Sharon Tate

Born Sharon Marie Tate on January 24, 1943, in Dallas, Texas, the American actress-model was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1968 as New Star of the Year – Actress for her performance as the chorus girl Jennifer North in the drama Valley of the Dolls.

The eldest of three daughters of Colonel Paul James Tate, a United States Army officer, and Doris Gwendolyn (nee Willett), Sharon won the Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas Pageant at the age of six months.

When her father received orders to be stationed in Italy, the family relocated to Verona where Tate attended an American school in nearby Vicenza. She and her friends applied for the war drama Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man which was being filmed in Verona and landed parts as film extras. Actor Richard Beymer, who was in the movie, was attracted to her, dated her and was the one who encouraged Tate to pursue a film career.

Tate was employed by singer Pat Boone in 1960 and appeared with him in an episode of the TV series The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom which was filmed in Venice.

She made her movie debut in 1961 when the religious epic Barabbas was being filmed in Verona with Anthony Quinn. Jack Palance, who was also in the film, noticed her and arranged for a screen test for her in Rome. This, however, did not lead to further work.

In 1967, she did The Fearless Vampire Killers which was directed by Roman Polanski who became her future husband.

An 8 1/2-month pregnant Tate and four others were murdered by members of the Charles Manson family cult on August 9, 1969, in her home while Polanski was in London for work on another film.