No one is safe from tragedies, even the idols of millions, actors and fashion models smiling frivolously from the pages of Playboy magazine. Violent death cut short Dorothy Stratten's life when she was only twenty years old, and a cinematic career was just beginning to develop.
Brief Early Biography
Dorothy Ruth Hoogstratten is known to the general public as Dorothy Stratten. The biography of the future fashion model and actress begins from the moment of birth. The girl was born in a poor area of Vancouver (Canada) at the end of February 1960. In addition to her, two more children were raised in the family. She finished Centennial High School perfectly. It is not known how her future fate could have developed if there had not been a fatal meeting with the photographer and promoter Paul Snyder. Seeking to change the situation, driven by a thirst for enrichment, seventeen-year-old Dorothy agrees to pose naked for the photographer. Assessing the provincial potential, Snyder forges the signature of Stratten's mother on the agreement and sends the photos to Playboy magazine. Photos are a resounding success; in Los Angeles, the couple travels together. In 1979, Dorothy Stratten became the girl from the U-turn of the famous frank magazine, a year later - “Miss Playmate”. Not wanting to lose the source of constant income, Paul leads her down the aisle.
To the cinema
Dorothy Stratten spotted movie makers in Hollywood. In cinema, she made her debut in the film "Birth of a Father" (1979). In the same year, she managed to take part in the production of the film directed by William A. Livi "Skatetown, USA." In the project, in addition to Dorothy, many television stars of the 1970s played, including Scott Bayot, Roof Buzzy, Flip Wilson and many others. The next picture, which replenished the filmography of the actress, was a parody of the fantastic comedy "Galaxin" directed by William Sachs. Stratten played the key character of the robot girl Galaxin. At first, her character does not know how to speak, the temperature of the skin of the robot is close to zero, and when you try to touch it follows an electric shock. However, in the process of developing the plot, she reprograms herself, and later on the romantic line develops according to all the laws of the genre.
Real love
But all the previous achievements and films of Dorothy Stratten became insignificant after she joined the acting ensemble of the comedy film "They All Laughed" (1981). The young director Peter Bogdanovich worked on the project . The romance began between the young people, Bogdanovich promised to make Dorothy a new Marilyn Monroe. Not able to restrain feelings, the actress decides to leave her husband. Already during the filming process, she lives in the director's room. Paul Snyder hires a private detective to convict his windy spouse. He did not want to lose his “ticket to high society”, since he lived exclusively at the expense of his wife.
Famous cry too
Meanwhile, Stratten begins the divorce proceedings. Dorothy decided to meet with Snyder to discuss the details. On August 14, 1980, a month after completing the filming of "They All Laughed," Paul Snyder cuts off Dorothy's life with a pistol shot, after which he commits suicide.
Bogdanovich is hard going through the death of his lover. The tragedy was so resonant that no company took up the distribution of the film because of the extremely negative press releases related to the killing. He spent about $ 5 million from his own savings, distributing the picture. After went on a creative vacation. His retreat lasted four years and was interrupted only after the publication of the book "The Killing of a Unicorn" dedicated to Dorothy Stratten.
The biography of the actress was reflected in the work of director Bob Fossey “Playboy Star”. The role of Dorothy was played by the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway - Mariel. Also, the author’s vision of events was offered to the public by director Gabrielle Beaumont in the television movie “The History of Dorothy Stratten”.