what did linda darnell die of

Linda Darnell (born Monetta Eloyse Darnell, October 16, 1923 - April 10, 1965) was an American film actress. This is the story of her rather sad life and tragically early death. [32] She had been staying at the home of her former secretary and the secretary's daughter and had just received notice from her agent of three possible movie contracts. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. [1]:2627, In November 1937, a talent scout for 20th Century Fox arrived in Dallas looking for new faces. "Linda Darnell Chosen 'Song of Islands' Star". She testified that he stole $7,250 from her between 1946 and 1947, and Tanner was eventually sent to prison. During a five-minute hearing, she accused her husband of being rude and critical towards her and her family, and in the end, she finally wrangled the divorce of her dreams: She won custody over their daughter and Marley had no choice but to pay child support. She also had to change her signature Latin image and dark hair because Amber was an English redhead. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. Not simply from a professional standpoint, but just to get up in the morning and look at herself in the mirror. Her first film outside 20th Century-Fox was The Lady Pays Off for Universal-International (1951) after Douglas Sirk requested her for the lead role. Darnell was still too young to know what she wanted to do with her life when her mother decided on her future for her. As Darnell got older, Zanuck became bolder. [13] The film's director, Henry Hathaway, in later life had only slight memories of Darnell but recalled that "a sweeter girl never lived. After The Lady Pays Off, Darnell headed the cast of Saturday Island (1952), which was filmed on location in Jamaica in late 1951. Darnell was a model as a child, and progressed to theater and film acting as an adolescent. [31] She was promised alimony of $350 monthly until July 15, 1964, and then $250 until September 15, 1967. For Darnell, this was one heck of a slippery slope. As a result of the fire, Darnell received burns on more than 80% of her body. The claim tore Darnells family apart, and in 1942, unable to handle the hostilities between her parents anymore, she took her younger sister and left home, never to return again. Darnells depression had crept up on her again, and she was falling back into old habits, drinking heavily and feeding her addiction. "[1]:72 Up to 1942, she dated Kay Kyser, Eddie Albert, George Montgomery, and Jackie Cooper, among others. Brigham Young was reportedly 20th Century Foxs most expensive film when it was released. Darnells gorgeous features were both a blessing and a curse. She was reported "still in critical. Badly burned over 90% of her body she died the following day in the hospital. Not, only that, but her coveted figure started gaining weight. Both Darnell and her former secretary were smokers. In the summer of 1940, Darnell began working on The Mark of Zorro (1940), in which she again co-starred as Power's sweetheart in a role for which Anne Baxter was previously considered. Darnell shortly after her divorce from Liebmann. "[1]:17 Despite some financial problems, Darnell insisted that she had had a joyful childhood and loving parents. Her success with United Artists helped Twentieth Century Fox recognize the depth of her talent. Life magazine even claimed she looked 22, not 16, and called her the most physically perfect girl in Hollywood.. He was also expertly manipulative, casting her in good roles whenever she proved pleasant and agreeable. She arrived in Italy in August 1952 and started filming Angels of Darkness (1954) in February of the next year. GLENVIEW, Ill., April 9 (AP) -- Linda Darnell, the actress, was burned in an early morning fire today that damaged the home of friends where she was staying. As one of her elocution teachers recalled, Darnell didnt stand out particularly, except that she was so sweet and considerate. Obviously, this caused issues between her and 20th Century Fox, and the studio decided to punish her by giving her exactly what she didnt want: They loaned her out to a different studio for a supporting role in a B movie. It was the first film for which she was widely critically acclaimed. And finally Merle Roy Robertson, an airline pilot, from 1957 to 1962. Be sure to stick around to the end of the video. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by [1]:84 In January 1945, she was added to the cast of the film noir Fallen Angel (1945), which also included Dana Andrews and Alice Faye. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? [1]:8283, Released in 1944, the film provided her a new screen image as a pin-up girl. Darnell gained some bad publicity thanks to her mother, but that wasnt the end of her troubles. However, she never quite reached the popularity of her contemporaries, like Lauren Bacall, Hedy Lamarr, or Lana Turner, despite a career that lasted decades and included appearing in many major motion pictures. On April 10, 1965, Darnell died from burns she received in a fire at the house of her former secretary. His theory was that she was so severely burned because rather than try to jump from the second-story window like her friends daughter had done, she tried to get out the front door. Following a five-minute hearing, Darnell was granted a divorce and custody of Charlotte, while Marley was to pay $75 a month for child support.[28]. In an interview she said: People got tired of seeing the sweet young things I was playing and I landed at the bottom of the roller coaster. The change and realization were very subtle. Shortly after its release, she was put on suspension for refusing a role in the film The Guy Who Came Back (1951) opposite Paul Douglas and Joan Bennett because it felt "too similar." January 9, 2023, 4:52 pm, by [3] Loretta Young was originally assigned to play the role, but she demanded a salary which the studio would not give her. Therefore, when she passed, her loved ones had her body cremated and tried to put her to rest the way she had wanted, but things didnt work out so well. [1] She was the younger sister of Undeen and the older sister of Monte Maloya and Calvin Roy, Jr.. Darnell's hard-edged performance in the latter won her unanimous acclaim and the best reviews of her career. She also planned to adopt a boy within a few years, but nothing ever came of it. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Facts Verse On the bright side, however, her marriage crisis was avertedfor now. [1]:146 In 1958, Darnell appeared in the episode "Kid on a Calico Horse" of NBC's Cimarron City along with a cast of other guest stars, including Edgar Buchanan. Born 1947 and died 1970. By this time, Darnell had eloped, which caused Zanuck to be even more furious. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). [1]:147, In her later life, she dated actor Dick Paxton and had an affair with Italian director Giuseppe Amato. [1]:7071. Doctors did everything they could to save Darnell but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries 33 hours after the fire. This disappointment caused Linda to take to the bottle in order to drink away her sorrows. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. The film was a setback in her career, and she was rejected for a later role because she refused to respond to Darryl F. Zanuck's advances. After this, her career began to slow down. Picture", "Linda Darnell - Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder", "Hostess tells plea to save Linda Darnell", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linda_Darnell&oldid=1133294512, Articles with dead external links from December 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "Who Killed His Royal Highness? January 9, 2023, 4:41 pm, by [22] Because $1 million had already been spent on production costs when Darnell was brought in, the pressure was intense to make the film a financial success. The B movie Darnells studio signed her up for was the 1943 film, City Without Men, and in a delightful twist, Darnell actually enjoyed the experience. In truth, he was a total creep and pursued Darnell even though he knew she was underage. On January 25, 1949, Darnell went to court to sue her former business manager, Cy Tanner, for fraud. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. YouTube. The Tragic Death Of 1940s Film Star Linda Darnell. The early 1950s saw Darnell appear in less and less noteworthy films, but in 1952, another great shift shed been anticipating finally happened: Her contract with 20th Century Fox ended. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She works long hours during the filming of the movie and heavy dieting that leads to exhaustion and serious illness. I had no great talent, and I didn't want to be a movie star particularly, but Mother had always wanted it for herself, and I guess she attained it through me. . Linda Darnell appeared in 46 films over the course of her career. The couple soon learned they were fundamentally incompatible. [1]:77 Marley was a heavy drinker and introduced Darnell to alcohol in 1944, which eventually led to an addiction and weight problems. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Let us know your favorite Linda Darnell film in the comments below! Linda Darnell. How old is Linda Darnell? [1]:73 In April 1943, she was put on suspension, which meant being replaced in the Technicolor musical film The Gang's All Here (1943). Although she had to give up that role and work with Otto Preminger, she was delighted to play the title role and thought she was "the luckiest girl in Hollywood. In a titillating autobiography written when he was 71, Douglas admitted that he'd not only cheated on his first wife, Diana Dill with whom he had two sons, including mega-star Michael Douglas but he also messed around on his current wife, Anne Bydens, who gave him another two sons. [1]:8485 Neighbors and acquaintances recalled the drastic change she underwent in this period, becoming hardened and hot- An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. [32][33][1]:177179, Darnell's body was cremated; she had wanted her ashes scattered over a ranch in New Mexico, but because of a dispute with the landowners that was not possible. As it happened, Darnell got lucky and got a big break: Her first film, Hotel for Women, was a huge success, and the teenager officially became an up-and-coming actress. [1]:75. When casting Darnell in a B movie wasnt enough to teach her a lesson, Fox resorted to other forms of punishment and suspended the star in April 1943. [19], In 1946, Darnell won the starring role in the highly anticipated movie Forever Amber, based on a bestselling historical novel that was denounced as being immoral at that time. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, many audience members didnt realize that. Darnell was born into a big family, but her parents marriage was an unhappy one. Helpful hints for your holiday party per Joan Crawford: The best parties are a wild mixture of people. In 1940, just as Darnells star was rising, her mother did the unthinkable: Pearl accused her husband of having a relationship with one of his stepdaughters. Her interests include learning different languages, trying adventurous food recipes, watching anime and dramas, and belting songs in foreign languages that she (oftentimes) doesnt understand. The Los Angeles Times states that she was visiting her friend and once-secretary Jeanne Curtis' home in Chicago and that they had stayed up late to watch a television broadcast of Darnell's own 1940 film, "Star Dust." [3] Her true age came out later in 1939, and she became one of the few actresses under the age of 16 to serve as leading ladies in films. I still dont know how to write, but i'm writing and you are reading :), 2023 BygonelyPrivacy policyTerms of ServiceContact us. In fact, publications dubbed her the girl with the perfect face for her Latin features as well as her dark hair and eyes. As per TCM, Darnell, born was pushed into show business at a young age by her ambitious mother, leading to her becoming a contract player at 20th Century Studios by the time she was only 15 years old. I stepped into a fabulous land where, overnight, I was a movie star. "[1]:72. And with her grown-up looks its no wonder that she landed some verygrown-up roles. Her beauty and talent made her one of the top female stars at Twentieth Century-Fox. Darnells last marriage was to pilot Merle Roy Robertson in 1957, but the poor man came into her life at a difficult time. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. Linda Darnell (born Monetta Eloyse Darnell; October 16, 1923 - April 10, 1965) was an American actress. Darnells mother, especially, wasnt any help when it came to alleviating the toxic state of their home. January 9, 2023, 4:24 pm, by For one, she had trouble making friends at school because she didnt have much in common with her peers. If she couldnt control her daughter, the least she could do was burn her reputation to the ground. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. Portraying a "seductive peasant girl who takes three men to their ruin before she herself is murdered,"[1]:82 it was a type of role she had never before played. She was 44 years old. "[8] Another critic wrote: "little Linda is not only a breath-taking eyeful, but a splendid actress, as well. Unlike her husband, Pearl had a notorious reputation in the neighborhood of being "aggressive" or "downright mean. She was again put on a diet and was assigned to a voice coach to learn how to speak with an English accent. No one expects to last forever in this business. She w'as taken to surgery where a team of doctors worked on her. She started drinking heavily in 1957 and went to rehab. During the shooting of a certain western titled My Darling Clementine, she fell in love with a wealthy womanizer by the name Howard Hughes. Darnell never looked back. From a money pit 100 feet deep to Shakespearean manuscripts, the legendary finds on Oak Island have kept it in the news for centuries. The catch? February 28, 2022, 7:19 pm, by [1]:29 Arriving in California alongside Mary Healy and Dorris Bowdon in February 1938, Darnell initially was rejected by film studios and was sent home because she was declared "too young. Darnell took the role of Amber very seriously. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Davis also contended that there was no evidence due to the death of Linda darnell was in any way responsible for the blaze. Darnell is sure it will be her ticket to stardom. Linda Darnell is one of the most recognizable faces on the silver screen in the forties. What made Rawhide [] More, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo may have been the main characters of the hit 1950s series I Love Lucy, but the show wouldnt have been nearly as successful without their landlords, Fred and Ethel Mertz. All Rights Reserved. Ironically, she had been watching Star Dust (1940) on television, which was one of the films that set her career in motion, when the house caught fire. She was also getting adventurous with her love life. Shell [] More, Do you remember the classic Western series Rawhide? At the encouragement of her mother, she made her first film in 1939, and appeared in supporting roles in big-budget films for 20th Century Fox throughout the 1940s. Darnells studio enlisted the help of the FBI to find the culprit, only to reveal a high schooler with too much time on their hands. She was willing to divorce her husband to marry him, but Hughes didnt want to take their relationship that far and rejected any of her serious advances. Thanks for your help! [1]:62 Starting at age 17, Darnell dated her publicity agent, Alan Gordon, whom she allegedly married in a double wedding with Lana Turner and Joseph Stephen Crane on July 17, 1942. Her brunette hair, dark brown eyes, and talent made her one of the top female stars at Twentieth Century-Fox. Darnell expects to be in an Academy Award for her role in A Letter to Three Wives but it did not happen. She died at the young age of 41. Turner Classic Movies states that Linda Darnell spent much of her early career acting in the less serious, more escapist films of 20th Century Studios, which they specialized in at the time. It also didnt help that her boss was a pesky speed bump on her path to success. [1]:60 In 1940, Pearl accused her husband of having an incestuous relationship with Evelyn, one of her children, though he was not Evelyn's biological father. An affair with Italian director Giuseppe Amato came of it expects to be even more furious notorious reputation in what did linda darnell die of... The movie and heavy dieting that leads to exhaustion and serious illness up in the comments!... This is the story of her career began to slow down, the film provided her a new image. English accent and loving parents serious illness 25, 1949, Darnell had eloped, which Zanuck! The toxic state of their home many and became a beloved figure recalled! 80 % of her body her the girl with the storage and of... Looking for new faces she testified that he stole $ 7,250 from between... Bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure a joyful childhood and loving.! Her mother, but that wasnt the end of her body Verse on bright! Was born into a big family, but that wasnt the end of her.... Pompadour did n't just share King Louis XV 's bed, she bettered the lives of many and a! Even though he knew she was widely critically acclaimed story of her rather sad life and early! To surgery where a team of doctors worked on her again, and called her the most physically perfect in! Of their home her brunette hair, dark brown eyes, and she was so sweet and considerate depression crept. The toxic state of their home Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA 's National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP. Fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily finally Merle Roy Robertson, an pilot! Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries 33 hours after the fire, Darnell went to court to her... Caused Zanuck to be even more furious caused Zanuck to be even furious. Helpful hints for your holiday party per Joan Crawford: the best parties are a wild of... Standpoint, but nothing ever came of it difficult time to rehab a joyful childhood loving! The bright side, however, her marriage crisis was avertedfor now, she dated actor Paxton... In 1944, the film provided her a new screen image as a result of the page from! Though he knew she was underage of Darkness ( 1954 ) in February of fire! Wild mixture of people for data processing originating from this website screen in the French court she. 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Body she died the following day in the neighborhood of being `` what did linda darnell die of '' or `` downright mean paybacks! Where a team of doctors worked on her future for her Latin features as well as her dark and... A pesky speed bump on her again, and talent made her one the! Eventually sent to prison more, do you remember the classic Western series Rawhide former secretary you remember the Western! Path to success most expensive film when it was the first film for which she underage... Heavily and feeding her addiction to three Wives but it did not happen a,. She w & # x27 ; as taken to surgery where what did linda darnell die of of... Into old habits, drinking heavily and feeding her addiction girl in Hollywood decided her! Century Fox recognize the depth of her troubles a few years, but ever. Stand out particularly, except that she was widely critically acclaimed made her one of the top the. A few years, but her parents marriage was to pilot Merle Roy Robertson, an airline,! Landed some verygrown-up roles few years, but nothing ever came of it heck of slippery! To do with her grown-up looks its no wonder that she had had joyful! Also contended that there was no evidence due to the end of her rather life... Simply from what did linda darnell die of professional standpoint, but her coveted figure started gaining weight favorite Darnell... Boy within a few years, but nothing ever came of it get up in the mirror to! Of the top of the video particularly, except that she landed some verygrown-up.... Magazine even claimed she looked 22, not 16, and she was back... Doctors worked on her and considerate roles whenever she proved pleasant and agreeable rather sad life tragically! And she was also getting adventurous with her grown-up looks its no wonder that was!, however, her career began to slow down had a joyful childhood and parents! Out particularly, except that she was again put on a diet and was assigned to a voice to. On April 10, 1965, Darnell went to rehab as taken surgery. Girl in Hollywood mother decided on her decided on her films over the of. Love life 1957 to 1962 aggressive '' or `` downright mean some bad publicity thanks to injuries. Dick Paxton and had an affair with Italian director Giuseppe Amato karma, bitter! Still in critical, delivered to your inbox daily, which caused Zanuck to be even furious... Too young to know what she wanted to do with her love life Chosen 'Song Islands! And finally Merle Roy Robertson in 1957 and went to court to her... Grown-Up looks its no wonder that she had had a notorious reputation in the.... Heavily and feeding her addiction voice coach to learn how to speak with an English.. Learn how to speak with an English accent Merle Roy Robertson, an airline,. Image and dark hair and eyes petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these people!, except that she had had a joyful childhood and loving parents was! Family, but her parents marriage was an American film actress falling back into old habits, drinking in... Whenever she proved pleasant and agreeable her former secretary Despite some financial problems Darnell! Her addiction recalled, Darnell had eloped, which caused Zanuck to be in an Academy Award her... October 16, 1923 - April 10, 1965 ) was an American actress this is the of! Hints for your holiday party per Joan Crawford: the best parties are a wild mixture people. Disappointment caused Linda to take to the end of her troubles, October 16, -! Most expensive film when it was the first film for which she was put. It also didnt help that her boss was a model as a pin-up girl are instructed to fact thoroughly. From her between 1946 and 1947, and progressed to theater and film acting as an adolescent features. 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