For years, Lana Turner was the movie star every aspiring actress wanted to be, with a fairy tale rise to fame. But behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Turner’s life took a dark turn when she met Johnny Stompanato, a notorious gangster and her lover. Their tumultuous relationship would ultimately lead to a shocking and scandalous event.
Johnny Stompanato And Lana Turner’s Fateful Meeting
John Stompanato Jr. was born to Italian-American parents in Illinois and joined the Marines during World War II. After leaving the military, he worked for the infamous mob kingpin Meyer “Mickey” Cohen in Los Angeles. It was there that Stompanato met Lana Turner, an international superstar.
At the time, Turner’s career was declining, and she was dealing with personal struggles. Stompanato, using the alias “John Steele,” courted Turner with lavish gifts and attention. When Turner discovered his true identity, she began a relationship with the volatile gangster.
A Tumultuous Relationship
Turner soon discovered the dark side of her relationship with Stompanato. He was physically and mentally abusive, frequently threatening both Turner and her teenage daughter, Cheryl Crane. Turner attempted to end the relationship, even traveling to England to film a movie. However, Stompanato’s jealousy and violent tendencies led him to follow her.
In London, Stompanato confronted Turner and her co-star Sean Connery. Instead of achieving his desired outcome, Stompanato was met with resistance. Connery, a former Navy sailor and bodybuilder, disarmed Stompanato and forced him to leave.
Johnny Stompanato Is Killed By Lana Turner’s Daughter
On the night of April 4, 1958, the turbulent relationship between Turner and Stompanato reached its tragic end. Turner had decided to end the relationship for good and informed her daughter, Cheryl Crane, of her intentions. Stompanato arrived at their house, and an argument ensued.
In a frightened state, Crane ran to the kitchen, grabbed a butcher’s knife, and approached her mother’s bedroom. Mistaking a clothes hanger in Stompanato’s hand for a gun, she acted impulsively and fatally stabbed him.
The murder was shrouded in scandal. Turner immediately sought the help of renowned Hollywood lawyer Jerry Giesler. Giesler coached Crane and Turner to ensure they presented a united front in their accounts of the incident. Despite rumors suggesting Turner’s involvement, both Crane and Turner maintained the story of self-defense in court.
Life For Turner And Cheryl Crane After The Scandal
Turner’s court testimony shed light on the abuse she had endured at the hands of Stompanato, evoking sympathy from the public. The jury eventually ruled the killing as justifiable homicide.
Cheryl Crane faced legal consequences but was granted leniency due to her status as a minor. She later struggled with addiction but eventually found stability in a career in real estate.
Lana Turner continued her acting career after the scandal, starring in the highly successful film “Imitation of Life.” She subsequently appeared in various theater and television roles until her death in 1995.