Lana Turner

Biography

Lana Turner was an American actress who began in Hollywood as a teenager after a talent scout spotted her in 1936. Born in Wallace, Idaho, in 1921, she moved to California as a child and was signed by director Mervyn LeRoy, making her screen debut as a murder victim in They Won't Forget (1937). She became an MGM leading lady in the 1940s, appearing in Johnny Eager (1941), Ziegfeld Girl (1941), and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941). Her role as a femme fatale in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) established her as a serious dramatic actress, and she went on to star in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Peyton Place (1957), which brought an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and Imitation of Life (1959), one of her greatest commercial successes. Madame X (1966) earned her a David di Donatello Award, and she later appeared in Falcon Crest in 1982.

74years old at death

Born February 8, 1921Wallace
Died June 29, 1995Los Angeles
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner (birth name)Also credited as Julia Jean Turner and Judy Turner

Movie Career

Films: 23
Career span: 45 years1937 to 1982

Genres

Drama61%, 14 films
Romance48%, 11 films
Comedy26%, 6 films
Crime17%, 4 films
Mystery13%, 3 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Turner was discovered at 16 while skipping typing class to buy a Coca-Cola at the Top Hat Malt Shop, where Hollywood Reporter publisher William R. Wilkerson spotted her and asked if she wanted to appear in films.
A role that slipped away
After she finished Dramatic School, Turner tried out for Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), but the screen test did not work out.
A first
Turner starred in By Love Possessed in 1961, adapted from a bestselling novel by James Gould Cozzens. TWA screened it for first-class passengers, and it became the first in-flight movie shown regularly on a scheduled airline flight.

Lana Turner movies on Netflix

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8as Jimmi-Sue Altfeld
The Big Cube1969IMDb rating 4.3as Adriana Roman
Madame X1966IMDb rating 6.9as Holly Parker
Who's Got the Action?1962IMDb rating 5.5as Melanie Flood
Bachelor in Paradise1961IMDb rating 6.3as Rosemary Howard
Portrait in Black1960IMDb rating 6.3as Sheila Cabot
Imitation of Life1959IMDb rating 7.8as Lora Meredith
Another Time, Another Place1958IMDb rating 5.8as Sara Scott
Peyton Place1957IMDb rating 7.2as Constance MacKenzie
The Sea Chase1955IMDb rating 6.4as Elsa Keller
Betrayed1954IMDb rating 6.1as Carla Van Oven
The Bad and the Beautiful1952IMDb rating 7.7as Georgia Lorrison
A Life of Her Own1950IMDb rating 6.3as Lily Brannel James
The Three Musketeers1948IMDb rating 7.1as Lady De Winter
Green Dolphin Street1947IMDb rating 6.8as Marianne Patourel
The Postman Always Rings Twice1946IMDb rating 7.4as Cora Smith
Slightly Dangerous1943IMDb rating 6.7as Peggy Evans aka Carol Burden
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1941IMDb rating 6.8as Beatrix Emery
Johnny Eager1941IMDb rating 7.1as Lisbeth Bard
Ziegfeld Girl1941IMDb rating 6.7as Sheila Regan
Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3as Passerby
Love Finds Andy Hardy1938IMDb rating 6.7as Cynthia
They Won't Forget1937IMDb rating 7.2as Mary Clay

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Imitation of Life1959 Dramaas Lora Meredith
IMDb rating 7.820K votes
The Postman Always Rings Twice1946 Crime, Drama, Romance, Thrilleras Cora Smith
IMDb rating 7.425K votes
The Bad and the Beautiful1952as Georgia Lorrison
IMDb rating 7.718K votes
Peyton Place1957as Constance MacKenzie
IMDb rating 7.27.3K votes
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1941as Beatrix Emery
IMDb rating 6.811K votes
The Three Musketeers1948as Lady De Winter
IMDb rating 7.17.8K votes
Johnny Eager1941as Lisbeth Bard
IMDb rating 7.13.9K votes
The Sea Chase1955as Elsa Keller
IMDb rating 6.43.9K votes

Most often with

Mervyn LeRoy directed two of these films. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Barry Sullivan

Van Heflin

Virginia Grey

Kirk Douglas

Ray Milland

Reginald OwenMervyn LeRoyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Barry Sullivan3 films together, 1950 to 1958
Barry Sullivan's page
- Another Time, Another Place1958IMDb rating 5.8Turner as Sara ScottSullivan as Carter Reynolds
- The Bad and the Beautiful1952IMDb rating 7.7Turner as Georgia LorrisonSullivan as Fred Amiel
- A Life of Her Own1950IMDb rating 6.3Turner as Lily Brannel JamesSullivan as Lee Gorrance
Van Heflin3 films together, 1941 to 1948
Van Heflin's page
- The Three Musketeers1948IMDb rating 7.1Turner as Lady De WinterHeflin as Athos
- Green Dolphin Street1947IMDb rating 6.8Turner as Marianne PatourelHeflin as Timothy Haslam
- Johnny Eager1941IMDb rating 7.1Turner as Lisbeth BardHeflin as Jeff Hartnett
Virginia Grey3 films together, 1960 to 1966
Virginia Grey's page
- Madame X1966IMDb rating 6.9Turner as Holly ParkerGrey as Mimsy
- Bachelor in Paradise1961IMDb rating 6.3Turner as Rosemary HowardGrey as Camille Quinlaw
- Portrait in Black1960IMDb rating 6.3Turner as Sheila CabotGrey as Miss Lee
Kirk Douglas2 films together, 1952 to 1982
Kirk Douglas's page
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8Turner as Jimmi-Sue AltfeldDouglas as (in "I Walk Alone")
- The Bad and the Beautiful1952IMDb rating 7.7Turner as Georgia LorrisonDouglas as Jonathan
Ray Milland2 films together, 1950 to 1982
Ray Milland's page
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8Turner as Jimmi-Sue AltfeldMilland as Sam Hastings (in 'Lost Weekend')
- A Life of Her Own1950IMDb rating 6.3Turner as Lily Brannel JamesMilland as Steve Harleigh
Reginald Owen2 films together, 1947 to 1948
Reginald Owen's page
- The Three Musketeers1948IMDb rating 7.1Turner as Lady De WinterOwen as Treville
- Green Dolphin Street1947IMDb rating 6.8Turner as Marianne PatourelOwen as Captain O'Hara
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 2 films, 1937 to 1941
All films by Mervyn LeRoy
- Johnny Eager1941IMDb rating 7.1Turner as Lisbeth Bard
- They Won't Forget1937IMDb rating 7.2Turner as Mary Clay
Also two films together17 more actors
- Leon AmesPeyton Place (1957) and The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
- Lloyd NolanPortrait in Black (1960) and Peyton Place (1957)
- Ingrid BergmanDead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
- Louis CalhernBetrayed (1954) and A Life of Her Own (1950)
- Paul StewartThe Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Johnny Eager (1941)
- Judy GarlandZiegfeld Girl (1941) and Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
- Dan O'HerlihyThe Big Cube (1969) and Imitation of Life (1959)
- Jay AdlerWho's Got the Action? (1962) and The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
- Edward ArnoldDead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) and Johnny Eager (1941)
- John McGiverWho's Got the Action? (1962) and Bachelor in Paradise (1961)
- Frank MorganThe Three Musketeers (1948) and Green Dolphin Street (1947)
- Ian HunterDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) and Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
- Dame May WhittyGreen Dolphin Street (1947) and Slightly Dangerous (1943)
- Dorothy AbbottBachelor in Paradise (1961) and A Life of Her Own (1950)
- Cy KendallJohnny Eager (1941) and They Won't Forget (1937)
- Fay HoldenZiegfeld Girl (1941) and Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
- Sandra DeePortrait in Black (1960) and Imitation of Life (1959)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.