Sandra Dee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandra Dee
Dee in 1959
Born	Alexandra Zuck (1942-04-23)April 23, 1942 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	February 20, 2005(2005-02-20) (aged 62) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Other names	Sandra Douvan
Education	University High School
Alma mater	Professional Children's School
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	1957–1983
Known for	Imitation of Life Until They Sail Gidget A Summer Place Tammy Tell Me True Take Her She's Mine
Spouse(s)	Bobby Darin ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1967)​
Children	1

Sandra Dee (born Alexandra Zuck; April 23, 1942 – February 20, 2005) was a famous American actress. She started her career as a child model and later became a film star in her teenage years. Sandra Dee was well-known for playing innocent young characters. She won a Golden Globe Award for her role in Until They Sail (1958).

Her roles in Imitation of Life and Gidget (both 1959) made her a household name. By the late 1960s, her acting career began to slow down. Her marriage to singer Bobby Darin also ended. After this, she acted less often, mostly in TV shows. Sandra Dee passed away in 2005 due to health problems.

About Sandra Dee's Life and Career

Early Life and Modeling Career

Sandra Dee was born Alexandra Zuck on April 23, 1942, in Bayonne, New Jersey. She was the only child of John and Mary Zuck. Her parents divorced when she was very young. Sandra was raised in the Russian Orthodox faith.

She started modeling at age four and soon appeared in television commercials. There was some confusion about her birth year. Legal records show she was born in 1942. However, her son's book said she was born in 1944. This was possibly to help her get more modeling and acting jobs when she was very young.

When she was 12, producer Ross Hunter noticed her in New York City. Sandra Dee said she "grew up fast" because she was often around older people. During her modeling career, she tried to lose weight. This unhealthy diet affected her health.

Despite this, she earned a lot of money as a child model. She used this money to support herself and her mother. While modeling, she went to the Professional Children's School.

Starting Her Film Career

In 1957, Sandra Dee moved from New York to Hollywood. She finished high school in Los Angeles in 1958. Her first movie was Until They Sail in 1957. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award as a promising new actress.

She then starred in The Reluctant Debutante (1958) with John Saxon. She also voiced a character in the English version of The Snow Queen. In 1958, Sandra Dee signed a contract with Universal Pictures. She starred in more films like The Restless Years (1958) and A Stranger in My Arms (1959).

Becoming a Big Star

Dee in Imitation of Life (1959)

The original Gidget (1959)

Sandra Dee's third movie for producer Ross Hunter was a big success. It was Imitation of Life (1959), co-starring Lana Turner. This movie made over $50 million and made Sandra Dee very famous.

She then played the main role in the teen beach comedy Gidget (1959). This movie was a hit and helped start the popular beach party movie trend. She also starred in the Western comedy The Wild and the Innocent (1959). Another major film was A Summer Place (1959) with Troy Donahue. By the end of 1959, she was one of the most popular stars in the country.

Sandra Dee continued to star in successful films. These included Portrait in Black (1960) and Romanoff and Juliet (1961). She also took over the role of Tammy in Tammy Tell Me True (1961).

In 1961, she met and married singer Bobby Darin after they filmed Come September together. They had one son, Dodd Mitchell Darin. Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin also starred together in If a Man Answers (1962) and That Funny Feeling (1965). She appeared in the last Tammy movie, Tammy and the Doctor (1963), and the comedy Take Her, She's Mine (1963). She was still a top star in the early 1960s.

Sandra Dee also sang and released some songs in the early 1960s.

Later Roles and Retirement

Dee and Dean Stockwell in The Dunwich Horror (1970)

By the late 1960s, Sandra Dee's acting career slowed down. Her contract with Universal Pictures ended. After her divorce from Bobby Darin in 1967, she acted less often.

She appeared in Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (1967) and Rosie! (1967). After a few years, she starred in the horror film The Dunwich Horror (1970). Throughout the 1970s, she made guest appearances on TV shows like Night Gallery and Fantasy Island. Her last movie role was in the drama Lost (1983).

In her later years, Sandra Dee faced health challenges. She retired from acting and lived a private life. She sought medical help in the early 1990s.

Death

Crypt of Sandra Dee at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills

Sandra Dee passed away on February 20, 2005, at the age of 62. She had been dealing with kidney problems for several years. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognition

Sandra Dee received several awards and was recognized for her popularity.

Box Office Popularity

Movie theater owners voted Sandra Dee as one of the most popular stars in the U.S. for several years:

• 1959—16th most popular
• 1960—7th most popular
• 1961—6th most popular
• 1962—9th most popular
• 1963—8th most popular

See also

In Spanish: Sandra Dee para niños