Carroll Baker was born on May 28, 1931 in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, the daughter of a traveling salesman, William W. Baker. She attended
community college for a year and then worked as a dancer and magician's
assistant. After a brief marriage, she had a small part in
Du bist so leicht zu lieben (1953), did TV
commercials, and had a bit part on Broadway. She studied at the Actors
Studio and was married to director
Jack Garfein (one daughter,
Blanche Baker). Warner Brothers, sensing a
future Marilyn Monroe, cast her in
Giganten (1956),
Baby Doll - Begehre nicht des anderen Weib (1956) (Oscar nomination for
her thumb-sucking role),
Die Unersättlichen (1964) and
Die Welt der Jean Harlow (1965) (title role). Moving to
Italy, she made films there and in England, Germany, Mexico and Spain .
After returning to American films, she married
Donald Burton in 1982 and resided in
Hampstead, London in the 1980s. They remained together until Burton's
death from emphysema in their home in Cathedral City, California in
2007.
