Gypsy Rose Lee

Biography: Lee was born Rose Louise Hovick. The daughter of an ambitious stage mother, she made her stage debut at four and soon was appearing on the vaudeville circuit in a dancing act with her sister, Madame Rose's Dancing Daughters. In the '30s she became the best-known stripper in the world. She appeared sporadically in films from 1937, at first billed Louise Hovick. She wrote two mystery novels, one of which was the basis of the film Lady of Burlesque (1943). Also a playwright, one of her works was the basis for the film Doll Face (1946). Her autobiography, Gypsy (1957), was the basis for the hit roadway musical (1959) and Hollywood film (1962) of the same name. Her sister was actress June Havoc.