Born Constance Ockleman (1919-73), Veronica Lake relocated to California with her parents as a teenager and was pushed by her stage mother to take acting classes. In 1939, she was signed by RKO Studios, sometimes appearing in small roles before the studio dropped her contract. A few bit parts at MGM and 20th Century-Fox followed, and then she signed with Paramount. With her cool manner and trademark "peekaboo" hairstyle, she created a come-hither look that millions of women copied. Lake's biggest year in films was 1942, when she starred in a string of hit films for Paramount, including SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS; I MARRIED A WITCH; and the noir classic THIS GUN FOR HIRE, in which the 4'5" actress made even her 5'5" co-star, Alan Ladd, look tall! Although Lake proved to be a capable actress, especially in film noir, her career began to fade soon after the end of World War II. Several more films followed, but by 1948 Paramount had dropped her contract.
VERONICA LAKE
Born Constance Ockleman (1919-73), Veronica Lake relocated to California with her parents as a teenager and was pushed by her stage mother to take acting classes. In 1939, she was signed by RKO Studios, sometimes appearing in small roles before the studio dropped her contract. A few bit parts at MGM and 20th Century-Fox followed, and then she signed with Paramount. With her cool manner and trademark "peekaboo" hairstyle, she created a come-hither look that millions of women copied. Lake's biggest year in films was 1942, when she starred in a string of hit films for Paramount, including SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS; I MARRIED A WITCH; and the noir classic THIS GUN FOR HIRE, in which the 4'5" actress made even her 5'5" co-star, Alan Ladd, look tall! Although Lake proved to be a capable actress, especially in film noir, her career began to fade soon after the end of World War II. Several more films followed, but by 1948 Paramount had dropped her contract.
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