The case of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Harakawa, found lifeless in their villa in Santa Fe in mysterious circumstances is not isolated. Hollywood, the dream factory, has always hidden a dark side made of scandals, mysterious deaths and tragic destinies. This less patinated side in the history of cinema is told in Hollywood: death and mysteries of the stars (Emmebi Edizioni Firenze), a volume that collects seventy emblematic cases of actors and musicians who have crossed the big screen and who died in dramatic circumstances.
The author, Carmine Aymone, a journalist with thirty years of experience in the sector, has reconstructed a series of dark and disturbing events, from Marilyn Monroe to Heath Ledger, from James Dean to Fred Buscaglione, passing through iconic figures such as Superman George Reeves and Christopher Reeve. Among the most famous cases, that of Elizabeth Ann Short, known as the “Dalia Nera”, whose brutal murder still echoes today in the noir of Hollywood.
The book also explores the tragic fate of Sharon Tate, the victim of the “Manson Family”, and that of John Belushi, the Blues Brother who died from overdose. We then move on to stories such as that of Liliana Castagnola, who took life for the love of Totò, or of the king of porn cinema John Holmes, whose existence was marked by drugs and violence. The volume also deepens the mystery of Brandon Lee, who died on the set de The crowand the tragedies that hit Marlon Brando’s family.
Not only actors: also music star like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, John Lennon and Whitney Houston find space between the pages of Aymone, highlighting the thin border between success and tragedy. Some of the most disturbing stories concern the so -called “cursed films”, such as Burn youthwho saw the premature disappearance of all its protagonists: James Dean who died in a car accident before the release of the film, Assassinated Salo Mineo, Nick Adams found lifeless and Natalie Wood drowned in circumstances never clarified.
Among the cases treated, the volume also faces the so -called “Superman curse”, a series of tragedies that hit the actors who played the iconic superhero. George Reeves, the first superman of the small screen, was found dead with a gunshot in the head in 1959 in controversial circumstances. Christopher Reeve, the unforgettable protagonist of the films of the 70s and 80s, was paralyzed following an accident on horseback in 1995 and died in 2004 from complications related to his health conditions.
The Disney universe also had its dark side, with the case of Bobby Driscoltl, a child prodigy and original voice of Peter Pan, who ended up dying forgotten in a house abandoned at just 31 years. Another disturbing episode concerns the tragic end of Paul Walker, known for the saga Fast and Furiousdied in a car accident in 2013 while he was aboard a Porsche Carrera Gt together with his friend and partner Roger Rodas.
Through historical sources and testimonies, the book brings to light often skilled stories, telling of scandals, blackmail, conspiracies, sex, drugs and alcohol. It is not only a journey on the darkest side of fame, but also a reflection on the fragility of those who live in the spotlight, where the dream can easily turn into nightmare. The role of the media and gossip is also analyzed in perpetuating myths and speculations, helping to create legends that sometimes overlap with reality.
Aymone, an expert in music and pop culture, is known for its in -depth research on the history of rock and jazz, with important collaborations for newspapers such as Corriere del Mezzogiorno And Printing. In this volume, his pen moves precisely between news and legend, restoring a raw and fascinating portrait of the showbiz.
Hollywood: death and mysteries of the stars It is not only a black news book, but a survey on the price of celebrity, where myth and reality intertwine in a compelling and disturbing narrative. With a careful and documented approach, the author manages to offer an overall vision of the lesser known Hollywood, made of extinguished hopes and successes that turn into curses. A book that throws new light on a golden world that hides, behind its brilliant surface, a long tragedy of tragedies and unsolved mysteries.
