Nothing solidifies a star’s legacy quite like an iconic haircut, and Louise Brooks exemplifies this perfectly. The silent film actress made a striking impression in Hollywood with her signature sleek, raven-black bob. This daring look earned her a spot as one of Tinseltown’s quintessential “vamps” — the smoky-eyed seductresses who captivated and ensnared men with their allure.
Despite a career filled with complex and memorable roles, most notably as Lulu in Pandora’s Box, Brooks is often remembered as the ultimate Hollywood rebel. Her fierce personality and no-nonsense attitude made her a nightmare for male studio executives, leading her to leave Hollywood behind in 1938.
Yet beneath the glamorous exterior, Brooks’ life was marked by deep struggles and personal turmoil. Let’s delve into the intricacies of Louise Brooks’ challenging life and uncover some of its lesser-known aspects.
#1. A Cold Childhood
Louise Brooks was born on November 14, 1906, in Cherryvale, Kansas, to a wealthy family. Despite their financial stability, her early years were marked by emotional neglect. Her mother, Myra Rude, is described in Brooks’ memoir Lulu in Hollywood as distant and indifferent.
This coldness extended to Brooks’ siblings as well, creating an emotionally barren environment. The lack of parental warmth and support had a profound impact on Brooks, shaping her future relationships and career choices.
#2. A Painful Childhood Experience
Brooks’ childhood was marred by a traumatic event that she later revealed in a 1979 interview with The New Yorker. At the age of nine, she was sexually molested by a neighbor named Mr. Feathers.
This disturbing incident left a deep scar on her psyche, influencing her views on intimacy and pleasure throughout her life. Brooks recounted her anguish years later when she encountered a photograph of herself with Mr. Feathers, bringing back painful memories and highlighting the long-lasting effects of such trauma.
#3. A Dance Career Derailed
Before Brooks became a film star, she was a talented dancer. She joined the prestigious Denishawn dance company, where she initially thrived. However, her promising dance career was cut short due to a bitter rivalry with Ruth St. Denis, co-founder of the company.
St. Denis’s jealousy led to Brooks being publicly dismissed, which not only damaged her career but also impacted her self-esteem. This setback forced Brooks to take less prestigious roles, including a semi-nude performance at the Ziegfeld Follies, marking a low point in her early career.
#4. A Scandalous Photo Controversy
Brooks’ life took another dramatic turn when she posed nude for a series of photographs by John De Mirjian. Although these photos were meant to be private, they were sold without her permission, leading to a scandal.
The sensationalist Daily Mirror capitalized on the controversy with the headline, “Follies girl, now in films, shocked by own pictures,” fueling the media frenzy. Brooks attempted to sue De Mirjian to halt the distribution of the photos, but this only drew more attention to the scandal and tarnished her reputation further.
#5. A Secret Affair with Walter Wanger
Brooks’ romantic entanglements also caused her significant trouble. Her affair with Hollywood producer Walter Wanger, who was married, was a well-known scandal.
Wanger’s attempts to protect his public image led him to ask Brooks to avoid working with Paramount Pictures, where he was employed.
Despite his wishes, Brooks signed with the studio, exacerbating their troubled relationship. This affair, combined with Wanger’s insistence on secrecy, complicated Brooks’ career and personal life.
#6. Complications with Charlie Chaplin
In 1925, Brooks had a brief and tumultuous affair with the legendary Charlie Chaplin. The relationship, marked by intense passion, ended acrimoniously. Chaplin’s autobiography, which portrayed himself in an egotistical light, left Brooks feeling disillusioned.
The public nature of their breakup and Chaplin’s self-centered recounting of their time together only added to the scandal and hurt Brooks’ public image.
#7. A Troublesome Marriage
Brooks’ marriage to film director A. Edward Sutherland was fraught with difficulties from the outset. Sutherland’s drinking problems and Brooks’ own lifestyle choices, including frequent nightlife escapades, created a turbulent relationship.
Their marital strife was exacerbated by numerous infidelities on both sides, leading to a divorce just two years after they wed in 1926. The breakdown of their marriage added to Brooks’ personal and professional challenges.
#8. Hollywood Gossip Takes a Toll
Brooks’ personal life was a frequent subject of Hollywood gossip, which negatively impacted her career. The constant scrutiny of her affairs and scandals contributed to her estrangement from the industry.
Even her co-star Richard Arlen’s apparent disdain for her, influenced by the gossip, exacerbated her difficulties. This toxic environment further alienated Brooks and made her Hollywood experience increasingly uncomfortable.
#9. A Life-Threatening Stunt
The dangers of early film production were starkly illustrated during the filming of Beggars of Life. Brooks was involved in a perilous stunt involving a fast-moving boxcar.
She narrowly escaped serious injury when the boxcar nearly dragged her under its wheels.
Brooks recounted this harrowing experience in her memoir, emphasizing the risks faced by actors in the early days of cinema and the physical dangers associated with their work.
#10. The Suicide of a Close Friend
Brooks also endured personal tragedy with the suicide of her close friend Pepi Lederer. Lederer, who had been committed to a mental institution, took her own life by jumping from a window.
Brooks’ grief was compounded by her belief that Lederer’s struggles with her sexuality played a role in her tragic end. Brooks honored her friend’s memory in her memoir, reflecting on the profound impact of Lederer’s death on her own life.
#11. Blacklisted by Hollywood
As the film industry evolved into the era of “talkies,” Brooks found herself blacklisted. Her refusal to accept a pay cut and her outspoken attitude towards the industry’s changes led to her exclusion from major studios.
Brooks detailed her frustrations in Lulu in Hollywood, revealing how the shifting landscape of Hollywood left her out of work and further estranged from the industry that once celebrated her.
#12. Financial Struggles and Bankruptcy
Brooks’ financial troubles worsened as she struggled to find work. By 1932, she was bankrupt, a stark contrast to her earlier success.
To survive, she had to return to dancing, a demotion from her previous stardom. The financial strain was a harsh reminder of her fall from grace and the challenges she faced in maintaining her livelihood.
#13. Unwelcome in Her Hometown
Brooks’ return to her hometown in Kansas did not bring the comfort she had hoped for. The resentment and hostility she encountered in Wichita, where her family had relocated, only deepened her sense of alienation.
This prompted her return to New York City in 1943, seeking solace and a new beginning away from the bitterness of her past.
#14. Working as an Escort
In New York, Brooks found herself in financial straits once again. She turned to escort work to make ends meet, despite her attempts to find new opportunities in radio, writing, and other fields.
Escorting provided a steady income but also added to her feelings of personal failure and despair. This period highlighted the stark contrast between her once-glamorous life and her current struggles.
#15. Contemplating Suicide
As her career and personal life deteriorated, Brooks experienced severe depression and contemplated suicide.
Her memoir provides a candid account of her mental anguish and the dark thoughts that plagued her during this period.
The despair she felt was a poignant reminder of the emotional toll her life had taken.
#16. Destroyed Memoir Manuscript
Before the publication of Lulu in Hollywood, Brooks had worked on an earlier manuscript that she ultimately destroyed. Dissatisfied with the work, she chose to discard it, leaving a significant void in her life story.
The published memoir, released posthumously in 1982, combined her personal reflections with observations on other stars, but it only partially captured the full extent of her experiences.
#17. Living as a Recluse
In her later years, Brooks lived in near-seclusion in Rochester, New York. Her memoir reflects her withdrawal from public life, with Brooks finding a measure of peace in her solitude.
By the time her work was rediscovered and celebrated, she was a recluse, far removed from the Hollywood spotlight that once defined her life.
