The-Glass-Key-1942, Photoplay magazine movie advertisement

Born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman, Veronica Lake was an American film, stage and TV actor best known for her trademark ‘peek-a-boo’ hairstyle. She is remembered for her performance in the comedy film ‘Sullivan’s Travels’ and glamorous roles in film noirs of 1940s. Born in New York, her family later moved to different places and she took acting lessons at ‘Bliss-Hayden School of Acting,’ California. Starting her career with minor roles, she soon scaled great heights with her looks and performances. Lake was signed by ‘Paramount’ and starred in several of their hit movies including ‘The Blue Dahlia,’ ‘The Hour before the Dawn,’ among others. Although Lake didn’t have a large body of work, her starrers such as the film noirs ‘This Gun for Hire,’ ‘The Glass Key,’ and comedies such as ‘Sullivan’s Travels’ and ‘I Married a Witch,’ earned her legendary status. Her mental ailment and alcoholism adversely affected the work and her career declined rapidly. During 1960s, she appeared on TV and two movies, but that couldn’t help her career. She was married and divorced four times. Lake died a lonely death at the age of 50.