Culture

Bettie Page, Notorious Pinup Model, Dies at 85

by Jarrett Martineau | December 12, 2008 at 08:22 am

2531 views | 22 Recommendations | 8 comments

Bettie Page has died in Los Angeles at the age of 85.

See additional NowPublic coverage on this story:

1950s Pinup Model Bettie Page Dies in La at 85

Pinup Queen Bettie Page Dies at Age 85

Bettie Mae Page was an American model who became infamous for her "fetish modeling and pin-up photos" in in the 1950s.

She was one of Playboy magazine's "earliest Playmates of the Month".

In the 1960s, Page concluded her modeling career and volunteered with a number of Christian organizations and began work for Rev. Billy Graham in Nashville, Tennessee.

She subsequently moved to California where she continued to live until her death.

Page suffered a heart attack in early December 2008 that put her in a coma — and she had been on life support until her family agreed to discontinue it.

Bettie Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controversial photographs in skimpy attire or none at all helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, died Thursday. She was 85.
Page was placed on life support last week after suffering a heart attack in Los Angeles and never regained consciousness, said her agent, Mark Roesler. He said he and Page's family agreed to remove life support. Before the heart attack, Page had been hospitalized for three weeks with pneumonia.

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StandUpToRacism

at 11:05 on December 12th, 2008

I read an article about her one time. In it she said in her whole life she had only had two or three orgasms. So much for the reality behind the myth of being a sex symbol.

denseatoms

at 18:27 on December 14th, 2008

Maybe, just maybe, her lovers were to blame.

Mikasi

at 13:50 on December 12th, 2008

My wife woke me this morning with this news. While there is a subculture of folks who know of her now most folks are clueless. She was an icon to those who flirted with ideas of dark sexuality. She was interviewed on NPR a couple of years ago - it was interesting to hear her.

She refused to allow media people to see her after he beautiy faded. In this way she was smarter than Mohammed Ali or Brett Favre - she wanted folks to remember the icon, it wasn't important if we actually remembered her.

josiemitchell

at 10:50 on December 13th, 2008

I don't think that most people are clueless of her. The 2005 film "The Notorious Bettie Page" did a good job of making her more recognizable to a larger audience, not so much just a subculture. Plus in the world of hairstyling short thick and straight bangs/fringe are known as Bettie Page bangs.

Brinna

at 06:52 on December 14th, 2008

I met Betty once in New York City. She was a good and loving person, and I shall always remember how kind she was to me. Rest in Peace, dear heart.

denseatoms

at 18:25 on December 14th, 2008

She was so genuine and she was unique. Her performances are still full of joy. That's why Bettie was above porn and kitsch. Though a product of her time, she's timeless.