Diana Barrymore
A gifted but tragic actress from Hollywood's most famous dynasty, whose life was overshadowed by personal turmoil and a desperate search for identity.
1921–1960 (age 39)·American actress·Birthday: March 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Diana Barrymore entered the world with a famous name and a crushing inheritance of expectation. As the daughter of the great John Barrymore and the niece of Lionel and Ethel, she was Hollywood royalty. Her 1942 film debut in 'Eagle Squadron' was met with fanfare, but the studio's attempt to mold her into a glamorous star conflicted with her own fragile spirit. She possessed a raw, compelling talent on stage, earning praise in productions like 'The Philadelphia Story,' but her personal life spiraled. Plagued by the shadow of her father's legacy and his absence, she battled alcoholism and a series of tumultuous marriages that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Her career became secondary to a very public struggle, documented in a scandalous autobiography. Her life, marked by brief flashes of professional promise, ended in loneliness at age 38, a poignant chapter in the saga of a brilliant, troubled family.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Diana was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Diana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Diana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1960Died at 39
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
Key Achievements
- Made her successful Broadway debut in 1942 in 'The Philadelphia Story,' taking over the role of Tracy Lord.
- Starred in several Hollywood films in the early 1940s, including 'Eagle Squadron' and 'Between Us Girls.'.
- Wrote a candid and controversial autobiography, 'Too Much, Too Soon,' which became a bestseller in 1957.
- Continued to perform on stage in later years, including a national tour of 'The Glass Menagerie.'
Did You Know?
She was the second wife of actor Bramwell Fletcher, who was 17 years her senior.
Her autobiography, 'Too Much, Too Soon,' was adapted into a film in 1958, with Dorothy Malone portraying Diana.
She was briefly engaged to the football star and actor John 'Johnny' Mack Brown.
She made one of her final public appearances on the television game show 'Pantomime Quiz.'
“The name was a crown of thorns I could never take off.”
