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…
“With a stick that barely moves!” Sophia Loren’s last outing left everyone speechless
S. Loren, one of the most outstanding and world-famous Italian actresses, has had a lasting impact on cinema with her impressive career.
Over the decades, she starred in more than 90 films, gaining worldwide recognition and making her one of Italy’s most influential personalities. Of particular note is her Oscar win as Best Actress for her performance in “Two Women”.
Loren was a leading icon during the Golden Age of Hollywood and was ranked among the top 20 stars in the American film industry. Her name has long been associated with style and beauty. At the age of 89, the Italian star is still a remarkable figure today.
She was recently spotted by paparazzi leaving a restaurant in the company of two people. The traces of time cannot be overlooked and its appearance has changed significantly over the years. This sight deeply touched and worried her fans.
Leave a Reply