Meet Hollywood heartthrob Sharon Tate! Known for her short but memorable acting and modeling career until her horrific and untimely death in 1969, Tate is remembered as being Southern California’s resident “it girl.” Tate came from humble beginnings. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Colonel Paul James Tate and Doris Gwendolyn, Tate grew up in the world of beauty pageants despite her family’s frequent relocation across the United States and overseas due to her father’s career with the U.S. Army. She was introduced to the film industry while living in Verona, Italy, where she was hired as a film extra for Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man starring Hollywood legends Paul Newman, Susan Strasberg, and Richard Beymer (the latter of which she dated during the film’s production).

In 1962, Tate’s family returned to the U.S., and she relocated to Los Angeles to find work in film. After receiving smaller television and film roles for five years, she was finally cast in a major lead role opposite Roman Polanski in his 1967 British Horror Comedy The Fearless Vampire Killers. Her breakout role was in the 1967 drama Valley of the Dolls, a film adaptation of Jacqueline Susann’s bestselling 1966 novel. Starring opposite Patty Duke, Barbara Parkins, and Susan Hayward in a lead role, Sharon Tate emerged as a promising young actress and gained attention from the press. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as “New Star of the Year - Actress” for her performance.

Following the film's release, at the age of 24, Tate married controversial director Roman Polanski in a highly publicized wedding on January 20th, 1968. Tate wore a silk moiré babydoll dress by custom designer Alba for the ceremony. She accessorized the effortlessly chic look with white tights, mary-jane kitten heels, and delicate flowers and bows woven throughout her blonde locks. Long before her wedding, Tate had established herself as one of the style icons of the 1960s. She kept her necklines high and hemlines short by favoring chic turtlenecks, fun kitten heels, mini skirts, and dresses. Her makeup was classic to the ‘60 era: playful and expressive, often featuring cut-crease eyeliner and wispy eyelashes with a glowing complexion and a simple nude lip. 

After marrying Polanski, Tate’s career slowed as she adjusted to married life. Her final film was in Nicolas Gessner and Luciana Lucignani’s Italian comedic film, The Thirteen Chairs, released posthumously. Tate died at 26 in August 1969 at the hands of the Manson Family, a cult led by Charles Manson, in the home she shared with Polanski. She was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her first child. News of Tate’s death, along with that of the four friends staying with her at the time, sent a shockwave through the entertainment industry and cemented her legacy as a beloved actress whose career and life ended too soon. We will always remember her as a beautiful soul and a love for the simple things in life. Sharon Tate: Here's to you!

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