The Death of Rudolph Valentino

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Rudolph Valentino
1895 - 1926
"A man should control his life.  Mine is controlling me."

By: Leslie Scott  and me.

Rudolph Valentino – his name is synonymous with the classic romantic era of the old Hollywood. With his smoldering, exotic good looks he played roles that had women (and men) swooning in dark theaters: The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Young Rajah and, his last film, Son of the Sheik.

He came to America from his native Italy in 1913. Hoping for a chance at that great American Dream, he began his life in his new county living in shabby immigrant neighborhoods and working odd jobs. Eventually, he found success dancing in nightclubs around Broadway. Dancing led to a job in the cast of a national dance tour and the national dance tour led him to Hollywood where he started getting bit parts in the new media of movies.

His big break came when scriptwriter June Mathis and director Rex Ingram wanted Valentino to play the lead in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Valentino's popularity soared and he went from a five dollars a day extra to a $200,000 a movie star at the height of his career.

In 1923 he published a book of poetry, Day Dreams.

While traveling across country to promote his last movie, The Son of the Sheik, Valentino took ill. On August 15th 1926 he was rushed to Polyclinic Hospital for severe abdominal pains. X-Rays confirmed a large perforated ulcer. Surgery was performed to cleaned the abdomen cavity of the infection.  Within days his gut was swollen, bruised and blotchy.  Further X-Rays were taken and revealed pleurisy and all hopes of recovery were lost.

Nurses wept as they attempted to make his final hours pleasant. A priest was called to perform the last rites. Crowds outside waited for word.  Police had to form a ring around the hospital because of the thousands of mostly female fans besieging it.

Thing is, he probably would have survived if the surgeons weren’t so freaked out by the fact that "Valentino" was in their midst. They were terrified "being THE ONE to cut open Valentino", that they procrastinated for several hours, dramatically worsening his condition. Technically he may have been killed by his own celebrity.

His last words were spoken to Joseph Schenck, Chairman of the Board of United Artists, "Don't worry Chief, I will be all right."  Last rites were given to Rudolph 10am.

At 12:10pm on August 23, 1926 The Great Lover died at age 31.... read on