Biographer refutes Drew Barrymore confirmation of grandfather's stolen body tale
Fox News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- John Barrymore’s biographer Terry Chester Shulman debunked the rumor that Barrymore’s body was stolen from the morgue by friends in 1942 for one last party, citing conflicting accounts from those involved and evidence the body was at a different funeral home.
- Despite Barrymore’s struggles with alcoholism and personal issues, including destructive marriages and childhood trauma, he was a transformative figure in theater and film, credited with reviving serious drama and modernizing Shakespearean performance.
- Barrymore’s troubled personal life affected his relationships with his children, including Drew Barrymore’s father, but Drew has helped maintain and soften the family’s legacy in contemporary culture.
- The biography "Barrymore: The Spectacular, Tumultuous Life of America's Prince of Players" by Shulman will be released on July 21, offering a detailed account of Barrymore’s life and career.
