Perky, lightweight ingenue of frothy 1950s romances and comedies, including four opposite Tony Curtis, the likes of which ("The Prince Who Was a Thief" 1951, "No Room for the Groom" 1952) hardly made her a critic's darling. Laurie's first substantial screen role, however--as the lame, self-destructive alcoholic involved with Paul Newman in Robert Rossen's gritty drama, "The Hustler" (1961)--earned her an Oscar nomination. She had previously won acclaim for her moving portrayal of an alcoholic in J.P. Miller's Golden Age of Television gem, "The Days of Wine and Roses" (1958) opposite Cliff
