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Zsa Zsa Gabor died at her home on Sunday afternoon, her publicist confirmed to CBS LA. She was 99.
Gabor parlayed minimal acting stints into a livelihood as a celebrity. Married nine times, the former Miss Hungary contestant made a career joking about her numerous marriages and luxurious needs. Best known as a sex symbol, Gabor cultivated a comic image of an Old World gold digger.
Although Gabor appeared early in her career in several movies, she was more recognized for her outlandish persona, extravagant lifestyle and penchant for calling everyone “dahling.” Gabor embodied the Hollywood concept of “celebrity”: a headline-grabbing, spotlight-attracting Bel Air resident regularly in the public eye not because of any unique accomplishment but simply for “being.”
Her more serious acting credits include Moulin Rouge, Lovely to Look At and We’re Not Married, all from 1952, and 1953’s Lili. In 1958, she ran the gamut of moviemaking, appearing in Touch of Evil as well as the campy oddity Queen of Outer Space.
Gabor appeared in the main title sequence of The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991) in a spoof of her jail-bird notoriety, and did a self-mocking turn on the final episode of the 1960s TV series Batman.
Gabor fell out of bed in 2010 and underwent hip-replacement surgery July 19 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Her right leg was amputated above the knee in 2011 to prevent the spread of gangrene, part of a long run of health troubles the mid-century glamor girl has had since breaking her left hip in a fall.
See the reactions to her passing on social media below.
2016 has claimed much more than its fair share of stars. The one and only Zsa Zsa Gabor, seen here with Lauren Bacall, has died at age 99. pic.twitter.com/bQgaZcqarf
— BogartEstate (@HumphreyBogart) December 18, 2016
Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around. -B
— Barbara Eden (@Barbara_Eden) December 18, 2016
Goodbye Zsa Zsa https://t.co/jcFFWO43ME via @youtube
— Gwendoline Christie (@lovegwendoline) December 18, 2016
I love to put on diamonds and beautiful evening gowns and make my girl-friends upset. Zsa Zsa Gabor pic.twitter.com/pvKgzrPpH3
— Nina Garcia (@ninagarcia) December 18, 2016
RIP Zsa Zsa Gabor.
99 years old, 9 husbands, Miss Hungary & Hollywood star. What a life! pic.twitter.com/wt759OWCvu— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 18, 2016
— Andy Cohen (@andy) December 18, 2016
2016. You can go now. Losing too many people this year – and recently Alan Thicke AND Zsa Zsa? Ugh. Bye.
— Grace Byers (@LadyGraceByers) December 18, 2016
There will only be one Zsa Zsa Gabor. And, I liked her a lot. Rest In Peace, my dear.
— Larry King (@kingsthings) December 18, 2016
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