Dorothy Lamour (December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was a beloved American actress and singer, an icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age celebrated for her exotic beauty, her trademark sarong, and her unforgettable role as the glamorous leading lady of the “Road to…” comedies.
Lamour was launched to stardom in the film The Jungle Princess (1936), where her appearance in a sarong created a sensation and earned her the nickname the “Sarong Queen.” She played similar island beauties in a string of successful adventure films. During World War II, she was one of the most popular pin-up girls and a dedicated patriot, nicknamed “The Bond Bombshell” for her tireless work selling war bonds across the country.
She is best remembered as the essential third member of the comedic trio with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in seven classic “Road to…” films, from Road to Singapore (1940) to Road to Bali (1952). As the beautiful and often clever woman caught between the two rivals, her glamour and charm were indispensable to the series’ legendary success.
