The Tragic Event That Shaped Their Lives
In her revealing autobiography, “Detour: A Hollywood Story,” Cheryl Crane, daughter of renowned actress Lana Turner, opens up about the tragedy that continues to haunt their lives.
Referring to it as “the paragraph,” Crane recounts the fateful day on April 4, 1958, when she, at just 14 years old, took the life of her mother’s abusive boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato.
This incident, which grabbed headlines due to Stompanato’s connection to gangster Mickey Cohen, became a media frenzy.
However, Crane’s memoir delves deeper than the infamous event, showcasing her remarkable honesty and capacity for forgiveness.
Alongside her writing achievements, including co-authoring the celebratory book “LANA: The Memories, the Myth, the Movies” in 2008, Crane provides a unique perspective on her life as both a Hollywood princess and a misunderstood killer.
While Crane doesn’t shy away from portraying Turner, the glamorous star known for her roles in films like “Ziegfeld Girl,” “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” and “Imitation of Life,” in an unflattering light, her tone differs from the bitter memoirs often seen from other celebrities’ children.
She writes, “Mother was never intentionally cruel to anyone,” although there were moments where it may have seemed that way to her.
Turner’s own autobiography, “Lana: The Lady, the Legend, The Truth,” published in 1982, supports Crane’s sentiment.
In this highly engaging and carefully crafted account, Turner shares details of her seven tumultuous marriages, heartbreaking miscarriages, and impulsive decisions.
Throughout her storytelling, the actress, who passed away in 1995, comes across as innately kind-hearted but easily swayed by the allure of the Hollywood star system.
However, it is Crane who emerges as the true hero of the story, refusing to let “the paragraph” define her life.
Turner proudly writes of her daughter’s journey, stating, “It’s been a long, hard journey for her, but she’s made it—made me proud, too, to be her mother.”
The Origins of a Hollywood Icon
Julia Jean Turner was born on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho.
In “Lana: The Lady, the Legend, The Truth,” Turner candidly reflects on her challenging and unstable childhood, suggesting that the tragic murder of her charismatic gambler father, Virgil, in 1930 may have influenced her numerous obsessive love affairs.
Turner’s mother, Mildred, a hairdresser, struggled to raise her daughter but eventually had to place her in an abusive foster family due to financial difficulties.
Although Mildred promptly removed Lana from that environment upon discovering the abuse (which sadly became somewhat of a recurring theme in the Turner family), the damage had already been done.
In 1936, the pair embarked on a journey to Depression-era Los Angeles, determined to establish themselves as refined ladies.
Turner recalls their dedication to etiquette, pouring over books by Emily Post and devouring every page of Vogue magazine.
It was during this time that Lana, then known as Julia, was spotted by Billy Wilkerson, the notorious founder of The Hollywood Reporter, while enjoying a Coke with friends at the Top Hat Café.
The Birth of a s** Symbol
Shortly after catching Wilkerson’s attention, Turner landed a role in the 1937 film “They Won’t Forget” as a seductive murder victim, strutting down the street in a tight sweater
