Source: Mr. X via http://www.crazydaysandnights.net

She should’ve been a star, not just because she was a member of THE preeminent acting family of the last century, and spawn of the greatest actor of his generation who had one of the saddest personal and professional declines ever. She’s also a relative of the most recent successful member of that acting family.

She had a similar but much more tragic fate, which she had a ghostwriter make into a book and eventual film.

Our spawn appeared in only a handful of movies and Broadway plays but critics said she had potential before she threw it all away.

Like her famous father, she loved to drink which cost her a major Hollywood contract.

They were estranged up until the last years of his life, mainly because her mother who had several aliases and occupations, made it impossible for her to see him.

His death was probably considered the tipping point which caused her downward spiral.

Her stepbrother, whom she was really close to, was openly gay and was subjected when young to a precursor of conversion therapy which sent him off the deep end.

Interesting because their mother was bisexual.

The brother soon turned to escorting and heavy drug use and died very young of an overdose.

His sister felt the burden of guilt for not helping him.

Later on, after she could only get work in summer stock and regional theater if she remained sober enough, she turned to speed and became a full blown addict.

Several suicide attempts and psych ward stays followed The spawn was married a few times, but one husband she was glad to get rid of.

He was a professional tennis player but he had a side gig.

He pimped out his wife and several other girls to wealthy men.

Eventually he was arrested for running this prostitution ring long after the actress spawn divorced him.

Eventually, her downward spiral continued and she never really got sober and killed herself with a drug overdose before the age of 40.

Diana Barrymore

Tennis player husband: John Howard

Father: John Barrymore


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