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…
My Pregnant Wife Started Returning Home Late at Night – I Lost Control When I Found Out the Reason
One night, I realized something was wrong when my wife didn’t come home from work by 11 p.m. This was unusual because she always texted if she’d be late. When I called her, she claimed to be working late, but her voice trembled.
This pattern continued, raising my concern. One night, I found her crying in the living room. She blamed pregnancy hormones, but I sensed a deeper issue.
I discovered her coworkers were bullying her, offloading their work onto her and mocking her. Seeing this, I decided to intervene. I confronted her tormentors, making it clear I knew what they were doing and would take legal action if necessary. This encounter, which I didn’t tell my wife about, led to an immediate change—she started coming home earlier, happier.
Despite the improvement, the bullying had left scars. I realized my role was to support her, not just confront the bullies. We sought therapy and focused on preparing for our baby, finding joy and strength together.
Our daughter’s birth was a symbol of hope. As I watched my wife with our newborn, I felt immense gratitude and love. I hope she leaves that toxic job, but regardless, I will always stand by her.
This journey taught us the power of love, support, and resilience. For anyone facing similar challenges, remember you’re not alone. Stand up against bullying, lean on loved ones, and believe in the power of kindness. Our story, marked by struggle and triumph, is a testament to love and unity.
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