Fame and Misfortune

The members of 'Forever 27' or the '27 club' are the epitome of Fame and Misfortune. These tortured souls were at the peak of celebrity when, in an instant, it all came crashing down. Since the early 1970's the legend of the 27 club have been inundating popular culture and sometimes even idolized as 'only the good die young.' Join us in uncovering the theories behind the 27 club and the dismal lives of it's members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Holmes or Johnny Wadd as he was known to his fans, was one of the most accomplished adult film stars of all time. He is credited in at least 537 films between 1967 and 1987. The limelight didn't last however, and soon John fell into a rabbit hole of drugs, debt, and disease. In the early morning hours of June 29th 1981, four members of the Wonderland gang were found murdered in an LA home where John had been staying. Though John's involvement in the crime is still hotly contested, it...

John Holmes or Johnny Wadd as he was known to his fans, was one of the most accomplished adult film stars of all time. He is credited in at least 537 films between 1967 and 1987. The limelight didn't last however, and soon John fell into a rabbit hole of drugs, debt, and disease. In the early morning hours of June 29th 1981, four members of the Wonderland gang were found murdered in an LA home where John had been staying. Though John's involvement in the crime is still hotly contested, it certainly has us questioning what was in that tea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southeast London, 2008. Robert Knox is a promising young film star who had just landed a scripted role in the Harry Potter series. A chance encounter with a drunk outside a local pub would change not only the Knox Family, but the Harry Potter franchise forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southeast London, 2008. Robert Knox is a promising young film star who had just landed a scripted role in the Harry Potter series. A chance encounter with a drunk outside a local pub would change not only the Knox Family, but the Harry Potter franchise forever.

Remember that one time there was a Monarchy in Nepal? Exactly. This week Stephanie walks us through The Grand Canyon, Royal Marriage, and the tragic events that changed an entire nation practically overnight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1921. Prohibition is in full swing, tasseled gowns and cigar smoke fill vaudevillian clubs. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is more than a well known face, he's one of the original Hollywood A-Listers. For a young starlet like Virginia Rappe, working with such a big name in the business seemed like a dream come true. Both would soon come to understand that nothing is what it seems when the limelight fades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born into privilege, the Prince of Pennsylvania John Du Pont could be described simply as eccentric. Amongst other things, he claimed the titles of rare stamp collector, olympic wrestling coach, and bird/seashell enthusiast. Throughout the course of his life, John's interests and behavior became increasingly odd. He began to attract more attention at the age of 55 when he began to compete worldwide in wrestling competitons. On January 26, 1996, John shot three bullets into Dave Schultz, the coach of his wrestling team. The seemingly unprovoked attack continues to baffle minds to this day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Britain's brightest young Soap Opera stars, Gemma McCluskie, went missing from the flat she shared with her brother in March of 2012. A week later, concerned family and friends gathered in a pub to organize a search party. Not one of the hundred people in attendance could even begin to imagine the horrors that poor Gemma had endured. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, and Bobby Fuller. These three musicians were at the top of the charts,but the music industry has long been riddled with misfortune. The tragedy of losing these beautiful souls is overshadowed by the strange circumstances surrounding their deaths. One thing ties them all together, no one can quite decide how they died - the evidence just doesn't add up. Murder? Suicide? Accident? Listen in as Steffanie and Aryn wade through the obscure details of their untimely demise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late comedian Phil Hartman is the subject of unlucky episode seven. Known for his time on Saturday Night Live and his secondary roles in pretty much every film ever made, Phil's life and marriage were seemingly perfect. Of course, things are always very different when the spot lights fade. Join Steffanie and Aryn as they dive beyond the laughter and anecdotes to the seedy private life of one of America's most beloved comics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 1st 2006- Andy Ostroy walks into his wife's NYC office apartment after not hearing from her since that morning. He and a doorman discover his wife's body hanging from the shower in an apparent suicide. Adrienne Shelley was a promising up and comer in the film world, having just submitted the 2007 film Waitress to the Sundance Film Festival. She was happily married and a loving mother to her two year old daughter. Her husband insisted that she would never have taken her own life and prompted police to investigate further. What they found will shock you to your core. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steffanie takes us all the way to South Africa this week for the brutal slaying of model and actress Reeva Steenkamp by paralympic medalist Oscar Pistorias. The story ruled the headlines when news broke of Steenkamp's death in February 2013. This modern day whodunit shocked the world and set a gruesome new precedent for Celebrity slayings and sentencing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode dives deep into the pits of Hollywood crime with the murder-suicide of the Barsi family in July of 1988. Judith Barsi was a promising up-and-coming starlet in the 1980's with credits ranging from Cheers to The Twilight Zone. Not unlike most child stars, things for Judith were much different than they seemed on screen. With an alcoholic father and a battered mother in tow, Judith's story was doomed before it began in this heart wrenching tale of Fame and Misfortune. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steffanie takes the lead in the third episode of Fame and Misfortune. This episode focuses on the tragic death of an American icon, Dorothy Stratten. Though it was shortlived, her career made a lasting impression and her dismal end will not soon be forgotten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second Episode of the Fame and Misfortune podcast, Aryn and Steffanie discuss America's favorite family screw up: Robert Durst. Durst led a troublesome life filled with suicide, missing persons, and cross dressing. The tale of Robert Durst is one that is sure to keep you wondering. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.