"Too Much, Too Soon" was the story of Diana's life, and the title of her autobiography. Her father was stage and screen legend John Barrymore; and her mother was Blanche Oelrichs (who wrote under the masculine pseudonym Michael Strange), who had just divorced Mr. Thomas and had 2 children (Leonard and Robin) from that marriage. Diana's parents got...
March 3, 1921, New York City, New York, United States
Died
January 25, 1960, New York City, New York, United States
Place Of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Profession
Actress, Writer
Parents
John Barrymore, Blanche Oelrichs
Siblings
John Drew Barrymore, Dolores Ethel Mae Barrymore, Barbette Tweed, Leonard M. Thomas Jr., Robin May Thomas
Star Sign
Pisces
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Quote
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On the "Barrymore Legacy": "Damn them for giving me nothing and taking it away before I had it! Damn mother for her grandness and her indifference and her disdain of me, and damn daddy for the crazy, mixed-up life he led and the daughter he never gave a damn for, and damn uncle Lionel for treating me like the boarding-school bitch I am, and damn aunt Ethel who doesn't even know I'm alive, and damn me for being a silly, arrogant, affected schoolgirl! God damn us all! We deserve everything we get!"
Her second husband was John R. Howard, a one-time top professional tennis player. The marriage quickly flared out of control in drunken fights and jail sentences. Split up within months, it took her three years to rid herself of the man who sponged off of her. He later was convicted on a charge of violating the Mann Act and participating in white slavery.
Aunt of actress Drew Barrymore, John Blyth Barrymore, Blyth Dolores Barrymore and Jessica Barrymore. Aunt of Tony Barrymore (DeeDee's child).
6
In the last two years of her life, she had reconnected with one of her family members, her favorite cousin, Dirk Drew Davenport Summers. Dirk was with her when she finally died in a New York hospital from 3rd degree burns suffered in a tragic kitchen fire.
$18 Million
