Diane Varsi left Hollywood to pursue personal and artistic aims, notably at Bennington College in Vermont, where she studied poetry with poet and translator Ben Belitt.
17 Facts About Diane Varsi
2.
Diane Varsi unsuccessfully tried to become a model and a restaurant hostess in her teen years.
3.
Diane Varsi often was truant from school to visit San Francisco, so was labeled a "rebel".
4.
Diane Varsi joined the San Francisco ballet in the 1950s and initially planned to become a folk singer.
5.
Diane Varsi later hitchhiked to Los Angeles with a friend.
6.
Several famous actresses were tested for the main role in the big-budget film, until the then-unknown Diane Varsi was cast in May 1957.
7.
Diane Varsi was discovered by producer Buddy Adler, who immediately put her under contract at 20th Century Fox.
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Russ Tamblyn 8.
Diane Varsi made rounds at several studios, but according to the actress, they all thought she was suitable for character parts only.
9.
Diane Varsi was even dropped by her agent in 1956, because he saw no future in her career.
10.
Diane Varsi appeared in the films Ten North Frederick and Compulsion.
11.
Diane Varsi rejected the role of Meg in the comedy film Holiday for Lovers in January 1959.
12.
Diane Varsi returned to film acting in the late 1960s, but by this time she was no longer offered major roles and subsequently referred to the movies she made in this period as "cheap films of little merit".
13.
Diane Varsi dated Russ Tamblyn, her co-star in Peyton Place, following the film's release.
14.
From November 26,1956, to August 29,1958, Diane Varsi was married to James Dickson, whom she made her manager while working as an actress.
15.
Diane Varsi then married Michael Hausman on May 21,1961; they had a daughter, Willo.
16.
On November 19,1992 in Los Angeles, Diane Varsi died of respiratory failure at the age of 54.
17.
Diane Varsi is buried at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.