CAUSE: Gielgud died aged 96 of natural causes in his sleep at his home, South Pavillion, Wotton Underwood, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. He left £1,477,626.
Jerry Giesler
(HAROLD LEE GIESLER)
Born November 2, 1886
Died January 1, 1962
‘The magnificent mouthpiece’. When stars were in trouble, the call went out “Send for Giesler”. Born in Wilton Junction, Iowa, super-lawyer Giesler had poor eyesight, a huge belly, a Bobby Charlton hairstyle and a high-pitched voice. Nonetheless, he was a tiger in the courtroom. His first case was defending fellow legal eagle Clarence Darrow for allegedly bribing a lawyer. Giesler specialised in murder cases and divorce battles. He patented the much-maligned method of attacking alleged rape victims over their past history in a bid to free his client. It usually worked. He defended Errol Flynn when he was charged with rape in January 1943. On April 4, 1944, he saw Charlie Chaplin acquitted on a charge of violating the Mann Act, taking a female across state lines for immoral purposes. He was in Robert Mitchum’s corner when the legendary hell-raiser was busted for possession of pot on August 31, 1948. In 1951 he defended stripper Lili St. Cyr after she was arrested at Ciro’s nightclub in Los Angeles for “lewd and lascivious behaviour”. She was acquitted after an hour’s deliberation. He was Lizabeth Scott’s lawyer when she sued scandal magazine Confidential over a story hinting she was a lesbian and hired gay call-girls. For once Giesler was on the losing side. In 1958 he represented Lana Turner and her daughter following the death of Lana’s gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato. Giesler was by Marilyn Monroe’s side when she decided to divorce second husband Joe DiMaggio in 1954, by Barbara Hutton’s side when she divorced Cary Grant and brokered Lady Sylvia Ashley’s separation from Clark Gable. He successfully defended the boxer Kid McCoy on a charge of murder (even though the pugilist admitted killing his mistress) and was in Bugsy Siegel’s corner over the only crime he was ever prosecuted for, the shooting of squealer Harry ‘Big Greenie’ Greenbaum in Los Angeles on November 22, 1939. One of his last high-profile cases was investigating the death of TV’s Superman, George Reeves. He dropped the case, possibly after being warned off. In the wake of the investigation, Giesler began carrying a gun.
CAUSE: He died in his Beverly Hills office from a heart attack aged 76. Private detective Milo Speriglio, who investigated the death of Marilyn Monroe, believes that Giesler was murdered by one of his mob clients, from whom he charged $100,000 for his services.
FURTHER READING: The Jerry Giesler Story – Jerry Giesler as told to Pete Martin (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1960).
John Gilbert
(JOHN CECIL PRINGLE)
Born July 10, 1899
Died January 9, 1936
Romantic idol. Born in Logan, Utah, 70 miles north of Salt Lake City, he was delivered without the presence of a doctor or midwife during the worst storm of the decade. John Gilbert signed for Ince-Triangle Films in 1915 and made his début in Matrimony (1915) as an uncredited extra. He appeared in several films, producing a workmanlike performance but not showing any real star quality. However, he quickly moved up the ranks, signed a contract with Fox and made Shame (1921) as William Fielding/David Field, Ladies Must Live (1921) as the gardener, the title role in Gleam O’Dawn (1922), Arabian Love (1922) as Norman Stone, The Yellow Stain (1922) as Donald Keith, Honor First (1922) as Jacques Dubois/Honoré Dubois, Monte Cristo (1922) as Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo, Calvert’s Valley (1922) as Page Emlyn, The Love Gambler (1922) as Dick Manners, A California Romance (1922) as Don Patricio Fernando, Truxton King (1923) as Truxton King, The Madness Of Youth (1923) as Jaca Javalie, St Elmo (1923) as St Elmo Thornton, The Exiles (1923) as Henry Holcombe, the title role in Cameo Kirby (1923), Just Off Broadway as Stephen Moore, The Wolf Man (1924) as Gerald Stanley and The Lone Chance (1924) as Jack Saunders for the studio before signing for MGM in 1924. It was, in hindsight, to be a disastrous choice. Gilbert became a massive star at MGM, appearing in films such as He Who Gets Slapped (1924) as Bezano, The Merry Widow (1925) as Prince Danilo Petrovich and The Big Parade as young soldier James Apperson. It was probably Gilbert’s best work. His popularity continued through La Bohème (1926) as Rodolphe in which he played opposite Lillian Gish and three films opposite his real-life lover Greta Garbo: Flesh And The Devil (1926) as Leo von Sellenthin, Love (1927) as Captain Count Alexei Vronsky and A Woman Of Affairs (1928) as Neville Holderness. They were due to marry on September 8, 1926, but Garbo jilted Gilbert by standing him up on what was supposed to be their wedding day. MGM boss Louis B. Mayer was less than sympathetic: “Why do you have to wait to marry her? Why don’t you just go on fucking her and forget about the wedding?” he asked Gilbert, somewhat unfeelingly. Gilbert lost his temper, grabbed hold of Mayer and tried to strangle him before pushing him into a fireplace, where he broke his glasses. Not an especially wise thing to do. In front of the assembled guests, Mayer screamed, “You’re through! I’ll destroy you if it costs me one million dollars!” Gilbert was unperturbed, having signed a contract for that very amount with Mayer’s hated opponent, Nichols Schenck, a top execuive with MGM’s parent company. A few months later, Gilbert and Garbo were back in bed together – much to the disgust of Mayer, who hated them both. Mayer was as good as his word, ruining Gilbert’s career by casting him in third-rate films and by spreading rumours about his unreliability. Gilbert lapsed into alcoholism. His later films included Redemption (1930) as Fedya, Way For A Sailor (1930) as Jack, Wir Schalten Um Auf Hollywood (1931), Gentleman’s Fate (1931) as Jack Thomas, Downstairs (1932) as Karl, Queen Christina (1933) as Don Antonio de la Prada, his last film with Greta Garbo, and The Captain Hates The Sea (1934) as Steve Bramley. Gilbert was married four times. On August 26, 1918, he married Olivia Burwell in Hollywood. They divorced in 1921, when he married Leatrice Joy. Their daughter, also named Leatrice Joy, was born on September 6, 1924. The couple was divorced in June 1926. On May 9, 1929, he eloped to Las Vegas with actress Ina Claire. They divorced in Los Angeles on August 4, 1931. On August 10, 1932, he married actress Virginia Bruce and their daughter, Susan Ann, was born on August 2, 1933. They divorced on May 25, 1934, due to his drinking. For years the story has done the rounds that Gilbert’s voice was the reason his career faltered. This is simply not true. His demise can be laid squarely at the door of Louis B. Mayer.
CAUSE: Gilbert’s death at the age of 36 at 9.05am on January 9, 1936, was officially put down to heart failure. In fact, he choked to death on his tongue after being given something to help him sleep. He passed away in Los Angeles, California. He was cremated and his ashes buried in Whispering Pines at Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks, 1712 South Glendale Avenue, Glendale, California 91209. Among those in attendance were John Barrymore, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Cedric Gibbons, Samuel Goldwyn, Myrna Loy, David O. Selznick, Irene Mayer Selznick, Irving Thalberg and King Vidor. Dietrich caused a spectacle by fainting as she approached the open coffin. She later bought at auction the sheets on which she and Gilbert had had sex.
FURTHER READING: Dark Star: The Meteoric Rise And Eclipse Of John Gilbert– Leatrice Gilbert Fountain with John R. Maxim (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1985).
Dorothy Gish
(DOROTHY ELIZABETH DE GUICHE)
Born March 11, 1898
Died June 4, 1968
The lesser-known sister. Born in Dayton, Ohio, (5)߰Dorothy Gish was part of an acting family that included her mother Mary Gish (d. New York, September 16, 1948) and sister Lillian Gish. When legendary director D.W. Griffith showed an interest in the sisters for one of his films Dorothy imperiously replied, “Sir, we are of the legitimate theatre.” It was Dorothy who was probably the more talented, but Lillian allowed herself to be moulded by Griffith and she became the more famous and infinitely more durable star. Dorothy made over 100 films, including An Unseen Enemy (1912) as the younger sister (her and Lillian’s début), Gold And Glitter (1912), My Baby (1912), Brutality (1912), My Hero (1912), Pa Says (1913), Almost A Wild Man (1913), Oil A
nd Water (1913), Just Gold (1913), Her Mother’s Oath (1913), Their First Acquaintance (1914), Silent Sandy (1914), Sands Of Fate (1914), Liberty Belles (1914), Her Mother’s Necklace (1914), Her Father’s Silent Partner (1914), Granny (1914), A Duel For Love (1914), Down The Road To Creditville (1914), Arms And The Gringo (1914), The Avenging Conscience: Thou Shalt Not Kill (1914), Victorine (1915), Out Of Bondage (1915), Minerva’s Mission (1915), Her Mother’s Daughter (1915), Her Grandparents (1915), How Hazel Got Even (1915), Bred In The Bone (1915) as Mercy, Jordan Is A Hard Road as Cora Findley, Betty Of Greystone (1916) as Betty Lockwood, Little Meena’s Romance (1916) as Meena, Susan Rocks The Boat (1916) as Susan Johnstone, Atta Boy’s Last Race as Lois Brandon, Children Of The Feud (1916) as Sairy Ann, Her Official Fathers (1917) as Janice, The Hun Within (1918) as Beth, the lead roles in Battling Jane (1918), Boots (1919), Peppy Polly (1919) and Nugget Nell (1919), Turning The Tables (1919) as Doris Pennington, Remodeling Her Husband (1920) as Janie Wakefield, Mary Ellen Comes To Town (1920) as Mary Ellen, Little Miss Rebellion (1920) as Grand Duchess Marie Louise, Orphans Of The Storm (1921) as Louise Girard, Fury (1923) as Minnie, Romola (1924) as Tessa, Nell Gwyn (1926) as Nell Gwyn, Tiptoes (1927), Madame Pompadour (1927) as Madame Pompadour, Our Hearts Were Young And Gay (1944) as Mrs Skinner and The Cardinal (1963) as Celia. In 1920 she married actor James Rennie. They divorced 15 years later.
CAUSE: She died aged 70 in Rapallo, Italy, of bronchial pneumonia.
Lillian Gish
(LILLIAN DE GUICHE)
Born October 14, 1893
Died February 27, 1993
‘The First Lady of the Silent Screen’. Born in Springfield, Ohio, 5́ 4˝ Lillian Gish was not only one of the leading actresses of the silent era, she also had one of the longest careers in cinematic history – 75 years. Appearing with her sister in many films, Lillian Gish became a star through her performance in D.W. Griffith’s The Birth Of A Nation (1915) as Elsie Stoneman, though she had made over 35 films prior to that. Griffith fell in love with her and before their falling out (over money) she appeared in his Intolerance (1916), Hearts Of The World (1918) as Marie Stephenson, Broken Blossoms (1919) as Lucy Burrows, Way Down East (1920) as Anna Moore and Orphans Of The Storm (1921) as Henriette Girard. She excelled in the silent flicks The Scarlet Letter (1926) as Hester Prynne and The Wind (1928) as Letty Mason. Her career did not end with the advent of the talkies, unlike many of her contemporaries. She was masterful in Duel In The Sun (1946) as Laura Belle McCanles, for which she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, and The Night Of The Hunter (1955) as Rachel Cooper, and was still wowing audiences almost 40 years later in The Whales Of August (1987) as Sarah Webber. In the latter, she played opposite Bette Davis; the two had a somewhat spiky relationship. Director Lindsay Anderson remembered, “Lillian Gish did confide that one of the advantages of being old was not having to do love scenes any more … At one point, Bette Davis asked me if I’d found out anything about the rumours about Lillian [being a lesbian]. ‘Is she or isn’t she?’ she hissed. I whispered to her, ‘Don’t ask me, Bette. Ask her long-time girlfriend.’”
CAUSE: She died in New York of heart failure. She was 99 years old.
Brian Glover
Born April 2, 1934
Died July 24, 1997
Bluff Yorkshireman. Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the bald Glover worked as a teacher and part-time wrestler (under the name Leon Arras – from Paris, France) before finding fame as a teacher in Kes (1968), the story of a boy and his kestrel. He went on to appear in O! Lucky Man (1972), Mister Quilp (1975), Sweeney! (1976), Joseph Andrews (1977), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), An American Werewolf In London (1981), The Company Of Wolves (1984) as the amorous boy’s dad, Ordeal By Innocence (1984), Alien 3 (1992) as Andrews and Leon The Pig Farmer (1993) as Brian Chadwick. On television he was known as the distinctive voice of advertisements for tea and bread. He had two children: a daughter, Maxine, by his ex-wife, Elaine Foster, whom he married on July 10, 1954, and a son, Gus (b. 1982), by his second wife Tara Angleen Kamla Prem, a film producer to whom he was married on October 2, 1996.
CAUSE: Glover died aged 63 from a brain tumour at Trinity Hospice, Clapham, south London. An operation to remove the growth in 1996 had been only partially successful. His funeral was held at Brompton cemetery on July 30. He left £650,816.
Paulette Goddard
(PAULINE MARION LEVY)
Born June 3, 1905
Died April 23, 1990
Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries Page 77