysema

Marriages: 2 times first to Oleg Cassini

Affairs: Tyrone Power, J.F.K., Prince Aly Khan, Spencer Tracy

Famous Partner: Dana Andrews

One of the greatest (and most tragic) beauties ever to grace the screen with an overbite any man would love to kiss. She was born in Brooklyn to a wealthy family (father was in insurance). Due to her beauty she was noticed by Anatole Litvak who wanted her to come to Hollywood but her dad was cautious and rather had her go to the theatre. This didn't last long and she made it to Hollywood anyway. She gave 20% of her earnings to her father which was placed in his insurance company. When she finally decided to separate from her father, he sued her but it came out that he was stealing from her for years so he, thankfully lost the case. She never spoke to him again until his deathbed. During World War 2, the Hollywood Canteen(started by Bette Davis) became the hotspot for every GI man and woman to go to since the stars catered to them by serving them food, drinks, dancing and entertaining them. Gene was helping out for only that one evening when she was pregnant. She got the German measles and, as a result, her daughter, Daria was born blind and severely retarded(sorry no PC). She was devastated and blamed herself. Her husband, Oleg Cassini(Fashion designer) did not seem the most loving (saw him in later interviews-not impressed). She tried to care for her child but she could not give all the care her daughter needed so she sent her to an excellent clinic to provide the care she could not. In the mid 50's, a lady approached Ms. Tierney saying how much of a fan she is of hers. She went on how she was sick with the German measles during World War 2 but heard Gene was going to be at the Hollywood Canteen so she had to see her. She snuck out of her room to meet her and shake her hand since this was her dream come true. Can you imagine!! I think I would have smacked that woman in the jaw! The film, "The Mirror Crack'd" is based on Gene Tierney's life.  Gene  had an affair with J.F.K and fell hopelessly in love with him but when he stated he could never marry a mere actress, the family would not approve, she was heart broken. Due to guilt over her daughter, a failed marriage and the affair with Kennedy and Khan, she suffered a nervous breakdown and committed herself into a sanitarium where she received electro shock therapy a number of times. In 1960, she met her 2nd husband and it was a very happy union who gave her the security she needed plus she did have another, perfectly healthy, daughter with Cassini who was there for her mom.  When she started in films, she hated her high voice so she started smoking to lower her voice which ultimately led to the emphysema that claimed her later in life.

Oscar Nominations: "Leave Her To Heaven"

Films: "Tobacco Road", " Heaven Can Wait", "Laura", "The Razor's Edge", "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", "That Wonderful Urge", "Plymouth Adventure", "Never Let Me Go", "The Left Hand of God", :Advise and Consent".

Quote: " Jealousy is, I think, the worst of all faults because it makes a victim of both parties."

The films in bold is where to start with-Laura is great to begin then keep going:)

OK this is supposed to be for Thursday!-hahahaaaa