Loretta King

Loretta King (August 20, 1917 – September 10, 2007) was an American actress celebrated for her brief yet memorable career in the film industry, particularly her association with the iconic director Ed Wood. King gained notoriety for her role as the tenacious reporter Janet Lawton in Wood's 1955 cult classic, “Bride of the Monster,” which also featured the legendary Bela Lugosi. That same year, she made appearances in multiple episodes of the Hallmark Television Playhouse but soon withdrew from acting.

In 1970, after marrying Herman Hadler, King made a short-lived comeback to the screen, adopting the name Loretta Hadler for her appearances in two films. Her life and career were later revisited in popular culture when she was portrayed by actress Juliet Landau in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic, “Ed Wood.”

In a 1996 documentary titled “The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.,” King addressed several myths surrounding her time with Ed Wood, refuting claims such as her supposed water allergy and the suggestion that she financed “Bride of the Monster” to secure her role. Despite her limited filmography, Loretta King's contributions to the realm of cult cinema and her intriguing connection with the eccentric Wood have left an indelible mark on film history.