Leslie Brooks was an American actress best known for her roles in The Man Who Dared, Cigarette Girl, and It’s Great to Be Young. She was born on July 13, 1922, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and passed away on July 1, 2011, in Sherman Oaks, California.
Personal and Family Life
Leslie Brooks was born as Virginia Lorraine Gettman. She was married twice; first to Donald Anthony Shay, an actor and ex-marine, from 1945 until their divorce in 1948. She later married Russ Vincent in 1950, and they had three children together: Dorena Marla, Gina Lorraine, and Darla R. Castagna.
Career
She began her acting career with uncredited roles and gradually received more significant parts often portraying seductive characters. In 1946, she was recognized by the International Mathematics Society as “the girl with the most beautiful figure.” Leslie eventually left her film career after her second marriage.
Death and Legacy
Leslie Brooks passed away on July 1, 2011, at the age of 88. Her contributions to film during the 1940s remain notable, as she is remembered for her glamorous roles. Her legacy continues through her children and the films she starred in.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cover Girl | 1944-03-22 | Maurine, Rusty’s blonde friend / rival |
| Hollow Triumph | 1948-08-18 | Virginia Taylor |
| Blonde Ice | 1948-07-24 | Claire Cummings Hanneman |
| The Secret of the Whistler | 1946-11-07 | Kay Morrell |
| Romance on the High Seas | 1948-06-25 | Miss Medwick |
| Tonight and Every Night | 1945-01-09 | Angela |
| You Were Never Lovelier | 1942-11-19 | Cecy Acuña |
| The Corpse Came C.O.D. | 1947-06-02 | Peggy Holmes |
| The Man Who Dared | 1946-05-30 | Lorna Claibourne |
| Ziegfeld Girl | 1941-04-25 | Ziegfeld Girl (Uncredited) |
| City Without Men | 1943-01-14 | Gwen |
| I Love a Bandleader | 1945-09-13 | Ann Stuart |
| Lucky Legs | 1942-10-01 | Jewel Perkins |
| Overland to Deadwood | 1942-09-25 | Linda Banning |
| Underground Agent | 1942-12-03 | Ann Carter |
| Navy Blues | 1941-09-13 | Navy Blues Sextet Member (as Loraine Gettman) |
| Cigarette Girl | 1947-02-13 | Ellen Wilcox |
| The Talk of the Town | 1942-08-20 | Secretary (uncredited) |
| Two Señoritas from Chicago | 1943-06-10 | Lena Worth |
| The Cobra Strikes | 1948-04-24 | Olga Kaminoff |
| Nine Girls | 1944-02-17 | Roberta Halloway |
| You’re in the Army Now | 1941-12-25 | Navy Blues Sextette Member |
| The Man Who Came to Dinner | 1941-12-24 | Hollywood Blonde (uncredited) |
| It’s Great to Be Young | 1946-09-12 | Terry |
| How’s Your Love Life? | 1971-08-13 | Dr. Maureen John |