Star-crossed Paramount starlet and dedicated alcoholic Gail Russell (1924-1961) died in her studio apartment in this nondescript building in Brentwood, CA, her body reportedly surrounded by empty whiskey bottles. The address is 1436 S. Bentley Dr.
Russell did tragically die from acute alcoholism but it was Vodka, not Whiskey. While she is ultimately responsible for her choices, as a very young starlet, she had been subjected to and coached by studio handlers, in old Hollywood style, to use a vodka “therapy” to help overcome stage fright. This directly led to her 20-year addiction and ultimately her death one year before Marilyn Monroe’s similar death, also in Brentwood.
She was a beautiful girl. What a shame she leaned so heavily on alcohol.
ReplyDeleteRussell did tragically die from acute alcoholism but it was Vodka, not Whiskey. While she is ultimately responsible for her choices, as a very young starlet, she had been subjected to and coached by studio handlers, in old Hollywood style, to use a vodka “therapy” to help overcome stage fright. This directly led to her 20-year addiction and ultimately her death one year before Marilyn Monroe’s similar death, also in Brentwood.
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