I saw a movie years ago called “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941) and fell in love with the icy blonde in this smart comedy. I became curious and watched her movies wide eyed and found her to be a brilliant actress. I later found her life to be a very sad story. Coming from a somewhat wealthy family, her big break into Hollywood landed her in only a handful of movies. During these years this 4' 11" actress motivated a generation of women to imitate her cool sexuality and chic peek-a-boo hairstyle cascading over her one eye. (her lasting trademark) Her impact on society was so dramatic, that during WW2, she was forced by the government to temporarily change her peek-a-boo hair-do after women in factories were becoming injured when their long locks were catching in assembly-line machinery.
Veronica developed a reputation for being difficult to work with on the set. Her problem with alcohol and mental disability steadily increased, and her demand in Hollywood fizzled. Several failed marriages, and a bankruptcy later she dropped out of sight. A reporter in the 60’s discovered her working as a waitress at a cheap hotel bar. She was arrested several times for public drunkenness. She was reported holing up in her apartment out of paranoid fears that the FBI was following her and tapping her phone. Those who saw her, reported that the once great beauty had turned into a worn out mess, with rotting teeth, unwashed hair, and the pasty complexion of a bloated alcoholic. After a very brief spark of interest to bring Veronica back into the spotlight, it was quickly doused. She soon checked herself into a hospital in upstate New York with acute hepatitis.
Still, the faded pinup queen had one last moment of dignity left to her. Word spread of her presence around the hospital, and strangers visited her room to pay their respects. She visibly brightened due to the attention, signing autographs for the nurses and speaking confidently of future plans. According to one nurse who attended her in her final days, she was very cheerful and friendly, happy and looking forward to the future, and still retaining a “shadow of her former beauty”. Yet, she was also utterly and completely alone- with no guests or calls. A nurse looked in on her one last time on the evening of July 6, when acute renal failure had set in. Early on the morning of July 7, 1973, she passed away at age 50 absolutely penniless.
Her small legacy pops up here and there. I see her photos while browsing the internet, always synonymous with the words starlet, vixen, bombshell...etc. She was the inspiration for Jessica Rabbit, and the Veronica Lake look-alike prostitute played by Kim Basinger in “L.A. Confidential.” She will alway be right up there with Marilyn, Jean, Jayne, and Sophia