Actor rhonda fleming dies at 97

American actress rhonda fleming, a film star of hollywood’s golden era, has died. She died wednesday at the age of 97 in a hospital in santa monica near los angeles, the "new york times" reported on friday (local time), citing fleming’s longtime assistant carla sapon.

The californian made numerous western and adventure films in the 1940s and 1950s and worked with actors such as glenn ford, ronald reagan and kirk douglas.

Fleming was born in hollywood in 1923 under the common name marilyn louis and was discovered while still in school. After several smaller film roles, she made her breakthrough in 1945 in alfred hitchcock’s psychological thriller "ich kampfe um dich" alongside ingrid bergman.

Dozens of films followed, including "tropical adventures" (1953) and "the naked bomb" (1980). Fleming was gladly cast for the role of the sexy american woman. With her red hair, green eyes and fair skin, she was also known as the "queen of technicolor".

In the early 1960s, fleming, who had been married a total of six times, turned increasingly to a career in television. She filmed until the 90s. The actress never officially retired, as the "new york times" quoted from an earlier interview with fleming. Accordingly, it simply decided to work less.