As a ‘60s icon, Sharon Tate represented the colorful decade marked by turmoil, idealism, and change. She was a rising star in a time when anything seemed possible; we’d gone to space that very decade after all. But behind all those studio lights and glamorous Hollywood parties, there was a kind woman who dreamed of a family.

About Sharon, some even said she was “the next Marilyn”, but sadly most of the people don’t even remember her acting and modeling talents when they hear her name. Here’s the story of a promising life that was cut too short by a horrible event that would leave a whole country horrified even after 50 years.

Sharon Was A Texas Girl

Sharon Marie was born on January 24, 1943, in Dallas. She was the eldest child of a United States Army officer called Peter James Tate and his wife, Doris Gwendolyn Tate. James Tate was a colonel and would often be promoted and transferred all over the country and sometimes abroad, given the nature of his job.

After having their eldest, Peter and Doris had two more daughters. They were Debra, born in 1952, and Patricia, born in 1957. Their sister, Sharon was said to have been a very beautiful child with an incredibly sweet disposition when it came to the people around her.

A Beauty Contest Winner At Six Months Old

Sharon, as a very lovely baby, always got people’s attention. When she was barely six months old, her grandmother decided to submit photos of her to a local beauty contest. She ended up winning, getting the crown and title of Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas, her home city.

According to rumors, multiple people suggested Tate’s parents should get their baby girl into modeling, but the Tates were not interested in putting their child into the spotlight. Their particular lifestyle also proved to be an issue as they would have to travel constantly.

The Tates Were Military Nomads

As someone who works as a Colonel in the military, her dad was frequently relocated to various posts in the United States and, soon after, even overseas. This was the reason why Sharon became an on the road Military Brat. By the time her teenage years came, she had moved six times to different cities.

It’s said the moving places so often took a toll on a young Sharon Tate’s confidence. She was even described by her family as a very shy kid that had some trouble maintaining friendships because of her family’s peculiar way of living. This would also impact her education.

Always The New Kid On The Block

Sharon Tate attended several schools throughout her life. She first attended Chief Joseph Junior High School, then Columbia High School in Washington. A few years later she went to Irving High School in El Paso, Texas. This would be the last school she attended in the US.

After a couple of years, her father was relocated to Europe, specifically Italy. It was there where she attended Vicenza American High School (from where she would graduate in 1961) in the city of Vincenza, located in the northeast of the Mediterranean country.

She Was A Five-Time Pageant Queen

Although already having a title under her belt from very early on, Tate wouldn’t come back to participate in any pageants until she was a teen. Her beauty was remarkable even then. Her mother Doris recalled that she was so good looking, people would stop and stare at her on the street.

The claim could sound like something any parent would say from their child, but Doris was right. Sharon had won 5 beauty pageant titles, including the 1959 Miss Richland. She even appeared in the local newspaper that recounted the details of the contest and Sharon’s future plans of being a model and actress.

She Found Her True Passion In Italy

Life as a teenager in the European country was interesting. Given that Sharon went to an American High School, she met other kids in her situation and found her place for a while finally forming lasting friendships, also becoming a cheerleader and prom queen.

After finishing her education during this time of her life, Sharon realized that she wanted to act. So, she searched for movie locations around her area. She eventually succeeded and found a set, where she was able to get cast as an extra in the epic film Barrabas.

Her First Step To Stardom Was A Cigarette Ad

In 1962, Sharon’s family was relocated to the United States, and she saw this as the perfect opportunity to start her dream of being in front of the cameras. She headed off straight to Hollywood California and even had to hitchhike part of the way to be able to arrive.

In Los Angeles, Sharon got an agent to represent her, Harold Gefsky. He then sent Sharon to her first gig that was a cigarette commercial and helped her land another few advertisement jobs. At this time, she struggled with her shyness and had trouble landing tv roles for her lack of confidence.

Martin Ransohoff  Gave Her A Shot Despite Her Inexperience

Sometime later her agent introduced her to the director of the important production company Filmways, Inc, Martin Ransohoff. Martin told Sharon they were going to make her a star but found her still too new and shy to start in a lead role. He gave her very small roles on television series like The Beverly Hillbillies and Mister Ed.

Martin Ransohoff wanted Sharon to gain some experience and to become more comfortable with being around the camera. Sharon herself admitted on a magazine that Ransohoff didn’t want the audience seeing her until he felt she was ready.

Her First Romance Was A Royal Mess

While still being a struggling actress. Sharon Tate met a French actor by the name of Philippe Forquet. He was in the US working for 20th Century Fox and was said to be popular in the Hollywood circle for being extremely handsome. Forquet was also the son of a wealthy aristocrat.

As an innocent 20-year-old, it’s understandable Sharon would fall in love with the good looking guy of the moment. But their relationship was short and volatile, he proposed to her shortly after the start of the romance. But their careers pulled them apart and they called off their engagement in 1964.

She Gave Love A Second Chance With Jay Sebring

In 1964, after ending her tumultuous relationship with Phillip, Sharon met hairstylist Jay Sebring. He was a former sailor that had turned to hair styling and had positioned himself as one of the leading names in Hollywood.

Tate fell head over heels with Sebring, and even though he had recently ended his first marriage, they decided to start a romantic relationship. Sharon apparently liked his gentle nature, and they even moved in together for a while. However, this flame wouldn’t burn for long. Fate had something else in store for Sharon.

She Struggled With Acting Due To Her Shyness

Sharon’s timidity continued to be an issue for her on getting big roles, so  Ransohoff gave her the opportunity to appear as an extra in two movies he produced The Americanization of Emily and The Sandpaper.

Finally in 1965, Ransohoff gave Tate her first important role in front of the camera for a movie when he gave her the role of Odile de Caray in the film Eye Of The Devil. The filming took place in Europe and despite not having many lines, her part was crucial to set the film’s tone.

She Got The Lead For The Fearless Vampire Killer But It Was Brutal…

At this time, Ransohoff convinced Polanski who was directing one of the films he was producing The Fearless Vampire Killer, to give Tate the lead. Polanski refused initially as he had envisioned a redhead but ended up agreeing on the condition of Sharon wearing a wig.

He didn’t go easy on her at all, though. It’s rumored he was such a perfectionist and had so little patience with Sharon, that he made her repeat one particular scene 70 times before he gave his approval. Polanski besides from directing also acted on the film as Sharon’s love interest.

Tate And Polanski Didn’t Much Care For Each Other At First

Sharon stayed in London for some time after the filming of Eye Of The Devil, where she would meet the Polish filmmaker and Holocaust survivor Roman Polanski. He had made already a reputation for himself all over Europe and was transitioning to English films.

While preparing to film one of his projects, Sharon and Roman met. Interestingly enough, he admitted he wasn’t enthralled with Sharon during those times. But soon enough, he got over this notion and proceeded to pursue her. Sharon split with hairstylist Jay Sebring (who was said to be devastated but understanding) to date Roman.

She Was Considered By Many The Inspiration For Malibu Barbie

After appearing in the 1967 film Don’t Make Waves, as a character named Malibu who sported a fabulous tan and spent most of the movie on a two-piece gold bikini, Tate landed several advertisements deals for Coppertone.

She had become the image of the quintessential California girl and was reportedly the inspiration behind the creation of the Malibu Barbie doll in 1971, and it’s hard to deny the resemblance. The doll is a tanned blonde bombshell named Malibu who loves to spend time at the beach. It definitely rings a bell, don’t you agree?

She Landed Her First Big Role In Valley Of The Dolls

That same year, Sharon was signed to star in Valley Of The Dolls. It was a film adaptation of the best seller book of the same name by Jacqueline Susann. The movie was well received by critics and spectators and made good money at the box office.

This was the film that launched her career and made her the breakout actress of the moment. Her portrayal of Jennifer North even earned her a Golden Globe nomination on the category of Most Promising New Comer. She also gained prestige in the industry and was booked to star in a couple of other films.

She Was Quite The Socialite

Tate developed a close friendship with her co-stars in Valley Of Dolls, Barbara Parkins and Patty Duke. She was so close with Patty that she rented Duke’s 5-bedroom house with Polanski for a while before they moved to Cielo Drive, their last home.

Sharon was also close with the actress Mia Farrow, whom she met and quickly befriended on the set of Rosemary’s Baby. Even though Tate herself wasn’t in the film, she would visit the filming set often and give ideas about scenes. Leaked photos of that time show Tate hanging out on the set with the cast.

She Married Roman Polanski, Who Was A Notorious Womanizer

Despite a rocky start, by the time they wrapped up the filming of The Fearless Vampire Killer movie, Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate had become closer to each other than before. They began dating and moved in together to his London apartment shortly after.

However, Polanski was a self-admitted ladies’ man. And while Sharon wanted a more traditional relationship, she promised she wouldn’t try to change him and just ignored his affairs. They got married in London in 1968. Sharon looked beautiful in a white mini dress with flowers on her hair with Roman in an antique Edwardian suit beside her.

Her Marital Struggles Were Public Knowledge

Sharon Tate was completely in love with her husband Roman Polanski, but their marriage was far from perfect. The relationship was always plagued by outrageous rumors of infidelity and even forced physical intimacy with other women. Friends of Tate claimed that Polanski had a very controlling personality.

Apparently, he also disliked her smoking, as he considered it a nasty habit. So, she often sneaked around and hid from him just to smoke. Overall, Sharon struggled with Roman’s liberal lifestyle and had high hopes that the marriage would make him settle down. That never happened.

Pregnancy Gave Her Hope That Her Marriage Can Be Saved

When Tate found out she was pregnant in 1968, she was nothing but absolutely thrilled with the idea. She still fulfilled her work obligations while she was expecting, but according to friends like Patty Duke, her being a mother was the most important thing for her.

According to other friends, she was hoping the baby would save her marriage, so she waited to tell Polanski about the baby until it was too late to have an abortion. Polanski himself found her wife radiant at this time. Sharon took great care of herself for the sake of the child she was then already in love with.

She Was With Child While Working On Her Final Film

The last two films she worked on were The Wrecking Crew in 1968, and the comedy 12 + 1 alongside Orson Welles, which she filmed in 1969 while pregnant. The filming took place in Italy, and after they wrapped up, Sharon went to visit her husband in London.

Roman was shooting The Day Of The Dolphin while they were in the UK. They shared some time together before she had to return by sea to the US as she was too far in her pregnancy. Unknowingly to them, this would be the last time Roman Polanski saw Sharon Tate.

Butchered By The Charles Manson Cult

After her return, she was accompanied by family friends Wojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger, who Polanski had asked to move in with Tate until his return. On August 8th they went out to have dinner in her favorite restaurant with Sebring and then returned to her home in Cielo Drive.

Sometime after midnight, members of the Manson Family cult broke in and murdered everyone in the house, including a young man named Steve Parent who was visiting the house’s caretaker. According to a member of the cult, Sharon pleaded for her and her unborn child’s life before being stabbed 16 times.

Her Slaughter Triggered Nationwide Paranoia

The gruesome scene was found by the housekeeper who then alerted the authorities quickly right after. Manson, who was the intellectual author, had asked his followers to leave a sign. The killers wrote the word “PIG” on the front door. They used Tate’s blood to write it.

The terrible act sent waves of shock through Hollywood. Stars feared for their lives and hired guards. Some were even scared to attend the funeral of Sharon and her unborn baby, as they feared the killing would continue. Between the attendees were actors Warren Beatty, Kirk Douglas, and Steve McQueen.

Authorities Captured The Killers Months After The Crime

Initially, Charles Manson and a portion of his followers were arrested on October of that same year for vandalizing a portion of the Death Valley National Park and not the murder spree. They were hiding in the desert, and the authorities didn’t even know they were capturing murderers.

Months later, a lead was given to the police about Susan Atkins, who then confessed their involvement in the murders. Physical evidence confirmed the testimony, and they were all convicted and received the death penalty. However, it was suspended by the supreme court in 1972, and their sentences were changed to life in prison.

Her Legacy Lives On As A Symbol Of Victims’ Rights

After Sharon’s death, her mother was destroyed by grief for a decade. But eventually, she found her mission when she saw one of Manson’s followers gathering signatures to obtain parole. Doris Tate gathered more than three times the amount against her and prevented it from happening.

Doris Tate then established COVER, the Coalition on Victim’s Equal Rights and dedicated the rest of her life to advocating for victims’ rights. Her actions in court when she confronted cult member Tex Watson helped pass the Victim’s Bill of Rights (which allowed victims to impact statements), making Sharon Tate’s legacy a meaningful one.

Sharon’s Life Will Be Portrayed In Four Upcoming Films

50 years have already passed since the massacre of Sharon Tate, her unborn child, and four other individuals in her Cielo Drive abode. In the wake of its golden anniversary, there are four upcoming films this 2019 that will retell the story of what happened in different styles.

One by the title of Charlie Says will mostly focus on the cult. Tarantino’s take will revolve around the decade on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, while the other two, Tate and The Hunting Of Sharon Tate will focus more on the Sharon herself.