Tuesday Weld

Susan Ker Weld was born on August 27, 1943 (Friday), in New York City. When her father, Lathrop Motley Weld, died three years later at the age of 49, the young girl, whose name by then had somehow been transmogrified into "Tuesday", took over the role of the family breadwinner, which included her mother Yosene Balfour Ker. She became a successful child model, posing for advertisements and mail-order catalogs. Her work and the burden of responsibility estranged her from her mother Yosene, her two elder siblings, and forced the preteen girl into adulthood. At nine years of age, she suffered a nervous breakdown; at ten, she started heavy drinking; one year later, older men started exploiting her, all of which led to a suicide attempt at age twelve.

In 1956 she debuted in the low-budget exploitation movie Rock Rock Rock! (1956) and decided to become an actress.

After numerous TV appearances in New York she went to Hollywood in 1958 and was cast for Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! (1958), something of a breakthrough for her. Over the next few years Tuesday became Hollywood's queen of teen, playing mainly precocious sex kittens. Her wild private life added to the entertainment of her fans.

The first year she was on the set of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959) she was mobbed so much by the press that she finally cut them off entirely. After that her name was seldom mentioned when the show was written about.

Critics acknowledged her talent, directors approved of her professionalism, and in the late 1960s she even managed to grow out of her child/woman image and find more demanding roles - she had been "sweet little 16" for about 16 years. However, Tuesday Weld didn't achieve first-magnitude stardom.

She and Wild in the Country (1961) co-star Hope Lange both portrayed the character of Selena Cross--Weld in the movie sequel Return to Peyton Place (1961), Lange in the original film Peyton Place (1957).

Maybe she was just unlucky with her selection of jobs (she turned down Lolita (1962), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), True Grit (1969), Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), among others); maybe her independence-loving mind made her instinctively shrink back from the restraints of super stardom. In any case, she kept on performing well in films that had either not much flair or not much success.

Nearly landed the leading role in Of Human Bondage (1964) when director Henry Hathaway proved to be completely incompatible with star Kim Novak.

Replaced Sharon Tate for the role of Christian in The Cincinnati Kid (1965).

Has a daughter, Natasha Harz, born in 1966, with screenwriter Claude Harz.

Turned down the role of Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

She was director Roman Polanski's first choice for the title role in Rosemary's Baby (1968) because he thought her pure American looks would contrast well with the film's dark undertones. The studio preferred Mia Farrow, however, who had become a star on the enormously popular nighttime soap opera Peyton Place (1964). A few years later Polanski wanted her to star in his film version of Macbeth (1971). She lost the part when she refused to do a nude sleepwalking scene. The role was eventually played by Francesca Annis.

Turned down the films Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Cactus Flower (1969), True Grit (1969) and Paint Your Wagon (1969).

Was supposed to star in Performance (1970) and The Stepford Wives (1975) but bowed out at the last minute.

In 1971 the 8th Street Playhouse in New York's Greenwich Village hosted a Tuesday Weld Film Festival.

Twice portrayed a character who undergoes abortion: in Play It As It Lays (1972) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977).

Refused to screen test (as did Natalie Wood) for the part of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (1974).

Turned down the role of Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

Son, Patrick Moore (with Dudley Moore), born in 1976.

Singer Walter Egan recorded "Tuesday Weld", his self-penned tribute to the actress, on his 1980 album "The Last Stroll".

Wanted to play troubled '30s actress Frances Farmer in the biopic Frances (1982), but lost out to Jessica Lange.

Featured on the cover of the album "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet. [1991]

Was considered to play Mrs. Lovett in a film version of the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", but she passed on the role as time went on. When it was finally made in the 2000s, the role went to Helena Bonham Carter.

Is reportedly estranged from her son, who was homeless as of 2005.

As of June 2010 she was living in the Aspen (CO) area and has turned down work for over ten years. Her major agents still send her scripts weekly, but she is writing and close to her daughter and granddaughter. She is offered "mother roles" on hit series, but looks better than her years.

In April 2018 she bought a $1.8-million home in the Hollywood Hills, after years of living in Colorado.