Moved to Los Angeles with mother and brothers when parents separated

Spotted playing baseball in the street by director Allan Dwan who signed her to play a tomboy in her film debut, at age 12 in "A Perfect Crime"

Danced professionally at the Coconut Grove nightclub at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles

Joined an amateur theater group, The Potboilers, while a teen

Signed by Fox Film Corporation executive whom she met at a dinner and made first film under Fox contract, "Hearts and Spurs" (as Carol Lombard; surname was borrowed from her mother's friend Harry Lombard)

Her face was disfigured in a car accident in which some glass was driven into her face; returned to screen after plastic surgery; small scar on one cheek remained; it generally was covered over with makeup and photographic retouching, but could be seen very occasionally throughout the rest of her career

Returned to Fox where she found her contract had lapsed

Hired by Mack Sennett for a series (13) of two-reeler slapstick comedies with Sally Eilers and Daphne Pollard

Signed by director Paul Stein to a contract with Pathe; starred as lead in "Show Folks" with Eddie Quillan and Lina Basquette

Pathe contract lapsed; became a freelance player

Paramount's cast credits for "Safety in Numbers" accidentally spelled first name with an extra "e" at end; later publicity copy claimed that Lombard had been advised by a numerologist to change her name from Carol to Carole on the theory that the added "e" would bring her success; legally changed name to Carole Lombard in 1936

Signed to a seven-year star's contract by Paramount

Played breakthrough role opposite John Barrymore in the Howard Hawks comedy, "Twentieth Century"

Starred opposite William Powell in "My Man Godfrey"

Free-lanced for a number of studios

Made several dramatic films in a row beginning with "Made for Each Other"

Made final film, "To Be or Not to Be"

Had signed with Columbia to make "He Kissed the Bride" with Melvyn Douglas; Joan Crawford substituted after Lombard's death and film was retitled "They All Kissed the Bride"

Transcontinental and Western air luxury liner (TWA) carrying Lombard, her mother and MGM publicist Otto Winkler among the 18 passengers crashed into Table Rock Mountain and burned thirty miles southwest of Las Vegas NV (January 16); Lombard was returning from Indianapolis IN where she had participated in a defense bond campaign and had sold more than $2 million worth of bonds

Portrayed by Jill Clayburgh in the film, "Gable and Lombard"