Laya Raki Profile

Laya Raki

	(Brunhilde Marie Joerns)
26 / 27 July 27 / 29 / 33	is born in Calvoerde, near Gardelegen, Brunswick, Germany, to a Javanese mother and a German father. Later publicity will state that she was born in Indonesia.
?	begins learning acrobatics at age five
Summer 47	is discovered on the beach at Travemuende, Germany, when her bathing suit tears open, and her bosom is revealed
48	due to her manager’s suggestion, she renames herself Laya Raki
?	appears in a cabaret in the Russian zone of Berlin. Friends smuggle her by car into the British zone.
?	introduces the genuine Mambo to Germany
?	appears in the Berlin show Monte Carlo
?	goes from Berlin to Munich and, later, to London
	dances in Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Zurich, Switzerland; Rome and Milano, Italy. Her engagement in Sweden is prolonged for several months.
c. 50	is discovered by Realfilm producer Walter Koppel for his Die Dritte von rechts
53	debuts in the movies in Hochzeit fuer eine Nacht, filmed in Munich
53	says no when a businessman from Hamburg proposes to her
	there are rumors she is having an affair with her French publicity man, Orlando
September 53	promising her a big part, film producer and con man "Major" Howard Rowson invites her to London, England. His promise fizzles, but she finally gets a part in The Seekers.
October 53	returns to Cologne, Germany, after her London experience. There were even rumors that she was kidnapped by Rowson.
53	films The Seekers in New Zealand
c. 54	appears in the revue Cockles and Champagne, presented and produced by Cecil Landau
19 June 54	is on the cover of Picturegoer
55	via Munich, she’s off to Barcelona, Spain, for the filming of Camino cortado
c. 56	during the filming of Kuess mich noch einmal, she has intercourse with her roommate
56	debuts on the German stage at the Deutsches Theater in Munich
June 57	marries Australian-born actor Ron Randall in a civil ceremony in London. He’s 37; she’s 26. This is his third marriage.
December 57	is out with her husband Ron Randell
	the Randells file for a license to be married in the Catholic Church. They are to marry in the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills within ten days.
May 60	is on the cover of Vue
June 61	causes a scandal at a wine presentation at the Hotel Gehrhus during the Berlin Film Festival when her gown suddenly splits open. Fellow guest Jayne Mansfield is devastated by losing all the publicity to Laya. Laya and her husband, Ron Randall, have to leave. Afterwards, there are rumors of a big argument and a split between Laya and Ron.
14 September 61	attends a Variety Club racing event at Sandown Park, Surrey, with her husband
18 September 61	wears a very low cut dress at the West End premiere of Fanny, Warner Brothers Cinema at Leicester Square, London, which she attends with her husband
November 61	attends the London premiere of King of Kings with husband Ron Randall
April 62	issues her hit song “Oh Johnny, hier nicht parken.” The reviews are devastating.
62	attends the Venice Film Festival
July 62	after some TV work in New York City, she travels to Rome, Italy, for location filming
63	is in the spotlight of the press while attending the premiere of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm at the Coliseum Theater in London. No one notes fellow guest, Princess Margaret.
68	is a close friend of German-born actress Susanne Cramer and one of the last to see her alive
January 69	by a telegram to her agent in Germany, the German public learns about the death of Susanne Cramer in Los Angeles
71	lives with her husband in a modest apartment in Beverly Hills and hopes to act in Germany again

Sources: Jasmin, Bild, Who’s Who in Hollywood 1966, www.britishpathe.com, Photoplay, Mein Film
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