Diana Dors (1931-1984)

biography

Born Diana Fluck in Swindon, England, on October 23, 1931, beautiful Diana Dors was billed as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, but in reality she and Monroe were two different types. Dors harbored acting aspirations at an early age, and after winning a beauty contest at the age of 13, she went to acting school. Once referring to herself as "The only sex symbol England produced since Lady Godiva", Dors made her film debut at age 15 in The Shop at Sly Corner (1947). Bigger and better roles soon followed, and by the early 1950s, Dors was starring in numerous potboiler films. In 1951, at the age of 19, Dors married Dennis Hamilton. Along with her husband's help, she cultivated a sexy bad-girl image that played well in her early films, including Dance Hall (1950), The Weak and the Wicked (1953), and Blonde Sinner (1956). By 1956, Dors was the highest paid actress in Britain, earning more than $3 million per year. However, her first marriage didn't survive her career, and the couple separated in 1958. Hamilton passed away in early 1959, before their divorce was final. Later that year, Dors married actor and game show host Richard Dawson, with whom she had two sons.

In the mid 1950s, Dors gambled for international stardom and went to Hollywood to make a handful of films. One of her first Hollywood films was Broadway Jungle (1955), written and directed by low-budget filmmaker Phil Tucker, and this film didn't advance her career. In 1957 and 1958, she starred in The Long Haul, The Lady and the Prowler, and the comedy I Married a Woman. While Dors received good notices in these films, she eventually left Hollywood and went back to Britain. After her divorce from actor Richard Dawson in 1967, Dors married actor Alan Lake in 1968.

the films of diana dors

Diamond City (1949)

A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)

The Long Haul (1957)

The Lady and the Prowler (1958)

I Married a Woman (1958)

King of the Roaring 20's (1961)

Berserk! (1968)

later years

Although Diana Dors is best remembered for her sexy bombshell persona, she was highly adept at drama and comedy. She also made a number of horror films later in her career, including Nothing But the Night (1972; with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing), Theater of Blood (1973; with Vincent Price and Diana Rigg), and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1980; with David Hemmings). Enjoying her legendary status, she even appeared as a fairy godmother to Adam Ant in his 1981 video Prince Charming. In 1982, Dors was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on May 4, 1984, at the age of 52. Sadly, her husband Alan Lake committed suicide six months after Dors passed away. She was survived by three sons.

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filmography

FILM
Steaming (1985) with Vanessa Redgrave
Children of the Full Moon (1984) with Simon MacCorkindale
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1981) with David Hemmings and Desmond Llewelyn
Timon of Athens (1981)
Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair (1979) with Alan Lake
The Plank (1979) with Eric Sykes and Frankie Howerd
Adventures of a Private Eye (1977) with Suzy Kendall
Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976) with Judy Geeson
Keep It Up Downstairs (1976) with Jack Wild
Bedtime with Rosie (1975)
A Man with a Maid (1975)
Nurse Will Make It Better (1975)
The Amorous Milkman (1975) with Julie Ege and Alan Lake
Three for All (1974)
Craze (1973) with Jack Palance and Julie Ege
From Beyond the Grave (1973) with Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, and David Warner
Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973)
Theater of Blood (1973) with Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, and Ian Hendry
The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972) with Lynne Frederick; directed by Lionel Jeffries
Swedish Wildcats (1972)
Nothing But the Night (1972) with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Georgia Brown
The Pied Piper (1972) with Donald Pleasence, Donovan, and Jack Wild
Hannie Caulder (1971) with Raquel Welch, Robert Culp, Ernest Borgnine, and Christopher Lee
Deep End (1970) with Jane Asher
There's a Girl in My Soup (1970) with Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn
Baby Love (1968)
Hammerhead (1968) with Beverly Adams, Judy Geeson, David Prowse, and Vince Edwards
Danger Route (1968) with Carol Lynley and Barbara Bouchet
Berserk! (1968) with Joan Crawford, Ty Hardin, and Judy Geeson
The Sandwich Man (1966) with Peter Arne, Ian Hendry, and Terry-Thomas
West 11 (1963)
Encontra a Mallorca (1962)
Mrs. Gibbons' Boys (1962) with Lionel Jeffries
On the Double (1961) with Danny Kaye, Dana Wynter, and Gregory Walcott
King of the Roaring 20's (1961) with David Janssen, Mickey Rooney, and Jack Carson
Scent of Mystery (1960) with Denholm Elliott and Peter Lorre
Room 43 (1959) with Eddie Constantine
I Married a Woman (1958) with George Gobel and Nita Talbot
The Lady and the Prowler (1958) with Rod Steiger, Tom Tryon, and Marie Windsor
Tread Softly Stranger (1958) with George Baker and Terence Morgan
The Long Haul (1957) with Victor Mature
The Love Specialist (1957) with Vittorio Gassman and Bruce Cabot
Blonde Sinner (1956)
An Alligator Named Daisy (1955)
Broadway Jungle (1955) with Eddie Constantine; directed by Phil Tucker
Miss Tulip Stays the Night (1955)
Value for Money (1955)
As Long as They're Happy (1955) with Janette Scott
A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) with Joe Robinson
The Great Game (1953)
It's a Grand Life (1953)
The Weak and the Wicked (1953) with Glynis Johns
The Saint's Return (1953)
Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? (1952)
Man Bait (1952) with George Brent
My Wife's Lodger (1952)
Worm's Eye View (1951)
Bikini Baby (1951) with Anne Heywood
Dance Hall (1950)
A Boy, a Girl and a Bike (1949) with Honor Blackman
Diamond City (1949) with Honor Blackman
It's Not Cricket (1949)
Vote for Huggett (1949) with Petula Clark
Good Time Girl (1949)
The Calendar (1948)
Here Come the Huggetts (1948) with Petula Clark
My Sister and I (1948) with Sally Ann Howes
Penny and the Pownall Case (1948) with Christopher Lee
Oliver Twist (1948) with Alec Guinness
Dancing with Crime (1947)

TELEVISION SERIES
Just William, 1976-1979 BBC TV series. Dors portrayed Mrs. Bott
All Our Saturdays, 1973 BBC TV series. Dors portrayed Di Dorkins
Queenie's Castle, 1970-1972 BBC TV series. Dors portrayed Queenie Shepherd

diana dors film now showing

Watch Diana Dors' 1958 crime drama Tread Softly Stranger