Laurette Luez (born Loretta Mary Luiz; August 19, 1928 – September 12, 1999) was a United States supporting actress and successful commercial model who appeared in films and on television during a 20 year career. She was a widely known Hollywood celebrity during the 1950s, owing much to publicity about her social life. She is best known for her supporting role as photographic model Marla Rakubian in Rudolph Maté's 1949 film noir D.O.A..
Was chosen in 1949 as the perfect model by the American Nightwear Fashion Stylists.
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Signed to a contract by 20th Century-Fox in 1945, for a weekly salary of $125.
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Once engaged to producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr., she broke it off to marry Greek-born director Gregg G. Tallas. They divorced after only three months of marriage.
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The exotic, photogenic beauty whose measurements were 34-24-35 graced such magazines as Esquire and Life, as well as in soap commercials.
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Made her stage debut at age 3 dancing the hula.
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Claimed to have given Marilyn Monroe her stage name. Luez met Norma Jean Baker in an acting class and claimed that it was her suggestion that "Norma Jean" change her name to Marilyn Monroe, theorizing that one should choose an already famous name (Monroe, after President James Monroe) and another already famous name (Marilyn, after Marilyn Miller) to distinguish it.
$900,000