It’s truly heartbreaking to learn about the struggles and hardships that these remarkable individuals faced behind the scenes. Their courage and resilience are truly inspiring.
It’s no different for celebrities than it is for everyone else; they too harbor secrets. Some of these secrets are positive, such as undisclosed talents that played significant roles in their movies. However, there are also secrets they’d prefer to keep hidden from the public eye, like scandalous rumors that turned out to be true. In some instances, these secrets can be heart-wrenching: Diagnosed illnesses, career-threatening personal information, children born from infidelity, and details uncovered in autopsy reports.
With the exception of the latter, these things are often revealed during their lifetimes, and at inopportune times, which require damage control for their reputations. For actors, these scandals tend to overshadow the movies they’re promoting. For others, the tragedies are brought to light after their deaths, either through medical reports, family statements, or posthumously published tell-all books. Following is a list of celebrities whose tragic secrets we only found out after they died.
Gene Wilder hid his Alzheimer’s diagnosis for a touching reason
Fans and actors alike grieved the demise of Gene Wilder at the age of 83 on August 29, 2016. This two-time Oscar nominee was a pivotal figure in numerous cherished films, such as “Young Frankenstein,” “Blazing Saddles,” and “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” For many admirers, his death felt like losing someone dear. The sadness might have been intensified when Wilder’s family disclosed that he had succumbed to Alzheimer’s complications, a condition he had been diagnosed with three years before his passing. Alzheimer’s is a disease that leads to progressive memory loss, emotional ups and downs, and behavioral changes, ultimately leading to death.
NPR reported that Jordan Walker-Pearlman stated the family chose to keep Gene Wilder’s health condition private primarily because they didn’t want younger fans to be troubled or confused by hearing about his illness. They wanted to protect the innocent joy of children who recognized him as Willy Wonka, and prevent their delight from turning into worry or sadness. In other words, Mr. Wilder didn’t want even one less smile in the world to be spoiled by such news.
David Carradine’s scandalous death may not have been a suicide
Back in 2003 and 2004, stepping into the role of the super-assassin Bill in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” felt like a fresh start for me as an actor. After spending years working on low-budget films following my fame from the ’70s series “Kung Fu,” the Tarantino movies brought me a Golden Globe nomination and a shot at rejoining the big-league productions. However, that potential was tragically cut short five years after the release of “Kill Bill Volume 2” when I was discovered deceased in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 4, 2009.
Information about the circumstances surrounding Carradine’s demise became gradually clear. As reported by ABC News, the 72-year-old actor was discovered in a wardrobe, naked and bound up in a way that led Thai police to propose he may have died due to auto-erotic asphyxiation – a practice involving intentionally limiting oxygen flow to intensify sexual gratification. A photograph of Carradine’s body, adorned with fishnet stockings and a woman’s wig, subsequently surfaced in a Thai tabloid. Later on, Carradine’s family opted for a private autopsy, which revealed that the actor succumbed to asphyxiation; however, it remained undetermined if his death was accidental or a result of foul play. No further information seems to have been disclosed since the 2009 investigation.
Glee’s Mark Salling may have attempted to take his own life before his death
Mark Salling swiftly rose to fame with his leading role on the hit Fox comedy-musical series “Glee,” but his life took a tragic turn following his 2015 arrest for child pornography possession. He admitted guilt in 2017 and was anticipating sentencing in 2018, which could have resulted in a prison term of four to seven years. However, the hearing never occurred; instead, Salling took his own life at the age of 35 on January 30, 2018.
Unfortunately, the March 2018 report revealed two previously unshared facts: When he passed away, Salling’s blood alcohol level was found to be between 0.08% and 0.096%, slightly exceeding California’s legal driving limit. Additionally, the report disclosed that Salling had attempted suicide in August 2017 and spent a month in the hospital following this unfortunate event.
Loretta Young kept her child by Clark Gable a secret for decades
Many well-known personalities have come clean (usually only when pressured) about fathering children outside their marriages; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eddie Murphy, Clint Eastwood, and most recently, Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters are some of them. Nevertheless, a gossip among Hollywood elite regarding an illegitimate child remained unverified until after both of the involved celebrities had died. The child at the heart of this story was Judy Lewis, conceived by Golden Age icons Clark Gable and Loretta Young.
In her authorized biography titled “Forever Young,” published three months following her death in 2000, the actress revealed that she had conceived a child with Gable during their affair after wrapping up a 1935 film adaptation of “The Call of the Wild.” Being a devout Catholic, she chose to seclude herself and give birth to her daughter, whom she later claimed was adopted. She kept the truth about her daughter’s birth hidden from the public until 1966. Furthermore, it seems that Young harbored another secret regarding her relationship with Gable until close to her death: her daughter-in-law, Linda Lewis, stated that Young implied their intimacy was non-consensual.
Elvis Presley was millions of dollars in debt to the IRS when he died
Even after passing away over four decades ago, Elvis Presley, a trailblazer in rock and roll, still generates a remarkable income. His earnings from music sales and licensed products have swelled his estate’s value to around $100 million – an impressive sum when considering his net worth at the time of his death was only $5 million. Upon his death in 1977, Presley’s wealth was reportedly affected by expenses related to maintaining Graceland and issues with record labels and personnel.
In 1981, the report from the Internal Revenue Service revealed that the Presley estate owed around $14 million in overdue taxes, which significantly impacted their wealth. However, they managed to offset some of this loss by licensing Presley’s name and image. By 1989, the estate was valued at over $75 million. Despite this progress, tax complications persisted for Presley’s relatives in later years. Lisa Marie Presley allegedly owed the IRS approximately $1.8 million at the time of her death in 2023, while Riley Keough faced her own tax issues; California filed a lien against her due to unpaid taxes exceeding $68,000 in the same year.
Mickey Rooney cut his children out of his will
As a household name in Tinseltown, I, much like Mickey Rooney, reigned supreme during Hollywood’s Golden Age, pocketing top earnings from 1939 to 1941, and even snagging the coveted spot as the highest box office draw. To add to my accolades, I was bestowed with a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1938 – one of six nominations and two wins. Fast forward through seven more decades, and you’d find me sharing the silver screen with the Muppets and battling dinosaurs in Night at the Museum. Unfortunately, despite my illustrious career, many were left stunned when they learned that my estate was valued at a mere $18,000 upon my passing in 2014, and that I had chosen to exclude my biological children and estranged spouse from my will.
In April 2014, a court document filed in Los Angeles revealed that Rooney disowned his eight living children (one, Mickey Rooney Jr., passed away in 2022) and his eighth spouse, Jan Chamberlin, whom he separated from in 2012, in his will. Lawyer Michael Augustine explained that the estate’s devaluation was partly caused by financial misconduct on the part of a stepson of Rooney’s. However, some of the earnings would be given to another stepson, Mark Aber, who had been taking care of the actor during his last years. Despite objections from several of Rooney’s biological children, they halted their legal challenges in August 2015.
Rock Hudson had a secret life off-camera
Standing tall, exuding self-assurance, and boasting an attractive charm, Rock Hudson was frequently cast as the lead in romantic films and comedies for more than three decades within the Hollywood film industry. His on-screen co-stars included some of the most iconic performers such as Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Andrews, Claudia Cardinale, and Doris Day. However, behind the scenes, Hudson led a life that was vastly different from his public persona. Yet, in 1985, a diagnosis of AIDS brought to light a side of Hudson’s life he had strived to keep concealed throughout his lifetime.
Back in the days when it took guts for a public figure to admit their sexuality without facing backlash, I, as a closeted star, found myself grappling with my true identity. My personal life remained hidden, even amidst the swirl of books and media coverage about me. However, years after my passing on October 2, 1985, the documentary “Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed” shed light on my secret life. It was revealed that I had many partners during my peak in the 50s and 60s, yet I worked tirelessly to keep my private affairs under wraps. If given a chance, I would have preferred to stay hidden, according to the film’s director, Stephen Kijak, as he spoke to The Guardian.
Raquel Welch’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis was kept private until after her death
On February 15, 2023, at the age of 82, the renowned actress Raquel Welch passed away following a brief illness, as confirmed by her representative, Steve Sauer, to Entertainment Tonight. Later in the same year, ET acquired Welch’s death certificate, which listed cardiac arrest as the primary cause of death. However, an additional, previously undisclosed health issue was unveiled in the medical examiner’s report.
TMZ was the one who first released the death certificate of actress Mary Welch, revealing Alzheimer’s disease as a significant factor in her demise. The document also disclosed that she had been battling this condition for quite some time. Notably, despite her illness, Welch continued to act, appearing on the Canadian TV sitcom “Date My Dad” until 2017 and sharing screen space with Eugenio Derbez in the comedy film “How to Be a Latin Lover.” Neither Welch’s representatives nor her family have spoken publicly about this news since the release of the death certificate.
Paul Reubens battled cancer in secret for six years
Paul Reubens became beloved to many for his iconic character, Pee-wee Herman, which he played in various projects over the years. His initial film debut, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” and the popular TV series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” were particularly cherished by audiences who appreciated his humorous, unconventional style. Reubens brought Pee-wee back to life in 2009 for a successful stage production and again in 2015 for the movie “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.” Fans eagerly anticipated more Pee-wee content, but their dreams were sadly shattered when Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70. His death was due to acute hypoxic respiratory failure, with underlying causes being acute myelogenous leukemia and metastatic lung cancer.
In a statement following his death, Reubens shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer six years earlier but chose not to disclose this information to the public out of concern for them. He expressed regret for his silence and wrote, “I’m sorry I didn’t share my struggles with everyone sooner, but I wanted to shield you from the news.” He went on to express his love and gratitude towards his friends, fans, and supporters, stating that he had cherished creating art for them.
Alan Rickman’s posthumous diaries revealed he also dealt with prostate cancer
Throughout his extensive acting career, the characters portrayed by Alan Rickman were rarely at a loss for sharp dialogue: from Hans Gruber in “Die Hard,” to Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” series, and Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus in “Galaxy Quest.” These roles consistently delivered biting insults or subtle but intimidating threats on screen. In his private life, however, Rickman was known for being discreet, frequently jotting down his thoughts and observations in personal diaries.
In 2022, when Alan Rickman’s diaries were released under the title “Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman”, it became clear to many fans that they had been unaware of a significant battle he faced throughout his life. During this time, Rickman was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005 and underwent surgery to have his prostate removed the following year, which happened concurrently with filming for “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” He contemplated quitting the role, but ultimately chose to continue playing Snape, reasoning that he should persist because it was his story. After experiencing a stroke in 2015, Rickman was subsequently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which eventually led to his passing on January 14, 2016.
Nicholas Tucci kept working despite his cancer diagnosis
In a short span of time, actor Nicholas Tucci accumulated an impressive body of work across films, TV shows, and various other projects. These roles included fan-favorites like “You’re Next,” guest appearances on “Daredevil,” “Ramy,” “Pose,” “The Blacklist,” and his voice acting in “Wolfenstein: The New Order” between 2006 and 2023. His busy schedule suggested a breakout role was just around the corner, but unfortunately, Tucci passed away from cancer at the age of 38 on March 3, 2020.
In a Facebook post, Nick Tucci’s father, Alexander, shared why they decided to keep his illness hidden from the public until after his demise. He wrote that Nick wanted to maintain privacy so he could chase his professional and artistic aspirations for as long as possible. In the last year of his life, Nicholas was able to attend auditions, travel for work, and continue doing what he loved most. Alexander Tucci also expressed gratitude towards the entertainment industry and fans for their unwavering support. He concluded by saying, “To all, thank you for being a friend to my son.” The last film role credited to Nicholas Tucci was in the 2023 indie movie titled “Ballad of a Hustler.
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2024-11-09 20:30