Who Is Lana Clarkson? | Yourtango
It's a Tale as Old as Time: a Young, Pretty Blonde Starts Auditioning in Hollywood in the Hopes of Making It Big. Sometimes the Ending Is a Happy One, Other...
It's a tale as old as time: a young, pretty blonde starts auditioning in Hollywood in the hopes of making it big. Sometimes the ending is a happy one, other times, it's not. Even rare still are the versions of the story that end in total heartbreak, devastation, and murder. When actress and model Lana Clarkson starting acting in big-budget Hollywood movies in the beginning of the 1980s, it seemed like the entire world was her oyster. The leggy blonde was turning heads, and before she knew it, she had fans of her own following her every move.
But fate is a cruel and fickle mistress, and just like that, fame vanished and left Lana Clarkson wondering what her next chapter could possibly hold. She made one mistake, trusted one man in Hollywood she should've ignored, and it didn't end in an awkward fumble... it ended in murder. You might be wondering, "who is Lana Clarkson," and with good reason: Phil Spector took her from this world before she had the chance to show us what she was really made of. Now, just after the 16th anniversary of her murder, let's revisit Lana's life and get to know the woman behind the famous crime scene.
1. A Rising 1980s Star
Born in 1962, Lana Clarkson was your not-so-average California girl. The gregarious, beautiful, and talented actress was California born and raised, and so it didn't come as a surprise to anyone when she decided to dip her toe into the entertainment world, starting off as a model and then trying her hand in Hollywood.
In 1982 she made her very first appearance in a motion picture, and this wasn't one that anyone would forget anytime soon. She appeared, albeit it in a non-speaking role, in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High." While she didn't exactly have a lot to do, she still made Hollywood sit up and take notice. It was her work in this film that got her the chance to appear in "Scarface," dancing her heart out on the dance floor right along the film's star, Michelle Pfeiffer.
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2. Finding Fame With Roger Corman
It was in her work with the legendary director Roger Corman that Lana finally gained the fame that she sought. While Corman's sword-and-sorcery films weren't considered high art, they had a serious following, and for Corman, Lana was something of a muse. She appeared in 5 of his films, perhaps most notably in the film Barbarian Queen which she described as being the "Original Xena."
Her work in these cult classics earned her a serious following, which meant that she traveled the world visiting with fans and appearing at all of the major science fiction and fantasy conventions. While she appreciated all of the acclaim and the chance to travel, she was disappointed that working with Corman in these films negatively impacted her career. In starring in these films, she had effectively destroyed any chance she may have had of becoming a mainstream Hollywood star.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
