Dorothy Stratten

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Dorothy Ruth Stratten (Hoogstraten) (1960 - 1980)

Also Known As: "Dorothy Ruth Hoogstraten", "Dorothy", "Dorothy R. Stratten"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Vancouver, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Death: August 14, 1980 (20)
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (Murdered by estranged husband Paul Snider)
Immediate Family:

Daughter of Private and Private
Wife of Paul Snider
Sister of Private and Private

Managed by: Wendy Ann Hoechstetter
Last Updated:
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Immediate Family

    • husband
    • Private
      parent
    • Private
      parent
    • Private
      sibling
    • Private
      sibling
    • Private
      mother's ex-spouse

About Dorothy Stratten

1980 Playboy Playmate of the Year

"Actress, Model. Born in Vancouver, BC, Canada, she grew up in a rough neighborhood, and worked at a local Dairy Queen. She began to come into her own as a model in her late teens, appearing on a TV episode of Fantasy Island in 1978. Paul Snider, a promoter, began dating her and convinced her to pose for nude photographs, while attempting to get her selected as Playboy's 25th Anniversary Playmate. Although she lost out to Candy Loving, she was made Playmate of the month for August 1979. Soon afterwards, she married Paul Snider, who wanted more control over her personal life as well as professional life. After the centerfold was published, she found work in films, including "Skatetown" (1979), "Autumn Born" (1979), and "Americathon" (1979), and her big break came with the lead role in "Galaxina" (1980). Clearly she was a rising star. In 1980, Playboy announced that Stratten would be the 1980 Playmate of the Year. Meanwhile, things were not going well with her marriage. Snider was present on the set of Galaxina, interfering with her acting, and when he discovered she was developing a close relationship with director Peter Bogdonavich, Snider and Stratton separated. Snider remained in their Los Angeles apartment, and Stratton moved in with Peter Bogdonavich in Bel Air. Snider then hired a private detective to follow her around and report on her activities. One evening, Snider convinced her to come to their apartment, where he killed both her and himself. Since her death, she has been the subject of a number of movies and TV stories, including two by Playboy, and one on "E! True Hollywood Stories". In the 1983 film "Star 80" about her life, the murder scene was filmed in the actual apartment where she died. On her Playmate data sheet, she listed "jealous people" as her major turn-off. Later, Peter Bogdanovich married her younger sister, Louise Stratten." (bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson)

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Dorothy Stratten's Timeline

1960
February 28, 1960
Vancouver, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1980
August 14, 1980
Age 20
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States