Family and Friends
Everyone who knew Carole adored her! She was a kind woman who as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Carole was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, lover, and friend. Meet some of the most important people in her life -
Here is Carole with her mother Clara Ridste Fenner. Clara was born on May 11, 1894 in Wisconsin. She was Polish and her maiden name was Clara Zentek. Clara married Alfred Ridste, a machinist, in 1911 and had five children. Alfred left her and her second marriage, to Charles Fenner, didn't last. Clara took her children to California and often worked several jobs. She was a devout Catholic and a strict mother. When Carole was an adult her mother often lived with her. During World War 2 Clara worked at an aircraft plant. Clara said of Carole "My daughter, who shared every one of her happy hours with me, struggled always with the heartbreaks alone". She died on August 9, 1976.				Here is Carole with her sister Dorothy Ridste Ross. She was born on July 8, 1917. Dorothy and Carole had a very close relationship. Carole briefly dated Dorothy's husband, Walter Ross, before they were married. She was a loving aunt to Dorothy's four children - Diane Carole (who was named after Carole), Sharon, Walter, and Bill. Dorothy did not think that Carole committed suicide and believed that Rex Harrison had some involvement in her death. She later became a Mormon and moved to Utah with her family. Dorothy said "Carole lived more, learned more in her few, wonderful, generous years, than most people do in a lifetime". She died on September 19, 1997.
Here is Carole with Horace Schmidlapp, her fourth husband. They were introduced by her friend Jacqueline Susann. Horace was a Broadway producer from a rich family. They were married on December 8, 1945 and honeymooned in Cuba. Carole called him "Poppie". She said "He's my definition of an ideal husband. In Horace I've found a man instead of a boy". Carole lived with him in New York City for a while but they spent much of their time apart. Carole began having an affair with Rex Harrison and filed for divorce in March 1948. After Carole's death Horace dated Lana Turner and Sheree North. He died in 1987 at the age of seventy-one.				Here is Carole with her Captain Thomas Wallace, her third husband. Tommy was born in Pennsylvania in 1917. He was an Air Force pilot and had been part of the English Royal Air Force's American "Eagle Squadron". Carole met him in November 1942 while entertaining troops in England. She said it was love at first sight. After a whirlwind courtship they were married on January 5, 1943 in London. He was stationed overseas during most of their marriage and did not like Carole's Hollywood lifestyle. They separated in October 1944 and were divorced in July 1945. Tommy said "I've had enough of being the guy Carole Landis married".
Here is Carole with Willis Hunt Jr, her second husband. Willis was a wealthy yacht salesman. He proposed to Carole two weeks after meeting her. She said "We like to do the same things. I think it will work". On July 4, 1940 they eloped in Las Vegas. He became abusive and she walked out on him two months later. They were divorced in November 1940. Carole claimed the divorce made her suffer a nervous breakdown. Surprisingly they remained friends and continued to go out together. Tragically in 1969 Willis was stabbed to death at the age of fifty-five. His wife was charged with his murder but she was acquitted.				Here is Carole with her fiance Gene Markey. He was a successful screenwriter and producer. Gene was twenty-three years older than Carole. He had been married to actresses Joan Bennett and Hedy Lamarr. Carole started dating Gene in early 1941 but she continued to see other men. Their relationship got serious in 1942 and they were engaged for a short time. Gene gave Carole her beloved Great Dane Donner. Carole said "Gene Markey gives me books of plays to read, books about the theater; he talks to me about the theater and gives me the feeling we are talking about it". In 1946 Gene married Myrna Loy. He died on May 1, 1980 at the age of eighty-four.
Here is Carole with her longtime boyfriend Busby Berkeley. He was a successful choreographer and director. She met him in 1937 when she auditioned for a role in Varsity Show. He helped her get a contract with Warner Brothers. Busby was twenty-three years older than Carole. Their romance got her a lot of attention in Hollywood but she claimed they were not dating. Carole said "Mr. Berkeley and I are good friends, but we certainly aren't in love". Her first husband, Irving Wheeler, sued Busby for $250,000 for "alienation of affection" but lost the case. Busby was an alcoholic and his mother did not like Carole. He broke up with her in 1938. Busby died in 1976 at the age of eighty.				Here is Carole with her boyfriend George Montgomery. They costarred in the 1941 film Cadet Girl and dated for a few months. George appeared in more than one hundred movies during his career. He died in 2000 at the age of eighty-four. Carole was also romantically involved with Charlie Chaplin, Franchot Tone, Hal Roach Jr (son of Hal Roach), Jacqueline Susann, Cedric Gibbons (art director), Kenny Morgan (columnist), Alexander D'Arcy, Vic Orsatti (agent), Pat DiCicco (agent), Tony Martin, George Jessel, Alan Gordon (publicist), Conrad Nagel, Robert Stack, Rouben Mamoulian, and Greg Bautzer (her lawyer).
Here is Carole with Cesar Romero, one of her best friends. Cesar was one of Hollywood's most popular leading men. He and Carole made four movies together including A Gentleman At Heart and Orchestra Wives. Carole liked Cesar because he was a gentleman with perfect manners. He escorted her to many Hollywood events. Carole said "Cesar, of course, is wishful-thinking-come-true, on a dance floor". Gossip columnists claimed they were dating but Cesar was gay so there was never anything romantic between them. Cesar was one of the pallbearers at Carole's funeral. He died in 1994 at the age of eighty-six.				Here is Carole with her close friend Marguerite Haymes. She was a vocal coach and the mother of singer Dick Haymes. On the night Carole died she tried calling Marguerite but she wasn't home. Marguerite died in 1987 at the age of ninety-three. Carole was also good friends with Diana Lewis, William Powell, Dorothy Kilgallen, Patsy Kelly, Dorothy Dandridge, Eloise and Pat O'Brien, Willard Parker, Lou and Florence Wasson (her stand-in), Don Loper (designer), Linda Darnell, Sonja Henie, Mitzi Mayfair, Martha Raye, Margaret Roach (daughter of Hal Roach), Van Johnson, Eddie Sutherland, Billie Burke, Burgess Meredith, Norma Koch (designer), and Peggy McKenna (her stand-in).
After Carole's death her friend Cesar Romero wrote a letter about her - My dear Carole, I have been asked by some of your fans to write something about you in the way of a tribute so that it may be published in the club journal. I confess this is a job I have never had to do before and I don’t know just how to start, so don’t be too angry if I don’t do you justice. You left the stage of life way too soon my dear and your friends and fans miss you very much. Personally I am very happy and proud to have been one of your friends and to have had the honor of working with you in four pictures. There was never a dull day on the set with you. Your lovely face, the warmth of your personality, your vitality and delightful sense of humor were something I always looked forward to and which made the average working day truly a pleasure. I remember the fun we had when we mad "Dance Hall" together and what a wonderful sport you were on the nights that we had to work until five o’clock in the morning. You never complained about a thing, but took it in your stride as part of your job and loved every minute of it. I’m afraid that couldn’t be said about all our fair ladies of the screen. You were a good actress Carole and you owe it only to yourself. You worked hard, studied and learned a great deal in a very short time. What is more important, you were a good daughter, sister and aunt. You loved your family and never shirked your duty toward them. You helped them in every way possible and brought them much happiness. Of that you can be extremely proud. I think that I can say in all honesty that you did more than your share in life. Your record during the war will always stand as a monument to your memory. The boys that you entertained overseas will never forget and neither will their families. You brought them cheer and a touch of home when they really needed it most. That was a tough job, as I know only too well, but as usual you sailed through it with flying colors - a trooper if there ever was one. You were a fine girl Carole, and you made every moment of your life count. I only wish that life had treated you as kindly as you treated it. As I said before, I’m proud to have been your friend. Sleep well my dear.