Ava Gardner – a Star of the Silver Screen
Presented by William Markham Her Early Life
Born 24 December 1922
Ava Lavinia Gardner in Grabtown, North Carolina
Youngest of 7 children
Lived on a Tobacco farm then a boarding house
Money tight – not “Dirt Poor”
At 18, her photo caught attention of MGM
Earlier films one line bits or little better
First notable film, The Killers, 1946 Photo that got Ava discovered Cover of Time Magazine 1951 Bit parts before she was famous
1941 Fancy Answers Girl at recital
1942 We do it because Girl at party
1943 Du Barry was a lady Perfume Girl
1944 Music for Millions Musician Some of her famous movies
1946 1951 1952 1953 1954 1959 1963 1964 1974 Marriages
Mickey Rooney 1942 to 1943
Artie Shaw 1945 to 1946
Frank Sinatra 1951 to 1957 Some of her other romances
Howard Hughes Robert Taylor
George C Scott Robert Mitchum George C Scott Other Films Robert Taylor
Robert Mitchum
Lori Martin – National Velvet What Ava said about some actors:
“The trouble was Frank and I were too much alike. My sister said that I was Frank in drag”.
Frank Sinatra
“Till death do us part would have been a whole lot sooner if we had tied the knot”.
Howard Hughes
“Bogie hated learning lines. He knew every trick in the book to mess up a scene and get a retake if he felt a scene was not going his way”.
Humphrey Bogart
“When he was loaded, he was terrifying. He would beat the hell out of me and have no idea the next morning what he had done”.
George C Scott Some publicity photos Some of her quotes
What Sharon Stone said Later years
Moved to London from Spain 1968
More Movies and TV Shows
Visited her family in the USA
Died in London a recluse age 67, 1990 Tributes to Ava Gardiner
Ava Gardiner Museum of Memorabilia in Smithfield, North Carolina
Portrayed in films – Deborah Unger in The Rat Pack, 1998
Books – Love is Nothing by Lee Server Secret Conversations by Peter Evans
Website – www.avagardner.com
Her films Ava Gardiner, The Secret Conversations
Peter Evans Any other comments or questions?