A handful of old time Hollywood stars had personal tragedies that adversely affected their lives and careers. Plus three more actresses — besides Garland — whose troubled personal lives also met tragic ends.
Even though Marilyn Monroe has become a legend, her personal life was one filled with immense tragedy. Monroe battled mental problems, drugs abuse, and went through painful relationships. Even though she was famous and successful, she struggled with personal problems such as failed relationships (with James Dougherty, Joe DiMaggio & Arthur Miller), the savage rumors of the press and life in camera flash illumination. She died in 1962 at just 36 years old of a drug overdose and the circumstances surrounding her death have caused much speculation and conspiracy theories over the years. The untimely death of Monroe, in concert with her struggles, portrays the image of a very unhappy individual who never quite found resolution.
### 2. **Gene Tierney**
Gene Tierney was a celebrated actress known for her beauty and talent in films like *Leave Her to Heaven* (1945). However, her personal life was marked by a series of tragedies. In 1943, Tierney contracted rubella (German measles) while pregnant, which led to the birth of a severely disabled daughter, Daria. The strain of caring for a child with such challenges, coupled with Tierney's own mental health struggles, put immense pressure on her marriage and her career. She suffered from bouts of severe depression, leading to a breakdown in the 1950s that resulted in her being institutionalized for a time. She later retired from acting, and her mental health struggles and the difficulties with her family life cast a shadow over her later years. Gene Tierney died in 1991 at the age of 70.
### 3. **Carole Lombard**
Carole Lombard was one of the most beloved actresses of the 1930s, known for her comedic roles in films like *My Man Godfrey* (1936). She had a promising career and was married to Clark Gable, one of Hollywood's leading men, which seemed like a fairy-tale romance. However, her life was tragically cut short in 1942. After a successful war-bond tour, Lombard's plane crashed in a snowstorm near Las Vegas. She was killed at the age of 33, along with her mother and several other passengers. Her death sent shockwaves through Hollywood, and Gable was devastated. Lombard's tragic passing at such a young age marked the end of what could have been an even more successful career and a happy personal life.
These actresses, each in their own way, became enduring symbols of both beauty and tragedy in Hollywood, their personal lives often overshadowing their incredible careers.