Career: After starring in a number of minor roles for MGM, Gardner received her big break in 1946 when she was loaned to Universal to star in The Killers, which starred Burt Lancaster in his film debut. The film was a big success and received a number of Academy Award nominations. Gardner went on to work with a number of big-name directors, including John Ford in Mogambo (1953) and George Cukor in Bhowani Junction (1956). Other notable films included Mayerling (1968), Earthquake (1974), The Cassandra Crossing (1976) and The Blue Bird (1976). Toward the end of her career, she primarily worked on TV, notably in Knots Landing, and The Long Hot Summer. Gardner died of pneumonia on January 25, 1990 at the age of 67 in London, a place she had called home since 1968.