Denise Imwold

As Hollywood scandal compendiums go, this is a pretty decent one. Short entries on topics that anyone who has read John Gilmore already know, but for the Hollywood death trip, beginner, this is a good place to start. Lots of pictures. It's a shallow but wide pond. So, you know, if your mom is way interested in finding out whatever happened to Diana Dorrs or Mario Lanza, get her this book.

A few of the people in this book had happy lives. They're included in this book because of a bizarre or unexpected death, but most of the famous, near-famous or never-was actors in this book are there for the unhappiness or bad decisions that ultimately lead to their death. There are the famous stars like Monroe, many character actors you'd recognize and many more who lived on the fringe of Hollywood.