Hedy Lamarr

Background

Hedy Lamarr is a big name in the entertainment industry, her amazing personality and incredible singing talent have won the hearts of millions around the world. Hedy Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, on November 9, 1914. She is the daughter of Emil a Jewish director and Trude Kiesler a pianist who raised her as a Catholic. At a very young age, she displayed great interest in films and was fascinated by theater arts.

Lamarr began her career in the entertainment industry in 1930 when she got hired as a script girl at Sascha-Film. While at Sascha-Film, she made her mark quickly as she performed excellently in her first minor roles. Her producer Max Reinhardt was impressed by her outstanding performance which caused him to move her to Berlin, Germany where she met producer Alexis Granowsky, who cast her in his play, “Then Trunks of Mr. O.F.” in 1931. While in Berlin, she rose to international recognition in 1932 as she starred in “No Money Needed.” Following this, she traveled to London where she met with the head of M.G.M. Louis B. Mayer. In 1939, she starred in the play “Lady of the Tropics” where she portrayed the character of a mixed-race seductress. In 1944, she starred in the comedy “The Heavenly Body.” She was then borrowed by Warner Bros for the movie “Conspirators.”

In 1945, Lamarr acted in her last film under M.G.M. titled “Her Highness and the Bellboy,” a romantic comedy in which she acted alongside Robert Walker. She then went on to create her own production company where she, alongside Jack Chertok, produced several films including “The Strange Woman” and “Dishonored Lady.” In 1950, Lamarr had her biggest success as she starred in the movie “Samson and Delilah” where she portrayed the role of Delilah. The film went on to be a massive success winning two Oscar awards. In the same year, Lamarr rejoined M.G.M. where she starred in the film “Lady Without Passport” she also starred in the “Copper Canyon” and “My Favorite Spy.” She has played more successful roles in the next years of her career.

Lamarr had three children from her six marriages. After her final divorce in 1965, she remained unmarried for the rest of her life. In Lamarr’s last year, she spent most of her time indoors and communicated with the outside world monthly by telephone. On January 19, 2000, at the age of 85, Lamarr died and her ashes were spread by her son in Austria’s Vienna Woods fulfilling her last wish.