Dorothy Stratten’s life seemed to be moving in the direction so many young performers dream about: magazine fame, Hollywood attention, and a growing list of film opportunities. But behind the image of a promising star was a troubled marriage that would end in tragedy.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, in 1960, Stratten was not raised as someone chasing celebrity from childhood. As a teenager, she was known as shy and quiet, and she worked part-time at a Dairy Queen while still going to school.
That ordinary job became the place where her life changed. In 1977, when she was 18, she met Paul Snider while working at the cash register. Snider was older and quickly became interested in her appearance and the possibility that she could become a model.
According to reports, Snider once told a friend, “That girl could make me a lot of money.” He encouraged her to pursue modeling and became closely involved in the early stages of her career.
