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Susan Cabot
1927-1986
Updated 4/24/2008.
biography
Born Harriet Shapiro in Boston on July 9, 1927, petite Susan Cabot grew up in a series of foster homes. After arriving in New York, where she attended school, Cabot married at the age of 17, largely to escape her sad childhood. She had taken an interest in dramatics and singing, and by the time Cabot was 20 years old, she had matured into a beautiful young hopeful actress. She took jobs in early television and a few bit parts in films before she was discovered by a Columbia Studios director, who cast her in On the Isle of Samoa (1950; with Jon Hall). Cabot moved from New York to Hollywood, and in late 1950, she signed a contract with Universal-International. While Susan Cabot is best remembered for her role as Janice Starlin in her final film, The Wasp Woman (1960; with Anthony Eisley and Barboura Morris), at Universal she was frequently cast in westerns.
Sexy and glamorous 1950s shots of Susan Cabot
Unhappy with the roles offered to her at Universal, Cabot got a release from her contract and headed back to New York, as she had been offered a good role in the legitimate theatre. However, Broadway wasn't all she had hoped for, so in 1957, Cabot signed a contract with Roger Corman to do a series of quickie, low-budget films, starting with Carnival Rock (1957; with Dick Miller). Cabot also dated Roger Corman for a brief period. Cabot also guest-starred on several popular TV shows in the late 1950s, including Have Gun---Will Travel.
the films of susan cabot
On the Isle of Samoa (1950)
From the adventure flick On the Isle of Samoa. LEFT: With Jon Hall. RIGHT: With Raymond Greenleaf and Jon Hall
The Battle at Apache Pass (1954)
From the Universal Technicolor western The Battle at Apache Pass with Richard Egan
The Duel at Silver Creek (1952)
From the Universal-International western The Duel at Silver Creek
Son of Ali Baba (1952)
From the colorful Universal-International adventure Son of Ali Baba
Gunsmoke (1953)
Stills from the Universal western Gunsmoke. LEFT: With Paul Kelly. CENTER and RIGHT: With Audie Murphy
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954)
From the Audie Murphy vehicle Ride Clear of Diablo, Cabot's last film at Universal
Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1957)
Susan Cabot is flanked by Sally Todd, Abby Dalton, and Michael Forest in the campy American International release Viking Women and the Sea Serpent
Carnival Rock (1957)
Cabot stars as nightclub singer Natalie Cook in Roger Corman's Carnival Rock
Fort Massacre (1958)
From Cabot's last western Fort Massacre. LEFT: With John Russell. RIGHT: With John Russell, Larry Chance, and Joel McCrea
Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
With Charles Bronson in American International's Machine-Gun Kelly
The Wasp Woman (1960)
As cosmetics company president Janice Starlin, Cabot discovers the secret to eternal youth in The Wasp Woman, her final film. Shot on a shoestring budget of about $50,000, The Wasp Woman is the film that Susan Cabot is best remembered for
later years
After Susan Cabot's final star turn in The Wasp Woman, she left the screen to concentrate on singing and stage acting. In 1964, she gave birth to her son, Timothy, who suffered from dwarfism. In 1968, she her married second husband, actor Michael Roman, but the marriage broke up in the early 1980s, in part due to Cabot's increasing mental fragility and paranoia. (Cabot had been taking a growth hormone prescribed for her son, possibly a factor in heightening her mental illness.) In late 1986, her son, citing years of abuse, beat her to death with a weight bar; Cabot was 59 years old.
Kiss Of Death [DVD](1947) DVD
Superior "noir" crime thriller stars Victor Mature as a crook who turns state's evidence when his gang betrays him and leaves him to rot in jail. Richard Widmark, in his screen debut, is unforgettable as a sadistically giggling killer with an affinity for wheelchair-bound ladies and staircases. With Coleen Gray, Brian Donlevy, Karl Malden. 99 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.
The Enforcer [DVD](1951) DVD
Bogart is captured in front-line as a crusading D.A. out to break the back of a vicious murder-for-hire ring. He must win a race against time to uncover the killer of his star witness. Everett Sloane, Zero Mostel, Ted de Corsia co-star. 87 min.
The Duel At Silver Creek [DVD](1952) DVD
A murderous gang of claim-jumpers have marshal Stephen McNally in their pocket, thanks to beautiful leader Faith Domergue, so it falls on deputy Audie Murphy, whose family was killed by the outlaws, to bring them to justice in this frontier drama directed by Don Siegel. 77 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailer.
Viking Women And The Sea Serpent (1957)/Teenage Caveman [DVD](1958) DVD
First, Roger Corman's "Viking Women and the Sea Serpent" has a group of heroic gals venturing out on a dangerous journey to find their missing men. But when they are shipwrecked by an aquatic beast and taken prisoner by savages, they struggle to regain their freedom. Abby Dalton, Susan Cabot, Brad Jackson star. AKA: "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent," "Undersea Monster." Then, Corman's "Teenage Caveman" stars Robert Vaughn (in his film debut) as an animal-skinned adolescent who goes up against his tribe's law and hunts for a fearsome monster. With Sarah Marshall, Leslie Bradley. 132 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Wasp Woman [DVD](1959) DVD
Cosmetics producer Susan Cabot thinks she's discovered a new age-retarding cream, but learns that the ``wasp enzymes'' in the formula turn her into an insect-headed monster at night! Horrific (dare we say it?) "B"-movie from Roger Corman co-stars Michael Marks, Barboura Morris. 73 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English. Plays All Regions.
The Wasp Woman [VHS](1959) VHS
Cosmetics producer Susan Cabot thinks she's discovered a new age-retarding cream, but learns that the ``wasp enzymes'' in the formula turn her into an insect-headed monster at night! Horrific (dare we say it?) ``B''-movie from Roger Corman co-stars Michael Marks, Barboura Morris. 66 min.
Have Gun Will Travel: The Complete First Season [DVD](1957) DVD
All 39 episodes from season one--including "Three Bells to Perdido," "The Colonel and the Lady," "The Bostonian," "Hey Boy's Revenge," and "The Statue of San Sebastian"--are collected in a six-disc set. 17 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; biographies; episode information.
Have Gun Will Travel: The Complete Second Season [DVD](1958) DVD
All 39 episodes from season two--including "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk," "The Ballad of Oscar Wilde," "The Moor's Revenge," "The Scorched Feather," and "Gold and Brimstone"--are collected in a six-disc set. 16 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; biographies.
susan cabot out-of-print films available from amazon.com
filmography
FILM
The Wasp Woman (1960) with Anthony Eisley, Barboura Morris, Bruno VeSota, and Aron Kincaid
Surrender---Hell! (1959) with Keith Andes
Machine-Gun Kelly (1958) with Charles Bronson, Barboura Morris, and Morey Amsterdam
Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1958) with Abby Dalton, Sally Todd, Gary Conway, and Michael Forest
Fort Massacre (1958) with Joel McCrea, Forrest Tucker, and John Russell
War of the Satellites (1958) with Dick Miller, Bruno VeSota, and Mitzi McCall
Carnival Rock (1957) with Jonathan Haze, Dick Miller, and Bruno VeSota
Sorority Girl (1957) with Dick Miller and Barboura Morris
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) with Audie Murphy and Dan Duryea
Gunsmoke (1953) with Audie Murphy, Paul Kelly, Charles Drake, Jack Kelly, Jesse White, and William Reynolds
The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) with Jeff Chandler, Richard Egan, Hugh O'Brian, James Best, and William Reynolds
The Duel at Silver Creek (1952) with Audie Murphy, Faith Domergue, and Gerald Mohr
Son of Ali Baba (1952) with Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Gerald Mohr, William Reynolds, and Hugh O'Brian
The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951) with Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, and Peggie Castle
Flame of Araby (1951) with Jeff Chandler, Maureen O'Hara, Dewey Martin, and Richard Egan
The Enforcer (1951) with Humphrey Bogart
Tomahawk (1951) with Yvonne De Carlo, Van Heflin, Rock Hudson, and Alex Nicol
On the Isle of Samoa (1950) with Jon Hall
Kiss of Death (1947) with Victor Mature, Coleen Gray, and Brian Donlevy
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This page premiered February 28, 2002.
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