Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake, born Constance Frances Marie Ockleman, also known as Constance Keane (14 November 1922, Brooklyn, New York – 7 July 1973, Colchester, Vermont) was a popular American film actress and pin-up model who achieved wide fame and critical praise, especially for her film noir roles during the 1940s. Described by Bette Davis as "the most beautiful person who ever came to Hollywood," her success was fleeting and after a string of broken marriages and long struggles with mental illness and alcoholism she died destitute and friendless at the age of 50.

Tragic spiral

Her fourth child, Diana de Toth, was born October 16, 1948. Lake was also sued by her mother for support payments that year. After a single film for 20th Century Fox her career collapsed catastrophically. By the end of 1952 she had appeared in one last film (Stronghold, which she later described as "a dog") had filed for bankruptcy and divorced de Toth. The IRS siezed what was left for unpaid taxes. Lake resorted to television and stage work and in 1955 married songwriter Joseph A. McCarthy.

Related Topics:
20th Century Fox - Stronghold - IRS

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After severely breaking her ankle in 1959 Lake was unable to continue working as an actress. She and McCarthy divorced and she drifted between cheap hotels in Brooklyn and New York City and was arrested several times for public drunkness and disorderly conduct. A reporter eventually ran across her working as a barmaid (with easy access to alcohol) and wrote a widely distributed story which led to some television and stage appearances. In 1966 she had a brief stint as a TV hostess in Baltimore, Maryland along with a largely ignored film role (Footsteps in the Snow). Her physical and mental health declined steadily and by the late 1960s Lake was in Hollywood, Florida, apparently immobilized by paranoia (which included claims she was being stalked by the FBI).

Related Topics:
Hotel - Baltimore - Maryland - Footsteps in the Snow - Paranoia

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She published her autobiography Veronica amid much publicity and positive reviews. With the proceeds Lake co-produced and starred in her last film, Flesh Feast (1970), a very low budget horror movie with a Nazi-myth storyline. She then moved to the UK where she had a short-lived marriage with "English sea captain" Robert Carelton-Munro before returning to the US in 1973, having filed for divorce. Lake was immediately hospitalized and although she is said to have made a cheerful and positive impression on the nurses who cared for her, she had no guests or visitors and was again financially destitute. Lake was 53 when she died of hepatitis and acute renal failure (complications of her alcoholism) near Burlington, Vermont. Her ashes were scattered off the Virgin Islands.

Related Topics:
Flesh Feast - 1970 - UK - Marriage - Hospital - Nurse - Hepatitis - Renal failure - Burlington, Vermont - Virgin Islands

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Veronica Lake has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard for her contributions to the motion picture industry.

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