Alexandria Zuck, later known as Sandra Dee, was born on April 23, 1942, in Bayonne, New Jersey, to Mary (Cymboliak) and John Zuck, both of Carpatho-Rusyn descent. Her mother had envisioned a show business career for her daughter from an early age and would often lie about her age to get Sandy into auditions and modeling gigs.
Sandy's early start in the entertainment industry began with modeling at the age of 12, which led to television commercials for local companies. Her mother's prodding and talent scouts eventually landed her a role in the 1957 film Until They Sail, followed by two more films in 1958, The Reluctant Debutante and The Restless Years, both alongside John Saxon.
By 1959, Sandra was 17 years old and becoming the heartthrob of teenage boys across America, starring in films such as Gidget and A Summer Place. In 1960, she married teen idol Bobby Darin and continued to appear in films, including Portrait in Black, Come September, Romanoff and Juliet, and Tammy Tell Me True.
Sandra's career slowed down in the mid-1960s, with her marriage to Darin ending in 1967. She made a few more film appearances, including I'd Rather Be Rich, That Funny Feeling, A Man Could Get Killed, Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!, and Rosie! Before her film career came to an end.
In the 1970s, Dee made appearances in made-for-television movies, and it was the 1978 film Grease that made her famous to a new generation, with the popular song "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee". Her last silver screen role was in Lost in 1983. Sandra Dee passed away on February 20, 2005, due to kidney complications.
