Can you separate the artist from the art?
This is a question we’ve been asking for quite some time and in today’s climate – the
question jumps up perhaps more often than ever.
Our favorite Hollywood stars are often glamorized and even idolized.
Whether it was Errol Flynn and his drinking habits, the mysterious death of George Reeves,
the mafia connections of Frank Sinatra, or the dark cloud that still hangs over Fatty
Arbuckle – there are many great old Hollywood actors who had a nasty reputation or controversy
that were as much a part of their lives as their filmography.
But how did they become embroiled in these controversies and how did it affect their
lives and careers back in the day?
Do these controversies still affect their reputation today?
Join FactsVerse to learn about the Old Hollywood Actors Who Had a Nasty Reputation…
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ERROL FLYNN Errol Flynn's career took off in the 1930s
with his role as Captain Blood in the film of the same name.
He went on to star in several other classic films, including The Adventures of Robin Hood
(1938), The Sea Hawk (1940), and They Died with Their Boots On (1941).
Flynn was known for his charisma, good looks, and athletic abilities, which he often showcased
in his action-packed roles.
Did we mention his good looks?
It’s no secret that the ladies loved him and he took full advantage of this.
No doubt, this was what would cause his downfall.
He was known for his excessive drinking, drug use, and womanizing, and his behavior often
landed him in trouble with the law.
In 1942 – at the height of his success - he was accused of statutory assault by two teenage
girls.
He was acquitted of the charges and he got a lot of support from many male stars who
alleged that the girls were conspiring to end.
However, the trial damaged his reputation and led to a decline in his career.
Flynn's legal troubles continued throughout his life.
He was once again accused of sexual assault in 1953 but was again acquitted.
Alcohol continued to be a part of his life and he often had to smuggle it on film sets
at times.
Flynn's health began to decline in the 1950s, and he was diagnosed with heart disease.
He died in 1959 at the age of 50 from a heart attack.
Despite his personal problems, Errol Flynn remains a beloved figure in Hollywood history.
However, the controversies and accusations of assault still hang over his head to this
day.
GEORGE REEVES
George Reeves played Superman in the original 1950s TV series and is still remembered for
his role.
Unfortunately, he’s also remembered for his death – which remains a mystery to this
day.
His death is officially a suicide….however, there have been many theories over the years
about what really happened that fateful night.
While he might have played one of our favorite superheroes, this also hurt his career as
he tried to branch out to other types of roles.
To add salt to the wounds, he was also in a turbulent relationship with his fiancee,
Leonore Lemmon, who was known to be jealous and rather controlling toward him.
On the night of his death, George Reeves was at a party at his home.
At one point, his fiancée and guests were downstairs while he was in his bedroom.
Allegedly, his fiancée was telling their guests that George was depressed due to his
career decline and that he might even kill himself.
Then, a gunshot was heard and George Reeves was lying dead at the age of 45.
The official investigation ruled Reeves' death a suicide, but many people have questioned
that conclusion over the years.
Many people believe he was murdered with his fiancée being one possible suspect.
Alternatively, others have suggested that he may have been murdered by the Hollywood
executive Eddie Mannix – whose wife Toni, was George Reeves’ ex-girlfriend.
Some have suggested that he was murdered, possibly by Eddie Mannix or someone else connected
to the Hollywood power structure.
Others have speculated that Lemmon may have been involved, as she stood to gain financially
from Reeves' death.
Even then, many actors, including Alan Ladd weren’t afraid to voice their skepticism
on what actually happened that fateful night.
Despite the many theories, the truth about George Reeves' death may never be known for
sure.
The case remains a fascinating mystery that has captivated people for decades.
Reeves' legacy as the original Superman lives on, but his untimely death has cast a shadow
over his career and left many unanswered questions.
FATTY ARBUCKLE
Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was one of the most popular comedians of the silent film era in
the 1910s and early 1920s.
Yet today, except for discerning cinephiles, you might not hear his name mentioned alongside
Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton – despite the fact that he was as successful as they
were.
Fatty Arbuckle's downfall happened in the span of only one night – and it happened
at a party that he threw.
He was accused of assaulting and killing actress Virginia Rappe at the party by one of her
friends who also attended the party.
The scandal became one of the first Hollywood scandals which we’ve now all become used
to.
After several trials, he was declared innocent and acquitted of all charges.
But what the court asserts, the people still doubt.
Many people continued to believe that he was guilty, and he was blacklisted from Hollywood
for years.
He briefly made a comeback in the 1930s and focused mainly on directing.
However, this was short-lived and he simply couldn’t recreate his success.
He died in 1933 and his films haven’t really been observed or appreciated by the general
public since.
His case was an early example of how media frenzy and possible false allegations can
ruin a man’s life and career.
FRANK SINATRA
We all know that Frank Sinatra was one of the most iconic and beloved entertainers of
the 20th century and is still adored and respected today.
However, he was not immune to controversy and he had quite a lot during his life which
led to his sometimes nasty reputation.
One of the most infamous incidents was when he was involved in fight in a casino.
Frank Sinatra was known to receive special treatment in Las Vegas at many of the casinos
throughout the Strip.
Often, he got to keep $50,000 worth of gambling chips that he could keep as winnings.
However, when billionaire Howard Hughes took over the casinos in the late 1960s, this privilege
came to an end.
Frank Sinatra, naturally, wasn’t happy about this and expressed his anger – making a
public outburst in one casino.
He was so outraged that he even attacked a security guard and threw hot coffee at some
other guy.
Well, not some other guy – a notorious mobster, who retaliated by punching Frank Sinatra and
relieving him of two of his teeth – saving him a trip to the dentist it seems!
This incident was widely reported in the press at the time.
Yet, the legend that Frank Sinatra was – this didn’t harm his career one bit.
One wonders though, if today, things would be different…
CLARK GABLE
Clark Gable is one of the most legendary actors of classic Hollywood and to be blunt, one
of its most legendary Ladies Man!
It was a known fact that he would have relations with many actresses including his co-stars
and the fact that he was married at times, didn’t get in the way of his passionate
affairs.
As a result, his wild love life didn’t exactly earn him a nasty reputation.
However, something later in life would slightly tarnish his reputation.
Clark Gable was not immune to scandal and controversy, and one incident, in particular,
became the subject of rumors and speculation for years.
This incident was when he was accused of fathering Loretta Young’s daughter.
Apparently, Loretta Young and Clark Gable had an affair while filming "Call of the Wild"
in 1935.
Young became pregnant, but due to the scandalous nature of the situation, the couple decided
to keep it a secret.
Young went to Europe to give birth to their daughter, Judy Lewis and then passed her off
as an adopted child.
The story was eventually confirmed after Young's death in 2000 when Judy Lewis wrote a book
about her life.
The scandal remains a fascinating piece of Hollywood history, capturing the public's
imagination for decades.
GARY COOPER
Gary Cooper was one of the most popular leading men of the 1930s and 1940s, starring in classics
such as "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "The Pride of the Yankees," and "High Noon."
But his off-screen life was just as fascinating as his on-screen persona – except the latter
earned him a nasty reputation.
He was married to Veronica Balfe for over 30 years, but the couple's relationship was
plagued by infidelity and substance abuse.
One of his most notorious affairs was with Patricia Neal.
The affair started in the 1940s when Patricia Neal was a rising star and Gary Cooper was
already an established actor.
The relationship was passionate, but it was complicated by Gary Cooper's marriage to his
wife Veronica.
The affair ended abruptly when Patricia Neal became pregnant, and Gary Cooper ended the
relationship.
The pregnancy would have ended her career and being a single mother was frowned upon
so she terminated her pregnancy.
As one would expect, the affair continued to haunt Patricia Neal, and she struggled
with the trauma for the rest of her life.
Gary Cooper continued to be one of the most successful actors of his generation and is
revered as a legend to this day.
Are you a fan of any of these old Hollywood actors?
They were extremely talented and their work speaks for itself, but one still can’t get
away from the controversies that surrounded their lives.
Which brings up an interesting question:
Do you think that in this day and age we can still separate the artist from the art?
Or are we now going to see careers and works being dismissed due to an actor’s nasty
reputation?