by James Parish
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Product Description
The death of a celebrity is often as fascinating as--and sometimes more fascinating than--a star's actual life. From the grisly end of Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson family and the mysterious demise of Bob Crane to the peaceful passings of Lucille Ball and George Burns, The Hollywood Book of Death is a captivating and appealingly packaged volume of more than 125 television and movie stars' final curtain calls. Arranged in an encyclopedic approach by manner of death, these well-researched accounts include details of celebrities' colorful lives and unusual deaths, their funerals, and the intriguing aftermath. With more than 100 rare photographs and a special "necrology" index of more than 6,000 stars and directors, along with a section revealing where Hollywood personalities are resting in eternal sleep, this enthralling reference promises to be on every film and television buff's "Top 10" gift list.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Inaccurate and Pointless, 2009-01-05
While my expertise is silent film, anyone can look through the various reviews here on Amazon and find several inaccuracies about several stars...from what roles they did to how they died to where their buried!!! Considering thats the point of this book it doesnt seem worth the money.
To add my own known inaccuracy in the Valentino chapter June Mathis is mentioned as dying in a fire. WHERE the author got this I have no clue...she may not be heavily remembered but every and any simple source out there on here says she died of a heart attack while watching a Broadway play. Did he just start making stuff up instead of googling? Waste of time...
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 It;s ok!, 2008-05-23
Not what i thought it would be. Describes the stars life more than the deaths.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Well written, great insight, and a feast for trivia fans, 2008-05-06
If you are the type of person who shares an interest in the movies and television with a love of reading, and has a certain curiosity, you will find this book to be both appealing and addictive. Once you start skipping through its pages you'll likely find it difficult to put down, at least for any length of time.
Don't be deceived by the title, though: it is much more about life and living than it is about death. But death sells and life doesn't. In any case, the book recounts the lives and deaths of many of Hollywood's well-known and lesser stars, both long-past and fairly recent; concentrating most heavily on their lives, successes, failures, fears, anxieties, and failings. But, as the title implies, each brief life story ends with a star's death; some accidental, others alcohol or drug related, some in obscurity, others murdered, by natural causes, simply puzzling, or by suicide. If you're a movie fan, and especially if you're a trivia fan, you can't help but be captivated.
Besides being interesting, however, these stories also tell us a bit about human nature. For many of these stars, who appeared to be on top of the world, with everything to live for, somehow felt that they were unworthy or had nothing and that nothing was of any value. Others felt threatened or overwhelmed, especially when they aged, or felt their sex appeal, fame, adulation, or simply their livelihood slipping away.
Best of all, however, besides telling its stories, this book is also a feast for trivia fans. Where else can you learn such obscure facts as these: that Florence Lawrence was the first actor named in a film and the first movie actor whose name was known by the public; that a placard placed at John Belushi's graveside reads, "He could have given us a lot more laughs, but noooooo."; that before dying penniless and alone, child actor Bobby Driscoll said of himself, "I was carried on a satin cushion and then dropped into the garbage can."; that when the not so sophisticated "It Girl," Clara Bow, was asked what "It" was," she replied, "I ain't real sure."; that Lou Costello's last words were, "That's the best ice cream soda I ever tasted."; that Greta Garbo didn't really "want to be alone," she simply wanted to be left alone; that, just before he died, Edmund Gwenn, Santa Clause in "Miracle on 34th Street", when told "It's awfully tough, isn't it?" replied, "Yes, it's tough, but not as tough as doing comedy."; that Elvis Presley's will requested that his funeral procession include 16 white Cadillacs and one white hound dog; that the supposed great movie lover, Charles Boyer, committed suicide two days after his wife of 44 years died of cancer; that the famous "Hollywood" sign was erected to promote a real estate development and originally read "Hollywoodland"; or, finally, that Herv'e Villechaize of "De plane! De plane!" fame was the youngest artist ever to have a painting hung in the prestigious Museum of Paris?
If those don't peak your interest and get your trivia juices flowing nothing will. Enjoy! Five stars.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Great Book, 2007-08-23
This is a great book. Anyone interested in the seedy history of Hollywood stars will definitely enjoy this book.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent book, 2007-01-11
Very Good book, well written.
I for some reason have a morbid fascination into hollywood deaths and this book definately satisfies my curiosity.
Highly recommend
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