Suzanne Kaaren was born on March 21, 1912, in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York. As a teenager, she made a name for herself by winning a high-jumping contest, a feat that would later inspire her to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. However, her parents' reluctance to let her compete in the Olympics led her to explore alternative avenues, ultimately landing her a spot as one of the original Rockettes.
In 1933, Suzanne signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, marking the beginning of her career in Hollywood. She went on to secure small roles in films such as The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and Strangers All (1935),but it was her work with the Three Stooges that truly catapulted her to stardom. She appeared in several of their comedy shorts, including What's the Matador? (1942) and Disorder in the Court (1936),earning a reputation for showcasing her impressive long legs.
As a publicity stunt, her legs were even insured for a staggering one million dollars, a testament to her growing fame. In 1940, she co-starred with the legendary Bela Lugosi in the horror film The Devil Bat (1940),but her career began to stall, and she found herself relegated to making B-movies.
In 1943, Suzanne married actor Sidney Blackmer, a union that would be marked by turbulence and separation. Despite this, they had two sons and went on to star in several plays together. Suzanne continued to act on stage, earning critical acclaim for her performance in the Broadway show Chicken Every Sunday.
After a fire destroyed her North Carolina home, Suzanne relocated to a rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan. When real estate developer Donald Trump sought to tear down her building, she refused to move, a testament to her determination and spirit. In 1984, she made a brief appearance in the film The Cotton Club (1984),a fitting swan song to her long and storied career.
Suzanne Kaaren passed away on August 27, 2004, due to complications from pneumonia. She is buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina, a fitting tribute to a life well-lived and a career that left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.
