She was discovered by B-movie king Roger Corman and starred in a series of films that made her a semi-cult figure. She played a super-heroine called "Barbarian Queen," a character Corman said was the model for TV's Xena: Warrior Princess.
"Lana was a beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, and an adventurous spirit," Corman said in a statement. "Always brave, she performed all of her own stunts, and showed unusual fortitude and athleticism in her horseback riding and fight sequences."
Clarkson had her own website and a company called Living Doll Productions. She also had appeared in many commercials and often made personal appearances. As "Barbarian Queen," she appeared at comic book and pop culture conventions.
Even so, she lived in a small house in Venice.
Three flower bouquets and a burning candle were at the doorstep Tuesday of Clarkson's modest one-story house along the canals in the Venice area of Los Angeles. Several cactus plants and a statue of an angel decorated the porch.
"The Clarkson family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Lana's extended family, friends and fans for the outpouring of love and support that they have shown during this extremely difficult time," her family said in a statement released Tuesday night.
The full statement, photo galleries, a filmography, bio, and most poignant, photos from her January, '03 appearance at the "Vamps/Monsters Among Us Convention," where she appeared at the Golden Apple Comics booth are all at her website. She is seen brandishing swords and posing with the civilians.
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Article comments
1 - HW Saxton
That is one HELL of a fro that Phil is
sporting these days. His hair is bigger
than all three of The Ronettes hairdo's
put together.
I have no idea whether or not Phil S. is
innocent but his PAST behavior does not
fare well for his FUTURE trial. I hope
not as I really LOVE a lot of his music
and this will sadly taint that for me if
it's so.I know that it shouldn't but yet
it still will.
2 - Eric Olsen
I share your admiration for his work, HW, and am very sad about this all the way around - it doesn't look good for him. Either it was suicide or he did it, and no one seems to buy the suicide claim.
3 - Jeffery Haas
We wont know till the evidence comes out about Phil, but many of the "gun stories" are true, so yeah, it doesn't look to good for him.
It's always a sorry sight to behold someone whose reaction to fame and fortune is withdrawal into an inner world where the only voices they hear are imaginary, and sad to say this was Phil's own self-induced exile.
He made his own choice in becoming a recluse.
I will always admire his landmark work and I continue to hold out hope that he is innocent.
But is he sane? That's anyone's guess.....have to ask the tiny handful that knew him well, and it's a tiny handful indeed. I wish I knew Leon Russell's opinion of the situation.
4 - Eric Olsen
good points Jeffery, thanks, and no I don't think he is sane in the sense of able to function in society
5 - Vacuity's Bane
Its a deffinite fact that spector pulled a gun on Dee Dee Ramone.
6 - uao
Just as a little aside:
A "small house" in Venice will easily set you back about a million dollars. A smaller bungalow will still set you back $600,000+ More, if you live on the canals.
So B-actress or not, Clarkson wasn't starving; those comic conventions must bring in some coin.
It is a horrible shame about what happened to Spector; with the possible exception of Gary Glitter, few have climbed so high only to ultimately disgrace themselves so much.
HW Saxton says it will change the way he hears Spector. I suppose it will for me too, although I long ago learned to separate good music from the pricks who make it.
And Vacuity's Bane is right; the story of Spector pulling a gun on the Ramones has been around for many years.
John Lennon was scared of him by 1974, when he fired him from producing Lennon's Rock And Roll album; he told the story of trying to get the tapes back from Spector many times.
7 - Rodney Welch
Supposedly, he fired a gun when Lennon was in a soundproof booth, causing the ex-Betle to throw off his headphones and yell the immortal words: "Phil, if you wanna kill me, kill me, but don't mess with me fuckin' ears -- I need `em!"
I'm a huge Spector fan. The whole business is very sad and no, it doesn't look good for him.
8 - Bliffle
I thought Spector was redundant at best: his musicians deserved better and his egregious embellishments don't have legs.
9 - Rodney Welch
If they don't have legs, then nothing has legs and nothing, sadly, ever will. Forty years down the road, Spector's cornball hymns to young love still sound fresh and dynamic. You can't argue with "Be My Baby," "River Deep, Mountain High," "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)," the extraordinarily moving "Black Pearl," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," "Walking in the Rain," or his spectacular Christmas album.