She was a failure as a Broadway actress and television hostess; she battled breast cancer and the devastation of committing her mentally disabled son to a sanitarium. But Jacqueline Susann had a story burning inside of her that only she could tell, and her seamy, sordid expose of Hollywood pill-poppers made Valley of the Dolls (1966) the most-read book on the planet. Despite universally sneering reviews, the public adored Jackie's romans a clef -- she managed a hat trick when The Love Machine (1969) and Once is Not Enough (1973) both soared to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
JACKIE & JUDY
JACKIE WITH PATTY DUKE & LEE GRANT ON THE SET OF VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967)
The second-most-famous Jackie in the world succumbed to cancer in 1974; she was only 56 years old.
JACQUELINE SUSANN
(August 20, 1918 - September 21, 1974)
Truman Capote said she looked like a "truck driver in drag".
ReplyDeleteAnd Gore Vidal sniped, "She doesn't writes; she types!" But Rex Reed loved her...
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