Dorothy Stratten

For any who reduce Dorothy Stratten’s life as a cautionary tale; the tragic result of an abusive relationship— because her husband Paul Snider caused her premature death— you’ve omitting a huge piece of her extraordinary story. Stratten’s magical essence shone brightly throughout her brief life and left an enrapturing legacy— that’s what makes her life story so significant and precious. Stratten’s life can best be told in three parts. Part one: When Dorothy met Playboy. Chosen from a selection of 12 terrific gatefold girls, Dorothy Stratten was the first Playboy Playmate of the Year of the '80s. An aspiring actress with an admirable work ethic, Dorothy was accustomed to attracting plenty of attention. But she certainly turned heads with this expanded body of work, a lush nude pictorial showcasing her admirable assets and perfect figure. From poses in jet-black lingerie to au naturel shots outdoors, Dorothy proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has incomparable range and abilities. Prior to that she first impressed Playboy by snagging the honor of Playmate of the Month for August 1979. Part Two continues with Dorothy the TV and movie star. Stratten graced the small screen, and was featured on Fantasy Island and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Her rising celebrity earned her a prized appearance on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, where she got a chance to chat on the couch the late-night king. Dorothy’s movie career boomed as well thanks to roles in films like Skatetown U.S.A., Autumn Born, Galaxina and They All Laughed. She collaborated with famed director Peter Bogdoanovich, which got her buzz in the celebrity gossip pages. There was even talk that Bogdoanovich and Stratten would marry, despite the fact that she was already wed. Dorothy’s lasting legacy comprises part three. After her passing there was a fascination with not just how Stratten lived but also how she died. Because she was murdered people were curious about her house, which was also the place of the crime scene. But that was the tragedy, there was more to her triumph. Dorothy and Hollywood, the place where she was just beginning to make her mark, had unfinished business and even more intertwined stories to tell. Two movies were produced about life; television’s Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story starred Jamie Lee Curtis was released in 1981. Star 80 (1983), starring Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts and directed by Bob Fosse was the feature film. Peter Bogdanovich wrote a book, The Killing of the Unicorn, about Dorothy’s life. Stratten was immortalized and celebrated in songs by rock stars. She was the inspiration for Bryan Adams’s single, “The Best Was Yet to Come” and Dorothy was mentioned in “Californication,” the hit track by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Forty years later, Stratten still remains in the memories, hearts and minds of many. ABC produced a documentary on her life called 20/20 The Death of a Playmate: The Dorothy Stratten Story that charted the life of the beloved 20-year old starlet. So, revisit her gorgeous pictorial, her movies and documentaries to introduce yourself or revisit what made this beauty so mesmerizingly charming. It’s clearly evident that Dorothy shined in whatever medium (photos, film) that projected her light. “[I miss her] wisdom, her laugh, her warmth, her beauty, her humor, her charm, her elegance [and] her empathy,” Bogdonvich wrote to Fox News on Stratten. “Everything about her I miss, she had.”