STAR DEATHS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY

As a teenager I was obsessed with the books of Richard Lamparski “Whatever Became Of…?” and Kenneth Anger’s “Hollywood Babylon”.  Both books made me hunt down and write for autographs from people I’d have never known – and to later collect or buy them.  Richard’s books were mostly sunshine and lollipops with 2 pages of sweetness and light and “then and now” pictures of faded stars.  Anger’s book, however, was SHOCKING! I will never forget the death scene photos inside, the unsolved murders, the pre-TMZ speculation and sometimes outright unfounded gossip.  In 2026, the fascination around Hollywood deaths – especially those that are a bit murky - has outlived Kenneth Anger.  Did you want to add anything here, Harvey?

The cause of death for this next batch of celebrities may all be clearly documented, but WHO WAS INVOLVED has never been 100% settled.

NATALIE WOOD – “SUSPICIOUS DEATH”

(1938-1981) Age: 43 – Cause of Death: Drowning and other undetermined factors

Way too much to discuss – I’ll fill in later with sister Lana, co-stars, husband, etc.

NATALIE WOOD AUTOGRAPHS

I have two Natalie Wood autographs in my collection.  One is in blue pen on a vintage magazine page which really matches traits of her authentic signature.  The other is an 8x10 that ALSO matches some traits of Natalie’s authentic autograph… BUT … you will note that the lines are clean, readable and a bit hesitant and forced.  I say fake.

BOB CRANE – “SEX FILMER BLUDGEONED WITH A CAMERA TRIPOD”

(1928-1978) Age: 49 – Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma

Hogan was a bit of a sex freak.  Not a bad thing, in general, per se.  But the end results of such play were no bueno.  I’ll fill in more later.

BOB CRANE AUTOGRAPH

Authentic Bob Crane autographs are super-rare – but unfortunately, I don’t think mine is.  The 8x10 photo that I have, beautifully signed and inscribed, including “Best Wishes from Hogan” matches the studio secretarial photos that were sent during the height of his popularity.  His authentic signatures usually don’t have such a florid B and he usually included the O within his B.  Plus the neatly written inscription is just an obvious secretarial tell.

DOROTHY KILGALLEN – “DID THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST KNOW TOO MUCH?”

(1913-1965) Age: 52 – Cause of Death: Acute ethanol and barbiturate intoxication (overdose)

Here’s an account of WHY her death is still a mystery.

“The official ruling of an accidental overdose has been heavily challenged by historians, biographers, and investigative journalists for decades, and the sheer number of red flags surrounding the morning of November 8, 1965, makes it one of the most compelling mysteries of that era.

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The Staged Scene: When her body was discovered in her Manhattan townhouse, the scene looked completely unnatural to those who knew her well:

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The Wardrobe: She was found in a bed she rarely slept in, wearing a formal peignoir, full makeup, false eyelashes, and a hairpiece. Her close friends and her hairdresser noted that she always meticulously removed her makeup and hairpieces before going to sleep.  

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The Reading Material: A book was propped on her lap, but it was upside down, and she was wearing her reading glasses—yet the bedroom was completely dark.

​The JFK File and the "Mystery Man" - ​Kilgallen wasn't just a gossip columnist; she was a phenomenal, relentless investigative reporter. She was the only journalist to secure a private, one-on-one interview with Jack Ruby during his trial, and she openly mocked the Warren Commission’s "lone gunman" theory in her syndicated columns.  

​She had been actively working on a book that she told close associates would "blow the JFK assassination case wide open."  

​The night before she died, she met with an unidentified "mystery man" at the Regency Hotel.  

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Immediately after her death, the thick, heavily guarded accordion file containing all her notes, Dallas interviews, and JFK investigation materials vanished from her home and has never been found.

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The Autopsy Anomaly: ​While the public often remembers it as a straightforward overdose, the medical examiner actually listed the cause of death as "Acute Ethanol and Barbiturate Intoxication — Circumstances Undetermined." Toxicology reports later revealed that she had a combination of three different fast-acting barbiturates in her system, including Tuinal—a powerful sedative she did not have a prescription for and was not known to use.”

DOROTHY KILGALLEN AUTOGRAPH

​The autographed check for $1.06 and note that you see here have a great backstory. The check was made to Robert Graham Wahn, a well-known Warner Brothers publicist in New York City, who frequently chaperoned and assisted major stars of the 1940s and 1950s.  (Would that mean he was a “society walker”?)

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The note was an inside joke or a playful thank-you gesture. It accompanied a 1957 check for just $1.06 that Kilgallen wrote to Wahn. Her message” Better than the Chase National Bank, n'est ce pas?"—was a highly sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek joke, teasing him that her tiny, one-dollar check was a much better payout than dealing with Chase.

GEORGE REEVES – “SUPERMAN’S SUSPICIOUS SUICIDE?”

(1914-1959) Age: 45 – Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the head

Speculation, theories and much suspicion around the death of TV Superman.  Ben Affleck played him in “Hollywoodland” and they left the death very ambiguous.  Suicide was the official police ruling, but ….

GEORGE REEVES AUTOGRAPH

This autograph of George Reeves from a vintage autograph album had been put aside by me for a long time as equally suspicious as his death.  To forge or not to forge … hmmm.  Studying more deeply against other in-person, quickly signed George Reeve autographs leads me to believe this is leaning towards authentic.  No hesitations, his tells of the G and the quickly jotted “eeves” that looks like “eees” followed by a backstroke underscore.  I think yes; it matches.

SAL MINEO – “WAS HIS KILLER A FALL GUY?”

(1939-1976) Age: 43 – Cause of Death: Stab wound to the heart

A gay guy gets stabbed and killed and the killer can’t be found.  One year later, a black guy arrested for cashing bad checks supposedly confessed while incarcerated and gets convicted of Sal’s murder.  Lionel Ray Williams the alleged murderer, is still alive as of 2026 and has been proclaiming his innocence for years – he even did a documentary called “Unseen Innocence”.  Two of the “marginalized” members of society – especially in the 70’s - conveniently swept under the rug in order to close a case?

SAL MINEO HIT THE TOP 40 TWICE!

It was pretty typical for anyone cute in the movies or TV to have an LP or some singles released to capitalize on their looks and fame.  Sal had two top 40 hits; neither of which are on this album.  They were both released as singles only. 

This one hit #9 and has a nice video montage of Sal:

OR …. You can watch him perform on Shindig! in 1965 (7 years after his LP) He’s performing his 1965 single “Girl Across the Way” … but it got no chart action.

SAL MINEO AUTOGRAPH

This one’s super-rare with great provenance.  A gorgeous 8x10 dedicated and autographed by Sal accompanied by a note on the backing cardboard from the wife of Sal’s agent who got this photo signed for the recipient.  It’s gorgeous!

AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION

I really didn’t know what this was until it was brought up in the news when Michael Hutchence had hung himself and was found naked.  Although the coroner ruled it a suicide, his girlfriend at the time, Paula Yates, said it was auto-erotic asphyxiation.  These next two deaths were both technically classified as auto-erotic asphyxiation, but the CIRCUMSTANCES around both David Carradine and Albert Dekker continue to be unresolved.

DAVID CARRADINE BODY IN A BANGKOK CLOSET !?!

(1936-2009) Age: 72 – Cause of Death: Accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation

David’s body was found hanging in a hotel closet in Bangkok.  So many questions.  And because it was in Thailand, they had no qualms releasing the autopsy photos.  Google at your own risk.

DAVID CARRADINE AUTOGRAPHS

There are three David Carradine autographs in my collection.  One 10x8 with him and his brothers, signed at a convention.  An index card that bears his in-person signature along with the ying/yang symbol.  And an outright forgery so you know what to avoid.  The D is wrong/overexaggerated; David Carradine is too neatly spelled out and there’s no large upswing where the R’s usually are.

ALBERT DEKKER MOST BIZARRE DEATH SCENE

(1905-1968) Age: 62 – Cause of Death: Accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation

The death of Albert Dekker as described in Hollywood Babylon just blew my mind. I had zero concept of kink! Can you imagine his fiancée finding him after not hearing from him for a few days.  His handcuffed body was hanging from the shower rod in his bathtub, dressed in women’s lingerie, bound with an intricate series of ropes and knots, explicit words and drawings were written all over his body in red lipstick and a hypodermic needle was found in his arm.  Clearly in 1968, this was an open and closed case, because why would the police try to track down somebody who did this?  The times would dictate the whole situation too sordid to merit a deep dive to find the real culprit.  I mean … handcuffed and hanging with money and camera equipment missing??? Damn. 

ALBERT DEKKER VINTAGE AUTOGRAPH

I have a fantastic vintage 8x10 of Albert Dekker (circa early 50’s) signed “To Hank – For the Wall – In Friendship – Albert Dekker”.  I’m assuming it’s the owner, Matre’d or manager of a restaurant or hot spot that had signed celebrity photos on the wall.  Pretty rare.  I’m glad to have this one!

MARY MILES MINTER MURDER MYSTERY!

P.S. The Holy Grail from “Hollywood Babylon” was when I tracked down Mary Miles Minter, called her on the phone and after much wrangling I was able to get an autographed photo and TWO handwritten letters full of Sturm and Drang.  The murder of her director and (lover? nah), William Desmond Taylor, is STILL an unsolved mystery.  I’ll write more about her later and share the autographs and stories about her neighbor, Don Bachardy, as well.  In the meantime, here’s the video on how I got her to sign for me – AND the details of her will.  Excuse the initial brief blurriness, but trust, it gets back in focus and it’s a good story!