It could never had made it as a story on Alias
Smith & Jones. The plot was too bizarre and there was
nothing funny to soften the grisly horror.
It could never had made it as a story on Alias
Smith & Jones. The plot was too bizarre and there was
nothing funny to soften the grisly horror.
Prominent Hollywood actor Pete Duel, only 31-years-old but apparently despondent over a drinking problem he couldn't solve, watched a segment of his TV series with his girlfriend Diane Ray the night before New Year's Eve. The program depressed him even more, and the basketball game they watched together later didn't cheer him up.
Diane, who had spent the evening in what she thought was comfortable companionship with Pete, finally got sleepy and put herself to bed in the extra bedroom of his Hollywood Hills home. [CJC's Note: Remember, this is a 1972 publication.]
Sometime later in the darkness she heard Pete come into the room. He quietly took a pistol from a drawer, but seeing she was still awake, said "I'll see you later," and walked back out the door.
Dozing a bit, Diane was suddenly startled by the sound of a shot. As she ran into the livingroom the horror and shock poured over her in waves.
There he was...this promising young star
with everything to live for...lying nude under the Christmas tree...with
a bullet through his brain.
(Next month RBH will
have a complete report on Pete Duel's tragic death, plus the last
photos of this troubled star taken at home.)
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