Diane Varsi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diane Varsi
Varsi in 1958
Born	Diane Marie Antonia Varsi (1938-02-23)February 23, 1938 San Mateo, California, U.S.
Died	November 19, 1992(1992-11-19) (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Tamalpais Cemetery
Alma mater	Bennington College
Years active	1957–1977
Spouse(s)	James Dickson ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1958)​ Michael Hausman ​ ​ (m. 1961; div. 1965)​ Russell Parker ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1970)​
Children	2

Diane Varsi (born February 23, 1938 – died November 19, 1992) was an American actress. She became famous for her first movie, Peyton Place. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award. She also starred in the popular movie Wild in the Streets. Diane Varsi decided to leave Hollywood to follow her own interests. She studied poetry at Bennington College in Vermont.

Diane Varsi's Early Life

Diane Varsi was born in San Mateo, California. This city is near San Francisco. As a teenager, she tried to become a model and a restaurant hostess. She didn't have much luck with these jobs.

In high school, Diane was sometimes called different by her classmates. She often skipped school to visit San Francisco. She left school at age 15 during her junior year. Diane said she was bored and didn't like the social groups at school. In the 1950s, she joined the San Francisco ballet. She also thought about becoming a folk singer. Later, she moved to Los Angeles with a friend.

Becoming a Star in Peyton Place

Diane Varsi had only acted in one play before her first movie. At 18, she got her first film role in Peyton Place (1957). She played the character Allison MacKenzie. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

The next year, Diane won a Golden Globe Award. She shared the award for New Star of the Year with two other actresses. Many famous actresses tried out for the main role in Peyton Place. But the unknown Diane Varsi was chosen in May 1957. A producer named Buddy Adler discovered her. He quickly signed her to a contract with 20th Century Fox.

Diane Varsi's Acting Career

Before Peyton Place came out, Diane Varsi was cast in another movie. She acted alongside Don Murray in From Hell to Texas (1958). She also appeared in Ten North Frederick (1958). Her other film was Compulsion (1959).

While filming Ten North Frederick, Diane became very stressed. She collapsed and had to go to the hospital. She later said she was still trying to understand herself. She found it hard to tell what was real and what was not. Diane wasn't sure if acting was the best creative path for her.

In January 1959, Diane turned down a role in the movie Holiday for Lovers. On March 18, 1959, she suddenly left Hollywood. She ended her contract with the studio. She explained that she was "running away from destruction." A week later, she added that Hollywood was "too impressed with superficial cheapness." Her contract with Fox was supposed to last until 1965.

Because she left, Diane missed out on several film roles. One of these was a main role in The Best of Everything (1959). After leaving Hollywood, Diane acted in local theater plays in San Francisco. She later went to New York and joined the Actors Studio.

Diane Varsi returned to movies in the late 1960s. However, she was no longer offered big roles. She called the movies she made then "cheap films of little merit." Producers were curious about her, but they often wouldn't hire her. Her later films include Wild in the Streets (1968). She also starred in Johnny Got His Gun (1971). Diane said this was her favorite movie. She also appeared in a TV movie called The People (1971). About Johnny Got His Gun, she said it was the kind of role she always wanted.

Diane Varsi's Personal Life

In Hollywood, Diane Varsi was known for being simple. She didn't wear much makeup or expensive clothes. She avoided Hollywood parties. She once said she would rather meet a famous writer than a movie star. Other actors at Fox remembered her as a "frightened girl." They said she was confused by her sudden success. They also said she was disappointed by how some studio people treated her. After Peyton Place came out, she dated her co-star, Russ Tamblyn.

Diane Varsi was married several times. She had two children. Her daughter, Willo, was born during her marriage to Michael Hausman.

Later Years and Death

Diane Varsi passed away on November 19, 1992. She was 54 years old. She died in Los Angeles from breathing problems. She is buried at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Diane Varsi in 1958

See also

In Spanish: Diane Varsi para niños