Hollywood’s first wild child would have to be Frances Farmer, who was infamous for her drunken exploits and numerous stays at mental health facilities.
She was a movie star and appeared in 15 films from 1936 to 1958. She acted alongside the greats, including Bing Crosby and Cary Grant.
At the peak of her career, Frances was institutionalized. Rumor had it that she was even lobotomized. While her family disputed the claim, people still continued to whisper.
Frances Farmer was born on September 19, 1913, in Seattle, Washington. Her parents divorced when she was four years old. She moved to California with her mother, but was returned to Seattle to live with her father because her mother couldn’t work and take care of the children at the same time.
She developed a love for writing and won a prestigious writing award in high school. She studied journalism at the University of Washington before discovering her talent and passion for theater.
In 1935, she moved to New York to become an actress. She ended up signing a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures and began appearing in comedy films.
In 1936, she starred in a western called Rhythm on the Range with Bing Crosby, which launched her into fame.
She then got a role in Golden Boy, a play by Clifford Odets, which earned her national praise. She continued working in theater and spent just a few months out of the year making movies in Los Angeles.
In 1942, Frances got divorced from her first husband, who was another Paramount actor. Her contract with Paramount was suspended when she turned down a role in Take A Letter, Darling. Then, in October, she was arrested for drunk driving and having the headlights on during a wartime blackout.
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She was fined $500 and was prohibited from drinking by a judge, but by 1943, she still hadn’t paid off her fine, so she was arrested and sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Frances’ sister-in-law was at the sentencing and decided to have her admitted to a psychiatric hospital instead of going to jail. So, she spent nine months in the Kimball Sanitarium in California. Afterward, she returned to Seattle with her mother, who was awarded guardianship over her.
But on March 24, 1944, her mother checked her into Western State Hospital. Frances was released three months later, but returned again in May 1945.
She remained institutionalized there for about five more years. It was then that rumors of her being lobotomized spread.
In 1953, a judge agreed that Frances could take care of herself. She moved to Eureka, California, after her parents died and became a bookkeeper.
She met television executive Leland Mikesell, whom she married and later divorced. In 1957, he convinced her to move to San Francisco and return to TV.
She also went back to theater and even made another movie. She moved to Indianapolis for a theater opportunity but was fired after appearing drunk on camera.
Finally, she took several roles in productions at Purdue University, which she described as the most fulfilling work of her career. In 1970, Frances was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and died that same year at the age of 57.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
