Sharon Tate: The tragedy of Charles Manson's most famous victim

Sharon Tate’s death left an indelible mark on Hollywood’s history, not only because of the brutality of the crime but because she was at the height of her career and on the brink of motherhood. The Manson Family was responsible for her murder, along with the deaths of four others, at her Los Angeles residence in 1969.

Tate's breakthrough came in 'Eye of the Devil' (1966) playing a witch. The movie's director J. Lee Thompson questioned whether to use her. "We even agreed that if after the first two weeks Sharon was not quite making it, we would put her back in cold storage", but added that he quickly realized Tate was "tremendously exciting," according to a documentary that was released alongside the film called 'All Eyes on Sharon Tate.'

In the final weeks of her pregnancy, Tate was tragically murdered by Charles Manson’s followers. Manson’s twisted ideology aimed to spark a “race war." Those arrested later explained that Tate was not a specific target. The home was previously rented out to Terry Melcher, a producer associated with the Manson Family.

Sharon was the eldest of three sisters and had a nomadic childhood, moving frequently due to her father’s military career. This constant relocation didn’t stop Sharon from standing out and entering beauty pageants from a young age. At six months of age, Tate even won the "Miss Tiny Tot of Dallas Pageant," according to a biography by Greg King.

Tate’s first taste of Hollywood came during the filming of 'Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man' (released in 1962), which was filming near where she was living in Italy.

She signed up as an extra and actor Richard Beymer noticed her. They became a couple during filming. He encouraged her to get into acting. In 1960, she worked with Pat Boone and appeared with him on a TV show that was being filmed in Venice.

Her family returned to the United States in 1962 and she contacted Richard Beymer's agent, who introduced her to a producer who signed her to a seven-year contract. Her got her small parts in 'Mister Ed' and 'The Beverly Hillbillies' to give her experience.

During this period, Tate dated French actor Philippe Forquet and later hair stylist Jay Sebring. Tate and Sebring’s friendship endured even after they broke up, and tragically, Sebring became one of Manson’s victims alongside Tate on that fateful August night in 1969.

After her breakthrough role in 'Eye of the Devil, Tate met Polish director Roman Polanski, known for his work on films like 'Repulsion' (1965). Their paths crossed again on the set of 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' (1967), where Tate played the lead. Despite his intense directing style, they developed a relationship.

Polanski and Tate became one of Hollywood’s iconic couples, with their 1968 wedding making international headlines. He was dressed in "Edwardian finery." She wore an off-white taffeta minidress.

When the couple moved to Hollywood, they quickly became friends with some of the biggest stars of the day. According to Roman Polanski's autobiography, their home was often full of strangers, something Tate did not mind.

In early 1969, Tate and Polanski were thrilled about the impending arrival of their baby, due in September. However, Polanski had to travel to London for a film project and his return was delayed, leaving Tate at their Los Angeles home on Cielo Drive.

On the evening of August 9, Tate went out for dinner with friends Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, and coffee heiress Abigail Folger, according to the King biography. After that, they went back to her home. Soon after, Manson followers Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel broke in.

According to the book Helter Skelter, Tex Watson claimed Manson had ordered him to go to the house and "totally destroy" everyone in it, and to do it "as gruesome as you can." Tate was 8 1/2 months pregnant. All the victims were stabbed many times. The word "pig" was later written on the home's door in her blood.

The following night, the Manson family committed two more murders - supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles.

The murders "profoundly shook America's perception of itself" and "effectively sounded the death knell of '60s counterculture," according to Vox. Tate’s tragic story has been recounted in films and documentaries, with one of the latest portrayals in Quentin Tarantino’s 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (2019), where Margot Robbie portrays Tate in a reimagined narrative.

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