In 1997, Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee reunited in New York City for a revival screening of their soapy 1959 romance A Summer Place. "I was mesmerized by my own image up there. I kind of said, 'Man, that's what they were talking about.' Because you forget," Troy said. "Being that young and beautiful, both of us - that's pretty heady stuff."
The popular movie made Troy a star, but his time on the A-list didn't last long. Changing movie tastes, Troy's unwillingness to play handsome-yet-vapid characters, and a secret drinking problem would derail his career before it really started. But that wasn't the end of Troy's story. In middle age, he turned his life around and achieved the internal peace that would allow him to look back on his early years with pride.
Merle Johnson Jr., who would be christened Troy Donahue by the same agent who named Rock Hudson, came from a privileged background in New York. "Central Park was his playground," says Michael Gregg Michaud, author of Inventing Troy Donahue: The Making of a Movie Star.
His idyllic childhood ended when Troy's father became ill with ALS and died in 1947. "He absolutely adored his father. His death was something that he never, ever recovered from," says Michaud. Troy confessed that he started sneaking liquor around this time. "I started drinking when I was studying for midterms in the seventh grade. It was a functional thing," said Troy.
Denne historien er fra October 09, 2023-utgaven av Closer US.
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Denne historien er fra October 09, 2023-utgaven av Closer US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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MEMORIES OF MY FATHER James Darren
THE ENTERTAINER'S SON SHARES UNTOLD STORIES OF HIS DAD'S AMAZING LIFE & CAREER
NIKKI DELOACH Why I CARE SO MUCH
THE LONGTIME HALLMARK CHANNEL FAVORITE HAS A VERY PERSONAL REASON FOR HER PHILANTHROPIC WORK
DEBORAH NORVILLE My Path to HAPPINESS
THE HOST OF INSIDE EDITION SHARES HER SECRETS FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND WELL-BALANCED LIFE
JOHN C. MCGINLEY HOME for the HOLIDAYS
The Scrubs alum talks about his limited series Holidazed and shares his favorite showbiz memories
HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLD & FLU SEASON
FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS TO STAY HEALTHY THIS WINTER
Hearty, Big Batch FAMILY EATS
Feeding a small army? These simple and delicious suppers banish any stress
Rita Hayworth Her Long Road to Fame
AFTER YEARS OF DOMINATION BY THE MEN IN HER LIFE, SHE FOUND THE COURAGE TO STAND ON HER OWN FEET
It's Love for Music Man Co-Stars
\"I've watched everything she's done. It's amazing.\"
Simply Delicious ITALIAN DELIGHTS
Easy, homey and flavorpacked, these recipes from celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli feel like a hug from your kitchen
JEFF BRIDGES - MY LIFE IN 10 Pictures
“I’M A product of nepotism, man,” quipped Jeff Leon Bridges, who, along with his older brother Beau, was drawn into acting by their father, Lloyd.