- She desperately wanted to become a mother but suffered from endometriosis and could not have children. She had numerous other health problems during her life, including dysentery, malaria, pneumonia and depression.
- Diana Lewis once gave Carole a gold cross as a gift. She wore the cross for the rest of her life and was even buried wearing it.
- She chose the name Carole because she was a huge fan of Carole Lombard.
- In her musicals, Carole usually sang in her own voice.
- Spent more time visiting troops during World War II than any other Hollywood star. She nearly died from malaria she contracted while traveling overseas.
- Rex Harrison, who had dined with her the previous night, discovered her body the day she committed suicide.
- Became friendly with future author Jacqueline Susann in 1944 when they appeared together in the Broadway revue "The Lady Says Yes". The character of fragile, blonde Jennifer North in "Valley of the Dolls" is partially based on Landis.
- She initiated divorce proceedings against her last husband in March 1948 but the divorce was not final when she died.
- A keen amateur photographer, she developed her own pictures.
- She tried to start a girls football team at school but got into trouble because it was considered un-lady like.
- She was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1765 Vine St. on February 8, 1960.
- Had four older siblings, two of whom survived her. Lawrence Bernard Ridste (1912-88), Lewis Andrew Ridste (1913-25), Jerome Arthur Ridste (1916-17) and Dorothy Anna Ridste Ross (1917-97). Her brother Lewis died after being accidentally shot in the abdomen by a friend. Her brother Jerome died in infancy after being burned by scalding water.
- Carole protested strongly and publicly against the nonsensical nickname "The Ping Girl" (apparently short for "purring") coined by Hal Roach publicist Frank N. Seltzer in April 1940.
- Her second husband, Willis Hunt, was stabbed to death by his sixth wife, Deannie Best, during a violent argument. Best, whose attorney claimed Hunt was "drunk and unstable" and picked up the butcher knife he was killed with, was acquitted in November 1970.
- Was a good friend of actress Louise Allbritton and introduced her to Charles Collingwood, Louise's future husband.
- Her name was legally changed to Carole Landis on April 23, 1942.
- Carole's fourth husband, W. Horace Schmidlapp, was a Broadway producer from 1940 to 1946.
- Had appeared with Cesar Romero in four films: Dance Hall (1941), A Gentleman at Heart (1942), Orchestra Wives (1942) and Wintertime (1943).
- She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA, in the Everlasting Love area.
- Parents were Alfred Ridste, a railroad mechanic, and Clara Stentek Ridste. They separated when Carole was a baby.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content