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Sharon Tate Age, Death, Husband, Boyfriend, Family, Biography & More

Sharon Tate

Bio
Full NameSharon Marie Tate Polanski
ProfessionAmerican Actress and Model
Famous RoleJennifer North in the 1967 cult classic film, Valley of the Dolls
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 168 cm
in meters- 1.68 m
in feet inches- 5’ 6”
Weight (approx.)in kilograms- 50 kg
in pounds- 110 lbs
Figure Measurements (approx.)32-26-32
Eye ColorHazel Brown
Hair ColorLight Ash Blonde
Personal Life
Date of BirthJanuary 24, 1943
Birth PlaceDallas, Texas, U.S.
Date of DeathAugust 9, 1969
Place of DeathBenedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Age (at the time of death)26 Years
Death CauseMurder by stabbing
Resting PlaceHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
Zodiac signAquarius
SignatureSharon Tate Signature
NationalityAmerican
HometownDallas, Texas, U.S.
School• From September 1955 to June 1958- Chief Joseph Junior High School (now Chief Joseph Middle School)
• From September 1958 to October 1959- Columbia High School (now Richland High School), Richland, Washington, United States
• From late fall 1959 to April 1960- Irvin High School, El Paso, Texas, United States
• From April to June 1960- Vicenza American High School, Vicenza, Italy
CollegeDid not attend
Educational QualificationGraduated from Vicenza American High School in 1961
DebutFilm: Eye of the Devil (British Film, 1966)
Eye of the Devil
TV: Mister Ed (1963)
Sharon Tate in Mister Ed (TV Series)
FamilyFather- Paul James Tate (Colonel; United States Army)
Sharon Tate With Her Father
Mother- Doris Gwendolyn
Sharon Tate With Her Mother Doris
Brother- None
Sisters- Debra Tate and Patricia Tate (both younger)
Sharon Tate With Her Sisters
ReligionChristianity (Catholic)
Ethnicity/RaceWhite American
HobbiesListening to Music (especially Jazz and Classical Chamber), Cooking
Favorites
Restaurant(s)• Delores Diner, Los Angeles
• El Coyote Cafe, Los Angeles
FoodBlue Corn Tortillas
SubjectPsychiatry
Attire(s)Antique Camisoles, Tailored Clothes, Jeans and Pedal Pushers
Bath ProductMilk and Pearls
Skin Care Product(s)Erno Lazlo, Vaseline
ColorEcrue (Creamy White)
Jewelrybig hoop earrings and thin Love Beads (made of tiny glass bead called Bugle Beads), a Cartier watch with a black reptile band
Music BandThe Beatles
FlowerYellow Roses
Cigarette BrandTareyton Cigarettes
Holiday Destination(s)The Italian Rivera, The French Rivera, The French Alps
Boys, Affairs and More
Sexual OrientationStraight
Marital Status (at the time of death)Married
Affairs/Boyfriends• Steve McQueen (American Actor)
Sharon Tate With Steve McQueen
• Richard Beymer, American Actor (1961-1963)
Sharon Tate With Richard Beymer
• Philippe Forquet, French Actor (1963-1964)
Sharon Tate With Philippe Forquet
• Jay Sebring, American Businessman (1964-1967)
Sharon Tate With Jay Sebring
• Roman Polanski, Polish Film Director (1966-1969)
Husband/SpouseRoman Polanski, Polish Film Director
Sharon Tate With Her Husband Roman Polanski
Marriage DateJanuary 20, 1968 in Chelsea, London
ChildrenNone
Style Quotient
Car(s) CollectionRed Ferrari, The Bentley, Rolls Royce
Money Factor
Net Worth (approx.)$1 million (at the time of death)

Sharon Tate

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sharon Tate

  • Did Sharon Tate smoke?: Yes

    Sharon Tate Smoking

    Sharon Tate Smoking

  • Did Sharon Tate drink alcohol?: Yes

    Sharon Tate with a Glass of Wine

    Sharon Tate with a Glass of Wine

  • She was born a day before the first wedding anniversary of her parents Colonel Paul James and Doris Tate.

    Sharon Tate Childhood Photo

    Sharon Tate Childhood Photo

  • By the time Tate was 6-months old she had won her first beauty contest- Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas Texas.

    Sharon Tate Childhood Photo

    Sharon Tate Childhood Photo

  • Being a United States Army officer, her father was promoted and transferred several times due to which, Tate faced difficulties in making friends; as, by the age of 16, she had lived in six different cities.

    Sharon Tate in her High School

    Sharon Tate in her High School

  • In her teenage, Tate was described by his family as shy and lacking in self-confidence.

    Sharon Tate in her Childhood

    Sharon Tate in her Childhood

  • While growing up, Tate was started getting noticed by the people for her beauty, and, on the recommendation of some of her family and friends, she started participating in beauty pageants and won the title of “Miss Richland” in Washington in 1959.

    Sharon Tate after winning Miss Richland Beauty Pageant in 1959

    Sharon Tate after winning Miss Richland Beauty Pageant in 1959

  • While still in her teenage, Tate desired to study Psychiatry and also wanted to compete in the “Miss Washington” pageant in 1960. However, she couldn’t do either as her father was transferred to Italy, and she was relocated to the city of Verona in Italy.

    Different Shades of Sharon Tate

    Different Shades of Sharon Tate

  • While in Italy, Tate had become a local celebrity after she was featured in a swimsuit on the cover of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes.
  • It was there in Italy that she had begun to form lasting friendships while attending the American school in nearby Vicenza; after knowing that there were other students who had similar backgrounds and feelings of separation just like her. Sharon Tate High School Friends
  • While studying in Italy’s American school, Tate and friends obtained parts as film extras during the filming of the 1962 American adventure film Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man.
  • During the filming of Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man, Richard Beymer (an American actor and filmmaker), noticed Tate in the crowd and after introducing himself to Tate, the duo started dating each other. It was Beymer who had encouraged Tate to pursue a film career.

    Sharon Tate With Richard Beymer

    Sharon Tate With Richard Beymer

  • Thereafter, Pat Boone (an American singer and composer) employed Tate in 1960, and the duo appeared in an episode of the television series ‘The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,’ which was filmed in Venice.
  • In the same year, Tate made a small appearance in the 1961 religious epic film ‘Barabbas.’ Although her role was small, it had impressed the actor Jack Palance who went on to arrange a screen test for her, but Tate decided to return the United States alone on the pretext of further studies. However, after her return to the United States, she started trying to find film work.
  • Soon after her return to the United States, Tate’s father suffered a nervous breakdown, and Tate had to return to Italy again.
  • In 1962, Tate and her family returned to the United States and in search of work, she moved to Los Angeles where she met Richard Beymer’s agent, Harold Gefsky, who promised her to secure work for her in television and magazine advertisements.

    Sharon Tate Featured in an Advertisement

    Sharon Tate Featured in an Advertisement

  • In 1963, Tate met a French actor Philippe Forquet and started dating him. They also got engaged but frequent quarrels and career pressures drove them apart and they broke up in 1964.

    Sharon Tate and Philippe Forquet

    Sharon Tate and Philippe Forquet

  • After her break up with Philippe Forquet, Tate met a popular hairstylist in Hollywood at that time- Jay Sebring. However, when he proposed to her, she declined.

    Sharon Tate With Jay Sebring in Italy in 1965

    Sharon Tate With Jay Sebring in Italy in 1965

  • After experiencing several unsuccessful screen tests, Tate finally got her first major role in the 1966 British film ‘Eye of the Devil.’ Tate’s role in the film earned laurels for her.

    Sharon Tate in Eye of the Devil

    Sharon Tate in Eye of the Devil

  • After the filming of ‘Eye of the Devil,’ Tate remained in London where she became a regular face in the fashion world and nightclubs.

    Sharon Tate and Barbara Bouchet at Playboy Club London in 1966

    Sharon Tate and Barbara Bouchet at Playboy Club London in 1966

  • Around this time, Tate met Roman Polanski. Later, in an interview, both agreed that neither of them had impressed each other in their first meeting.
  • Thereafter, Polanski took her in his 1967 horror comedy film The Fearless Vampire Killers. In an interview, Polanski revealed that initially, he was not confident over Tate’s skills, as one scene had required 70 takes before his satisfaction, but as the filming of The Fearless Vampire Killers progressed, he became impressed with Tate’s performance. Soon, they began a relationship.
  • After the filming of The Fearless Vampire Killers, Tate moved into Polanski’s London apartment.
  • Thereafter, she did an American film ‘Don’t Make Waves’ in 1967. In the film, she was mostly seen in a bikini. She was so disappointed with her portrayal in the film that she began referring to herself sarcastically as-

    “sexy little me”

  • In 1967, she was signed to play a major role in the film version of Valley of the Dolls. When asked on her nude scene in the film, Tate replied,

    I have no qualms about it at all. I don’t see any difference between being stark naked or fully dressed — if it’s part of the job and it’s done with meaning and intention. I honestly don’t understand the big fuss made over nudity and sex in films. It’s silly. On TV, the children can watch people murdering each other, which is a very unnatural thing, but they can’t watch two people in the very natural process of making love. Now, really, that doesn’t make any sense, does it?”

    Sharon Tate in Valley of the Dolls

    Sharon Tate in Valley of the Dolls

  • In 1967, Tate and Polanski returned to London where they got married to each other January 20, 1968, in Chelsea, London.

    Sharon Tate on her Wedding Day

    Sharon Tate on her Wedding Day

  • Near the end of 1968, she became pregnant and on  February 15, 1969, Tate and Polanski moved to 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon.

    Sharon Tate in front of the house 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles

    Sharon Tate in front of the house 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles

  • In March 1969, Tate moved to Italy for the filming of the comedy film ‘Twelve Plus One.”

    Sharon Tate in Italy filming Twelve Plus One

    Sharon Tate in Italy filming Twelve Plus One

  • On July 20, 1969, Tate returned to Los Angeles alone, traveling on Queen Elizabeth 2.
  • On August 8, 1969, Sharon Tate had dinner at her favorite restaurant, El Coyote Cafe, with Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, and Abigail Folger. After the dinner, she returned to her home at 10:30 p.m. Shortly after midnight, they were murdered by members of Charles Manson’s “family.” All of the victims had been stabbed numerous times. Reportedly, Tate had been stabbed sixteen times, and that “five of the wounds were in and of themselves fatal.”

    Sharon Tate Murder News

    Sharon Tate Murder News

  • When Tate was killed, she was pregnant, and her due date was just two weeks later.

    Sharon Tate during her pregnancy

    Sharon Tate during her pregnancy

  • Since her murder, Sharon Tate has been portrayed by many actresses in various films like by Katie Cassidy in the 2016 horror film Wolves at the Door, by Rachel Roberts in the seventh season of American Horror Story, by Margot Robbie in Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and more.
  • Tate was touted as one of Hollywood’s most promising newcomers and was even called “New Marilyn Monroe” by some European papers.

  • In her leisure time, Tate loved to cook.

    Sharon Tate in the Kitchen

    Sharon Tate in the Kitchen

  • Sharon Tate also loved to ride a bicycle in her leisure time.

    Sharon Tate loved cycling

    Sharon Tate loved cycling

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