Lara Lindsay, born Gladys Jacobs in Chicago, discovered her passion for ice skating at a young age and went on to perform in the Ice Capades and other professional shows by her teenage years. She married an interior designer and had a son born in 1963. After the breakdown of her marriage, Lara relocated to Tucson, Arizona, where she began working in television commercials. Her big break came when Paramount's El Dorado rolled into town and she landed a stand-in part in the film, prompting encouragement to head to Hollywood and secure an agent.
Her stage name, Lara Lindsay, was inspired by the character Lara in the 1965 film Doctor Zhivago, and Lindsay was her brother's first name. Additionally, Lara underwent extensive dental work to improve her smile. The talent executives at 20th Century Fox were impressed with her abilities and attractiveness, and she became one of the first students of their in-house star building school.
Lara was signed to the studio in December 1966 and received promotional backing, but by 1971, her career had stalled. She then decided to explore opportunities behind the scenes and eventually worked as an assistant to Producer Saul David, with whom she developed a romantic relationship. Saul personally cast her in his 1976 film Logan's Run as The Woman Runner, marking her final appearance in a Hollywood film.
