Marlene Dietrich

MARLENE DIETRICH d1992. German born American actress / singer and fashion icon whose smouldering exotic good looks made her one of Hollywoods most highly paid and recognisable stars of all time. Best remembered for the 1930s film classics ; The Blue Angel / Shanghai Express and Desire. She spent most of her later career during the 1950-60s appearing on the stage in cabaret. Dietrich's final on-camera film appearance was a cameo role in Just a Gigolo (1979) starring David Bowie. An alcoholic dependent on painkillers, she withdrew to her apartment in Paris and spent the final 11 years of her life mostly bedridden, allowing only a select few (family and employees to enter the apartment). During this time, she was a prolific letter-writer and phone-caller. In 1982, she agreed to participate in a documentary film about her life Marlene (1984), but refused to be filmed. On 7th May 1992, Marlene Dietrich died of renal failure at her apartment aged 90. Her funeral service was attended by approximately 1500 mourners in the church itself (including several ambassadors from Germany / Russia / US / UK and other countries). She is ranked by the AFI as the 9th greatest female film star ever.