All The Babes
Suzy Parker
Career
Active 1947 – 1964
Biography
About Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker, born Cecilia Ann Renee Parker on October 28, 1932, in Long Island City, New York, was an American model whose career spanned from 1947 to 1964. She started modeling at around 14 years old, after her sister Dorian, a top model, convinced the Ford Modeling Agency to take Suzy on sight unseen. Parker's striking features, including her red hair, grey eyes, and slim 5'10" frame, made her a standout in the industry. She became the muse of photographer Richard Avedon and the signature face of the Coco Chanel brand, with Chanel herself becoming a close confidante.
Parker was one of the first models to achieve superstar status. In 1956, she became the first model to earn $100,000 per year, a figure equivalent to over a million dollars today. She graced the covers of around 70 magazines, including Vogue, Elle, and Life. Her advertising clients included Revlon, Max Factor, and Hertz. Despite her success, she faced financial troubles, owing over $60,000 in back taxes by 1955. Jerry Ford, of the Ford agency, helped by paying her tax bill and securing assignments. The Beatles wrote a song for her, titled 'Suzy Parker', which appeared in their 1970 film Let It Be.
Beyond modeling, Parker ventured into acting. Her film debut was in Kiss Them for Me (1957), opposite Cary Grant. She also appeared in Funny Face (1957), The Best of Everything (1959), and Flight from Ashiya (1964). On television, she had roles in The Twilight Zone and Burke's Law. Her personal life was marked by three marriages, including to actor Bradford Dillman, and a near-fatal car accident in 1958 that killed her father. She retired from modeling in the mid-1960s to focus on raising her children. Parker passed away on May 3, 2003, at the age of 70, in Montecito, California.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Saturday 3rd of May 2003 (age 70)
- Years Active
- 1947-1964 (started around 14 years old; 17 years active)
- Birthplace
- Long Island City, New York, United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Red
- Eye Color
- Grey
- Weight
- 134 lbs (or 61 kg)
- Measurements
- 35–24–36 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.67
- Bra/Cup Size
- 34B show conversions - UK: 34B, EU: 75B, AU: 12B, JP: 75B
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
- Piercings
- ears
Performances
- Solo
- Nudity (Implied Nudity Only)
Frequently asked
How did Suzy Parker get her start in modeling?
Her older sister Dorian, already a top model, persuaded the Ford Modeling Agency to sign Suzy sight unseen, leading to her first magazine cover at age 15.
What was Suzy Parker's relationship with Coco Chanel?
Suzy became the signature face of the Chanel brand, and Coco Chanel was a close confidante who gave her advice on men and money, and even created outfits for her.
What was unique about her earnings in the 1950s?
In 1956, she became the first model to earn $100,000 per year, a record that highlighted her status as a top model.
How did Suzy Parker react to the 1958 car accident that killed her father?
She was hospitalized with broken bones and embedded glass but her face was untouched. The accident led her to psychotherapy to cope with grief and her marriage to Pierre de la Salle.
Did you know
- At 5'10", Suzy and two of her sisters were notably tall, while one sister was 5'5".
- Her father nicknamed her 'Susie' because he disliked her birth name Cecilia; she later kept the spelling 'Suzy'.
- The Beatles wrote a song titled 'Suzy Parker' for her, which was performed in the 1970 documentary Let It Be.
- She was briefly listed as a member of Magnum Photos after being taught photography by Robert Capa.
- Suzy's daughter Georgia was born in 1959, and her godmother was Coco Chanel.
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