Linda McCartney

(1942 - 1998)

Linda McCartney, the late wife of Beatles singer Paul McCartney, was raised in Scarsdale, N.Y. as the daughter of Louise Lindner and prominent entertainment lawyer Lee Eastman. Her family was not open about their religious affiliation, although her grandfather, Max Joseph Lindner, owner of a famous women's clothing shop in Cleveland, was active in the city's Reform temple.

Linda attended Scarsdale High School and afterwards became a celebrity photographer, and snapped shots of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. During her photographing of the Beatles in 1967 she became romantically involved with Paul McCartney, and they married in 1969.

Linda was a staunch vegetarian and contributed to the popularity of vegetarianism in Britain, including her own food products in the 1990s.

When the Beatles split up, she started a singing career in Paul's new band, Wings, but she is better known for her career as a photographer.

She and Paul McCartney had three children: Mary, Stella and James. Another daughter Heather is from a previous marriage.

Sources: Jewhoo and The Forward (December 27, 2002). BBC News. "UK Obituary: Linda McCartney," (April 19, 1998)