Sharon Tate: Reflecting on the Actress’s Tragic Murder Case, 55 Years On
Her rapid rise to fame was tragically cut short in 1969 when Hollywood actress Sharon Tate became the most high-profile victim of one of America’s most infamous murder sprees. She was eight and a half months pregnant with legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski’s child when she was murdered over five decades ago.
Exactly 55 years ago on August 9, the Valley of the Dolls star was brutally murdered in her Los Angeles home along with five others. The murder was linked back to the killings by followers of the notorious cult leader and musician Charles Manson. This story goes deeper into the murder and the reasons behind it that changed Hollywood forever.
Who was Sharon Tate?
Born in 1943 in Dallas, Tate showed star potential from a very young age. She was crowned Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas at just six months old, after her grandmother submitted some of her photos to the competition. Tate was an army brat who traveled across the country and won titles such as Queen of the Tri-City Autorama in Richland and Miss Richland, Washington, at the age of 16.
The Tate family, including her younger sisters Patricia and Debra, moved to Verona, Italy, in 1960. In high school, Tate was a popular cheerleader and her senior year prom queen. Tate had a knack for performing from a young age, enjoying being in the limelight.
In 1960, Tate started her journey towards glamour and Tinseltown with an appearance in a Venice-shot episode of The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and on the cover of Stars and Stripes. A year later, Tate had her first movie role as an extra in Barabbas. At 19, Tate’s mother allowed actor Jack Palance to take her out on a date. She also briefly dated actor Richard Beymer after meeting on a film set in Verona.
She got her big break in Hollywood in 1963. Martin Ransohoff, the chairman of Filmways production studio, was impressed by her during an audition and promised to make her a star. After several roles, she gained recognition in Hollywood in 1967 with films like Eye of the Devil, Don’t Make Waves, The Fearless Vampire Killers, and Valley of the Dolls, earning her a Golden Globe nomination.
During the shooting of The Fearless Vampire Killers, Tate met Polanski, and they soon began a relationship. They got married in 1968, and she was pregnant with Polanski’s child by the same year.
What happened on the tragic night of August 9, 1969?
In February 1969, while pregnant, the couple moved into a house in Beverly Hills. On August 8, 1969, Tate went out for dinner with friends and returned home. Shortly after midnight on August 9, Manson cult members entered the house and committed the brutal murders.
The murderers instructed the victims to go into the living room, where Tate and Sebring were killed. The other victims were also attacked and killed, leaving a tragic scene at the house.
What is the Manson cult?
Investigators later connected the murders to Charles Manson’s followers, who were involved in a series of killings. Manson and his followers were eventually found guilty of multiple murders, leading to Manson serving nine life terms in prison.
Tate’s sister, Debra, believes there may be more victims of the Manson cult still undiscovered. The Manson Murders’ true story suggests that Manson orchestrated the killings to spark a racial conflict he referred to as “Helter Skelter.”