Carroll Baker's life story unfolded like a rich tapestry, woven from the threads of her early days in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where she was born on May 28, 1931, to a traveling salesman father, William W. Baker. Following her attendance at community college for a year, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery, working as a dancer and magician's assistant before taking a brief detour into marriage.
Her foray into the world of show business began with a small part in the 1953 film "Easy to Love," followed by television commercials and a bit part on Broadway. Undeterred by setbacks, Baker continued to hone her craft, studying at the prestigious Actors Studio and eventually marrying director Jack Garfein, with whom she had a daughter, Blanche Baker.
Warner Brothers, recognizing her potential, cast her in the iconic films "Giant" (1956) and "Baby Doll" (1956),the latter earning her an Oscar nomination for her captivating performance as a thumb-sucking southern belle. Her subsequent roles in "The Carpetbaggers" (1964) and "Harlow" (1965),in which she portrayed the titular character, cemented her status as a rising star.
In the following years, Baker expanded her horizons, filming in Italy, England, Germany, Mexico, and Spain. After returning to American cinema, she married Donald Burton in 1982 and resided in Hampstead, London, during the 1980s. The couple remained together until Burton's passing from emphysema in their home in Cathedral City, California, in 2007.
