Blaze Starr

In 1951, Blaze Starr was working as a hat check girl in Baltimore when she was discovered and launched into a career that would make her one of the most famous burlesque performers of her era. She was born on April 10, 1932, in Wilsondale, West Virginia, and grew up as an American of Caucasian ethnicity. Her act was built around playing a jungle drum set and performing an exotic dance to match, a routine that helped her rise quickly in the world of classic stripping.

Starr was known for her red hair, brown eyes, slim build, and measurements of 38–24–37, with a natural 38DD bust. She worked mostly on the East Coast and earned the nickname "The Hottest Blaze in Burlesque" for her energetic stage presence and inventive use of props. Her fame extended beyond the stage: she photographed with Irving Klaw, a well-known fetish photographer, and appeared in men's magazines. In 1960, she starred in "Blaze Starr Goes Nudist," one of the most popular nudie-cutie films of its time.

Her personal life also drew attention. She had a notorious affair with Louisiana governor Earl K. Long, a story that inspired the 1989 film "Blaze," starring Paul Newman and Lolita Davidovich. Starr was an actress and stripper by profession, and she remained in the public eye for decades. She passed away on June 15, 2015, at the age of 83.