Diana Dors

 Diana Dors, born Diana Mary Fluck (October 23, 1931 – May 4, 1984)

She first came to public notice as a blonde bombshell in the style of American Marilyn Monroe, as promoted by her first husband Dennis Hamilton, mostly via sex film-comedies and risqué modelling. When it turned out that Hamilton had been defrauding her for his own benefit, she had little choice but to play up to her established image, and she made tabloid headlines with the adult parties reportedly held at her house. Later she showed a genuine talent for TV, recordings and cabaret, and gained new popularity as a regular chat-show guest. Pre-signing a three-film contract with RKO Pictures in June 1956, she left Southampton on board the Queen Elizabeth for New York City and then to Hollywood to start shooting The Unholy Wife (1957) and I Married a Woman. During the summer of 1961, Dors shot "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", based on Robert Bloch's story, for Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The episode was so gruesome that it was suppressed for decades. Dors also starred in a 1963 episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour titled "Run for Doom", co-starring John Gavin. In 1960, she married Richard Dawson, however, they divorced in 1966 and Dors returned to the UK. Although her film work consisted mainly of sex comedies, her popularity climbed thanks to her television work, where her wit, intelligence and catchy one-liners developed as a cabaret performer won over viewers.

She became a regular on Jokers Wild, Blankety Blank and Celebrity Squares, and was a regular guest on BBC Radio 2's The Law Game. She also had a recurring role in The Two Ronnies in 1980. Having turned her life story into a cash flow through interviews and leaked tabloid stories, like many celebrities in their later careers she turned to the autobiography to generate retirement cash. Between 1978 and 1984, she published four autobiographical books under her own name: For Adults Only, Behind Closed Dors, Dors by Diana and A. to Z. of Men. Dors died on May 4, 1984 aged 52 from a recurrence of ovarian cancer, first diagnosed two years before. She is buried at Sunningdale Catholic Cemetery in England. At the time of her death, she was married to English actor Alan Lake, who fell into a depression after she died. He committed suicide later that year by gunshot, age 43, and is buried next to Dors.