Lizabeth Scott, who was a brilliantly dark film noir actress and singer with a comedic streak, died January 31st in Los Angeles.

She died of congestive heart failure, according to her friend.

Lizabeth Scott was born Emma Matzo on Sept. 29, 1922, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Her father owned a store there and she studied music throughout her school days.

Matzo moved to New York after graduating high school. She quickly adopted the stage name Elizabeth Scott, dropping the E soon after.

Lizabeth was more dramatic. The move worked, because she landed a spot with traveling comedy company “Hellzapoppin'”.

Lizabeth Scott starred opposite of some of Hollywood’s most influential leading men like Humphrey Bogart, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas.

She also shared the spotlight with some legendary leading ladies like Mary Astor, Jane Greer and Barbara Stanwyck.

Lizabeth Scott is most famous for her smoldering roles in 1940’s and early 50’s film noir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRysEvOVQkY

A stark contrast to the cookie-cutter romance films of that era, film noir brought realism and grit to a nation entrenched in Cold War tension.

Films in which Lizabeth Scott starred during this period were her most cherished because they touched on “the psychological, emotional things that people feel and people do,” she said in a 1996 interview. “It was a new realm, and it was very exciting, because suddenly you were coming closer and closer to reality.”

Lizabeth Scott was not just a sultry and dangerous leading lady, she also starred in comedic roles in a few movies including Elvis Presley’s 1957 movie, Loving You.

To round her career off, Lizabeth Scott also appeared on numerous comedy and variety shows.

Lizabeth Scott never married, but became a companion to Texas oilman William Dugger Jr. in the 1960s. He left her half of his fortune upon his death, but his sister sued and won Scott’s half.

Lizabeth Scott’s career faltered and never really recovered after her unsuccessful $2.5 million lawsuit in 1955 against gossip magazine Confidential. The magazine published allegations she was a lesbian, effectively ending her in Hollywood.

What do you think about Lizabeth Scott’s career?