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…
I Returned from My Honeymoon & Found a Huge Black Box in My Hallway — The Shocking Truth Inside Shattered My World
Wow, what a gripping story! The unexpected twist with the stuffed bear revealing Chris’s hidden past and Lori’s disbelief when she learns the truth make for such a haunting plot. The idea of the innocent teddy bear carrying such devastating information is powerful—it turns a seemingly comforting symbol into something dark and unsettling.
This story really raises the question of trust and how much of our partners’ pasts we need to know. It shows that marriage isn’t just about love but also about transparency, especially when secrets from the past hold the potential to unravel everything. Lori’s decision to stand firm despite her heartbreak is powerful, as it speaks to self-respect and personal boundaries, even in marriage.
I’m curious—do you see this story as a standalone, or are you thinking about adding more to Lori’s journey after her decision to leave?
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