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…
When this Teen Daughter Leaves Mother in Favor of Cheating Father
The course of one woman’s life took a sharp turn when she entered into marriage with a wealthy man, believing he would be a blessing to her family. Sharing her story on Reddit, she recounted his acts of generosity, from lavishing expensive gifts upon her parents to settling her sister’s credit card debts and securing a lucrative job for her brother at a prestigious firm. Despite his infidelity, her husband remained faithful to her, garnering admiration from her in-laws for his unwavering support during tough times.
The first crack in their marriage surfaced soon after the birth of their daughter, Kelly. Faced with the dilemma of leaving her husband, she sought counsel from loved ones, yet found herself unable to take decisive action, convincing herself that his infidelity stemmed from her perceived inadequacies as a wife during pregnancy. The second instance of betrayal occurred when Kelly was around 12 years old, prompting her mother to seriously consider divorce.
Despite her resolve to end the marriage, familial pressures, fueled by a desire to avoid scandal, weighed heavily against her. Reluctantly, she proceeded with the divorce, though custody battles left her without Kelly by her side, despite receiving alimony and a fair settlement.
Painted as the antagonist by her in-laws and parents, she faced an uphill battle to maintain a connection with her daughter. Only her steadfast friend Tina provided solace and support through the ordeal, serving as both confidante and anchor during tumultuous times.
Though she extended financial support for Kelly’s education, the rift between mother and daughter persisted, exacerbated by stringent conditions outlined in her will. Kelly, however, forged her own path, pursuing an accounting degree and a successful career, distancing herself from her mother’s inheritance to assert her independence.
Life, however, has a way of reshuffling the deck. Kelly, now financially self-reliant, sought to mend bridges with her mother, especially as her father’s fortunes dwindled, leaving her college fund depleted. This unexpected turn of events led to a tentative reconciliation, with Kelly relinquishing her claim to her mother’s estate in exchange for support for her graduate studies.
In a twist of fate, Laura, the woman’s goddaughter, emerged as the primary beneficiary in her will, sparking familial discord and bitterness over the perceived injustice.
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