She was discovered by a talent scout of Howard Hughes while sitting in a hotel lobby in Phoenix and eventually embarked on an acting career in 1952.

Douglas garnered publicity when she married film producer and mobster Pat DiCicco, former husband of Thelma Todd and Gloria Vanderbilt, in 1952.

"[4] Tall and blonde,[5] Douglas was noticed at age 17 by a talent agent of Howard Hughes while sitting in a hotel lobby in Phoenix.

[6][7] She had been in Arizona at the time visiting her mother, who after divorcing Douglas' father relocated there for the drier climate in an effort to reduce symptoms of arthritis.

[6] Returning to Los Angeles, she made her feature film debut in the Western Trail Guide, followed by Target (both 1952), under the stage name Linda Douglas.

[9] On December 12, 1952,[10] Douglas married film producer Pat DiCicco, former husband of Thelma Todd and Gloria Vanderbilt,[11] in Beverly Hills, California.

"[12] Douglas recalled that, after the meeting, she observed DeCicco, Topping, and others in their limousine making anti-semitic remarks: "It was my first experience with antisemitism.