Sharon Marie Tate (January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969) was an American actress and model. She appeared in small television roles during the 1960s before acting in several films and regularly modeled for fashion magazines. Tate received positive reviews for her comedic and dramatic performances and was regarded as a promising newcomer in Hollywood. Her film debut was in Eye of the Devil (1966), produced by Martin Ransohoff. She also starred as Jennifer North in Valley of the Dolls (1967), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
On January 20, 1968, Tate married Roman Polanski in London. She was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home on August 9, 1969, along with four others, by members of the Manson Family. Her last completed film, 12+1, co-starring Orson Welles, was released posthumously in 1969 with Tate receiving top billing. A decade later, her mother Doris led a campaign resulting in 1982 amendments to California law that allowed victims and families to make impact statements during sentencing and parole hearings. Doris Tate was the first to make such a statement under the new law at the parole hearing of Charles "Tex" Watson, one of the killers, aiming to honor her daughter's legacy as a symbol of victims' rights.
United States
