John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
People said: “You Are Not Pretty Enough”, but she won two Oscars and raised two famous sons!
Born on November 6, 1946, Sally Field triumphed over discouraging remarks that she wasn’t “pretty enough” for the film industry.
Making her Hollywood debut with TV shows like “Gidget” in 1965 and “The Flying Nun” in 1967, she showcased her talents and defied the criticism.
Drama became Sally’s refuge from a challenging upbringing, marked by her parents’ divorce and her stepfather’s strict discipline.
Post-high school, she ventured into acting with “Gidget,” a stepping stone that eventually led to her iconic portrayal as Sister Bertrille.
Her prowess in cinema became evident as she clinched two Oscars for her roles in “Norma Rae” and “Places in the Heart”.
A versatile performer, she also found success on television, securing Emmy wins for her contributions to shows like “Sybil”, “ER”, and “Brothers & Sisters”.
Sally, a proud mother, has left a lasting legacy for her three boys – Peter, Eli, and Sam, each of whom has made a mark in the entertainment industry.
At 77 years old, Sally Field stands as a living testament to the transformative power of talent and perseverance in achieving remarkable success in Hollywood.
Leave a Reply