Scandalous romances were a fiber of the Hollywood tapestry for the reason that silent generation. Few, on the other hand, approached the extent of jaw-dropping habits because the torrid affair between actors Barbara Payton and Tom Neal within the early Fifties. In the end, a potent cocktail of infidelity, attack, alcoholism, and homicide ended their careers and led to a sad downfall.
A former style, brassy blonde Payton made her display debut within the 1949 noir “Trapped.” She specialised in femme fatales, maximum particularly reverse Marcel Cagney in 1950’s “Kiss The next day Good-bye,” however via the next 12 months, she was once starring in B-grade fare like “Bride of the Gorilla.” Throughout this era, Payton dated Tom Neal, an actor whose best-known function was once the doom-laden noir “Detour.” Alternatively, she bring to a halt the connection after changing into engaged to actor Franchot Tone.
In 1951, Neal despatched Tone to the sanatorium after a savage beating. Payton and Tone nonetheless were given married, however she left him 53 days later for Neal, which successfully killed their Hollywood careers. After their split-up in 1953, Payton descended into alcoholism, drug habit, and arrests for take a look at fraud and prostitution, a lot of which was once detailed in her ghost-written 1963 autobiography “I Am Now not Ashamed.” She died of center and liver failure on the age of 39 on Might 8, 1967.
Neal moved to Palm Springs and ran a landscaping industry, however could not appear to keep away from bother. He was once convicted within the taking pictures demise of his spouse, Gail Bennett, in 1965. Despite the fact that he claimed it was once an twist of fate, Neal served six years in jail for the crime sooner than his parole in 1971. Three hundred and sixty five days later, he was once lifeless of a center assault on the age of 58.
For those who or any person you realize wishes lend a hand with habit problems, lend a hand is to be had. Talk over with the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Products and services Management site or touch SAMHSA’s Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
