who was the lawyer for cheryl crane?

by Lea Grant 8 min read

Police Chief Clinton B. Anderson was irked to see Jerry Giesler, the "attorney to the stars," already in attendance. Giesler's reputation as a high-priced lawyer with a knack for winning difficult cases was legendary around Hollywood.

What is Cheryl Crane's full name?

Feb 22, 2022 · Cheryl Christina Crane was born on July 25, 1943, to Lana Turner and B-movie actor Steve Crane. Her parents were together only a short time before Cheryl was conceived, as Crane neglected to mention that he hadn’t divorced his first wife at …

Is Cheryl Crane related to Lana Turner?

Jan 30, 2022 · Cheryl Crane shortly after her arrest. Testimony at the inquest lasted for four hours. Witnesses who testified included Mickey Cohen (who refused to say anything), Lana Turner, and Cheryl’s father, Stephen Crane. When testimony wrapped up, the coroner’s jury deliberated about 25 minutes before returning a verdict of justifiable homicide.

When did Cheryl Crane kill Johnny Stompanato?

In this photo made today in 1958 Hollywood super attorney Jerry Giesler sits next to Lana Turner at a coroner's inquest into the killing of Turner's boyfriend, alleged mob enforcer Johnny Stompanato. Turner's daughter, fourteen-year-old Cheryl Crane, had stabbed Stompanato in the abdomen with a knife during a confrontation in her and Turner's home.

Who was on the witness stand at the crane murder trial?

As Evelyn Marcocchio tests knife in dummy of Johnny Stompanato, attorney, William Jerome Pollack looks on. Pollack is trying suit against Cheryl Crane, daughter of Lana Turner. Grieving actress Lana Turner is accompanied by her attorney, …

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Who is Cheryl Crane married to?

Jocelyn LeRoyCheryl Crane / Spouse (m. 2014)

What did Lana Turner pass away from?

June 29, 1995Lana Turner / Date of death

What nationality is Lana Turner?

AmericanLana Turner / NationalityLana Turner, original name Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner, (born February 8, 1920/21, Wallace, Idaho, U.S.—died June 29, 1995, Los Angeles, California), American film actress known for her glamorous looks and sexual allure.

How much money did Lana Turner make?

Lana Turner Net Worth: Lana Turner was an American actress who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of her death. Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an Idaho native actress who reached the peak of fame in the 1940s and 1950s.

What actress killed her husband?

On the evening of April 4, 1958, 14-year-old Cheryl Crane stabbed 32-year-old Johnny Stompanato, the boyfriend of her mother, actress Lana Turner, at Turner's rented home in Beverly Hills, California....Johnny Stompanato homicide.Lana Turner, Johnny Stompanato, and Cheryl Crane, 16 days before Stompanato's deathDateApril 4, 1958ConvictionsNone9 more rows

Who was Lex Barker married to?

Carmen Cerveram. 1965Irene Labhartm. 1957–1962Lana Turnerm. 1953–1957Arlene Dahlm. 1951–1952Constanze Thurlowm. 1942–1950Lex Barker/Spouse

Where is Cheryl Crane today?

Crane, now 74, married female model Jocelyn “Josh” LeRoy in 2014 and works as a real estate agent. Turner continued her Hollywood acting career following Stompanato's death.Jul 13, 2018

Who was Lana Turner's daughter?

Cheryl CraneLana Turner / DaughterLos Angeles, California, U.S. Cheryl Christina Crane (born July 25, 1943) is an American retired real estate broker, model, and author. She is the only child of actress Lana Turner.

Did Susan Hayward have a brain tumor?

Miss Hayward had been suffering from a brain tumor for two years. She died after having suffered a seizure, her physician said. The Brooklyn‐born actress appeared in more than 50 films and was one of the most sought‐after stars in Hollywood in the nineteen‐fifties.Mar 15, 1975

Who was Sarah Jane's father in imitation of life?

Meanwhile, Sarah's father was played by Paul Kohner who was Lana Turner's agent (Kohner got an Oscar nomination for the part, but would retire from acting five years later after marrying German fashion designer John Weitz — “About A Boy” writer-directors Chris & Paul Weitz are their children).Apr 17, 2012

Who is Joyce LeRoy?

Joyce R. LeRoy, 87, long time resident of Kingwood, Texas, passed away January 1, 2020. Born in Jefferson County, Colorado on April 1, 1932, she was the youngest daughter of John R. and Julia C.Jan 1, 2020

Tale of Star-Crossed Lovers

Cameras from ABC and CBS lined the Los Angeles courtroom on April 11, 1958, ready to film what promised to be the TV event of the year. The radio networks went one better, broadcasting live when Coroner Theodore J. Curphey gaveled the proceedings to order at 9:00 a.m.

Cheryl's Statement Introduced

Because of her age Cheryl was not present at the inquest, but part of her statement made to Chief Anderson on the night of the stabbing was read into the record as follows:

Who was the guy that filmed the lady takes a flyer?

While filming the romantic comedy The Lady Takes a Flyer in the spring of 1957, American film actress Lana Turner began receiving phone calls and flowers on the set from mobster and ex- Marine Johnny Stompanato, using the name “John Steele.” Turner claimed she was unsure of how he obtained her phone number, but that she learned in later press that allegedly he collected the phone numbers of various Hollywood actresses, including June Allyson , Anita Ekberg and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Stompanato pursued Turner aggressively, sending her various lavish gifts. “Thoroughly intrigued” by his forthrightness, Turner began casually dating Stompanato. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Stompanato had close ties to the Los Angeles underworld and was an affiliate of gangster Mickey Cohen.

Who was the girl who killed Johnny Stompanato?

Wiki-On the evening of April 4, 1958, 14-year-old Cheryl Crane stabbed 32-year-old Johnny Stompanato, the boyfriend of her mother, actress Lana Turner, at Turner’s rented home in Beverly Hills, California. Stompanato, an ex- Marine and affiliate of the Cohen crime family, had been in a year-long relationship with Turner which had been rocky ...

Why was the case of Turner a cause célèbre?

Due to Turner’s high profile and the fact that the killing involved her teenage daughter, the case quickly became a cause célèbre. Over one hundred reporters and journalists attended the April 11, 1958, coroner’s inquest, described by attendees as “near-riotous”.

Where has love gone?

A 1962 novel by Harold Robbins entitled Where Love Has Gone was inspired by Stompanato’s death, followed by a 1964 film adaptation starring Susan Hayward and Bette Davis. In November 2009, Sara Davies premiered a radio drama for BBC 4 titled A Night with Johnny Stompanato by playwright Jonathan Holloway, which is based on the case.

Was Cheryl Crane exonerated?

After four hours of testimony and approximately 25 minutes of deliberation, the jury deemed Stompanato’s killing a justifiable homicide, and exonerated Cheryl Crane of any wrongdoing. Crane remained a temporary ward of the court until April 24, when a juvenile court hearing was held, during which presiding Judge Allen T. Lynch expressed concerns over her receiving “proper parental supervision.” This hearing, unlike the coroner’s inquest, was closed to the public. She was ultimately released to the care of her grandmother, and was ordered to regularly visit a psychiatrist alongside her parents.

How long was Mary Ann in jail?

She spent sixty days in jail, and was released to discover that her career was over.

How long was Lila Leeds in jail?

But her film roles paled in comparison to the lasting notoriety she achieved for being arrested with Robert Mitchum in 1948 for possession of marijuana. She spent sixty days in jail, and was released to discover that her career was over. She did manage one more film role, the ironically titled She Shoulda Said No!, but soon was forced to leave Hollywood behind. According to another notorious Hollywood arrestee, Cheryl Crane, Leeds had picked up a heroin habit while in prison, which hindered her attempts to get her career back on track at least as much as her ruined reputation. Leeds eventually died in obscurity. That was ten years ago today.

What was Johnny Stompanato arrested for?

This LAPD mugshot of gangster Johnny Stompanato dates from today in 1952, when he was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery. Stompanato was an Illinois boy who joined the army and after his discharge fell into the west coast gangster lifestyle. He quickly became well known to the cops. Beverly Hills police chief Clifford Anderson described him as “one of the most successful wolves in Hollywood,” which was a polite way of saying he was a pimp, blackmailer, and boy toy for a series of wealthy women, who he often shook down for cash. By the time these images were made he was living the high life as a connected subordinate to top tier mobster Mickey Cohen.

Who killed Lana Turner's boyfriend?

In this photo made today in 1958 Hollywood super attorney Jerry Giesler sits next to Lana Turner at a coroner's inquest into the killing of Turner's boyfriend, alleged mob enforcer Johnny Stompanato. Turner's daughter, fourteen-year-old Cheryl Crane, had stabbed Stompanato in the abdomen with a knife during a confrontation in her and Turner's home.

Who killed Johnny Stompanato?

Well, in 1958 Lana Turner’s teenaged daughter Cheryl Crane stabbed mob enforcer Johnny Stompanato to death. The sensational murder trial that followed ended in Crane’s acquittal on the grounds of justifiable homicide, i.e., Stompanato had been beating Turner and Crane put a stop to it.

Who is Beverly Aadland?

We have another issue of On the Q.T. today. The cover subject, Beverly Aadland, was a teenaged actress who earned notoriety for being Errol Flynn’s last lover. Flynn always preferred young girls—oftentimes too young, depending on whom you believe. When he wrote his disappointingly bland (at least to us) autobiography My Wicked, Wicked Ways, the dedication read: To a small companion. We would have guessed Flynn meant his cock, since it got him into so much trouble during his life, but more informed sources than us say the companion he meant was Beverly Aadland. We stand corrected, and she stands explained for those who didn’t know who she was.

How did Peter Sellers die?

Strangelove, Being There and the Pink Panther films established him as the greatest comedic actor of his generation, dies of a heart attack at age fifty-four. 1984—Miss America Resigns.

Who was the guy that filmed the lady takes a flyer?

While filming the romantic comedy The Lady Takes a Flyer in the spring of 1957, American film actress Lana Turner began receiving phone calls and flowers on the set from mobster and ex- Marine Johnny Stompanato, using the name "John Steele." Turner claimed she was unsure of how he obtained her phone number, but that she learned in later press that allegedly he collected the phone numbers of various Hollywood actresses, including June Allyson, Anita Ekberg and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Stompanato pursued Turner aggressively, sending her various lavish gifts. "Thoroughly intrigued" by his forthrightness, Turner began casually dating Stompanato. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Stompanato had close ties to the Los Angeles underworld and was an affiliate of gangster Mickey Cohen.

Who was the girl who killed Johnny Stompanato?

On the evening of April 4, 1958, 14-year-old Cheryl Crane stabbed 32-year-old Johnny Stompanato, the boyfriend of her mother, actress Lana Turner, at Turner's rented home in Beverly Hills, California. Stompanato, an ex- Marine and affiliate of the Cohen crime family, had been in a year-long relationship with Turner which had been rocky ...

Where has love gone?

A 1962 novel by Harold Robbins entitled Where Love Has Gone was inspired by Stompanato's death, followed by a 1964 film adaptation starring Susan Hayward and Bette Davis. In 1987, Woody Allen's movie, September, features a thinly-veiled reference to the murder, in the relationship between daughter Mia Farrow and mother Elaine Stritch, with Allen assigning guilt to Stritch (Turner). In the movie This Boy's Life the case it's showing on the TV news while Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio characters watch. Intending to show that Leonardo DiCaprio's character pretends to do the same to defend his mother from her abusive husband. In November 2009, Sara Davies premiered a radio drama for BBC 4 titled A Night with Johnny Stompanato by playwright Jonathan Holloway, which is based on the case.

Why was the case of Turner a cause célèbre?

Due to Turner's high profile and the fact that the killing involved her teenage daughter, the case quickly became a cause célèbre. Over one hundred reporters and journalists attended the April 11, 1958, coroner's inquest, described by attendees as "near-riotous".

Was Cheryl Crane exonerated?

After four hours of testimony and approximately 25 minutes of deliberation, the jury deemed Stompanato's killing a justifiable homicide, and exonerated Cheryl Crane of any wrongdoing. Crane remained a temporary ward of the court until April 24, when a juvenile court hearing was held, during which presiding Judge Allen T. Lynch expressed concerns over her receiving "proper parental supervision." This hearing, unlike the coroner's inquest, was closed to the public. She was ultimately released to the care of Mildred Turner, and was ordered to regularly visit a psychiatrist alongside her parents.

Who was the bodyguard for Mickey Cohen?

Johnny Stompanato was a bodyguard for Mickey Cohen when he was killed at the hands of teenaged Cheryl Crane. For years, Lana Turner was the movie star every aspiring actress wanted to be, in part for her magical beginnings. As the daughter of working-class parents born in rural Idaho, Turner was discovered purely by chance.

What did Lana Turner's testimony reveal?

When Lana Turner took the stand in a “circus-like hearing,” her dramatic and anxious hour-long testimony revealed the sordid details of Johnny Stompanato’s abuse and violence. She appeared sympathetic and desperate and her daughter devoted and terrified.

Who was John Steele?

Under the alias “John Steele,” Stompanato courted Turner on set, leaving her constant phone calls, letters, flowers, jewelry, and even a commissioned portrait of her.

Who was Johnny Stompanato?

Turner soon discovered that Johnny Stompanato, renowned for his violent temper, was more than she’d bargained for and suffered physical and mental abuse at his hands. But then, Turner’s daughter took matters into her own hands — and fatally stabbed Stompanato one fateful April night in 1958. What ensued was a scandal the likes ...

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Tale of Star-Crossed Lovers

  • Cameras from ABC and CBS lined the Los Angelescourtroom on April 11, 1958, ready to film what promised to be the TV event of the year. The radio networks went one better, broadcasting live when Coroner Theodore J. Curphey gaveled the proceedings to o...
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Cheryl's Statement Introduced

  • Because of her age Cheryl was not present at the inquest, but part of her statement made to Chief Anderson on the night of the stabbing was read into the record as follows: Shortly before noon the 10 men and 2 women of the coroner's jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide. Afterward, District Attorney McKesson, who had attended the inquest, announced to reporters: "After what …
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Suggestions For Further Reading

  • Crane, Cheryl And Jahr, Cliff. Detour. New York: Arbor House, 1988. Crimes And Punishment. Vol. 14. England: Phoebus, 1974. Munn, Michael. The Hollywood Murder Casebook. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987. Turner, Lana. Lana: The Lady, The Legend, The Truth. New York, Dutton, 1982.
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Background

Image
Turner and Stompanato in Mexico in early 1958 While filming the romantic comedy The Lady Takes a Flyer in the spring of 1957, American film actress Lana Turner began receiving phone calls and flowers on the set from mobster and ex-Marine Johnny Stomp...
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Homicide

  • Turner’s Beverly Hills residence, where Stompanato was killed At approximately 8:00 p.m. on April 4, eight days after the Academy Awardsceremony, Stompanato arrived at Turner’s rented home at 730 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, California, which she had just begun leasing a week prior. The two began arguing heatedly in the bedroom, during which Stompanato threatened to k…
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Confession

  • Police chief Clinton Anderson, who arrived at Turner’s home shortly after emergency medical services, stated that Turner had pleaded to him, “Please, let me say I did it,” after Cheryl had confessed to the stabbing to her father, Stephen, who had also arrived at the home after receiving the frantic phone call from his daughter. Within one hour of the homicide, Turner and her ex-hus…
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Legal Proceedings

  • Pre-detention hearing
    Stephen Crane, Lana Turner, and Mildred Turner attend pre-detention hearing, April 8, 1958 On April 7, 1958, a juvenile pre-detention hearing was held under Judge Donald O’Dell, closed to the public, which was attended by Turner, her mother Mildred, and ex-husband Stephen.The same d…
  • Coroner’s inquest
    Due to Turner’s high profile and the fact that the killing involved her teenage daughter, the case quickly became a cause célèbre. Over one hundred reporters and journalists attended the April 11, 1958, coroner’s inquest, described by attendees as “near-riotous”. Cohen, Stompanato’s friend a…
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Aftermath

  • Public response
    Immediately following Crane’s exoneration, her father Stephen told reporters of the Los Angeles Times that he planned to fight Turner for full custody of his daughter. Reporter Jack Joneswrote: “Although Jerry Giesler, Lana’s attorney, reported that the actress herself will battle for custody o…
  • Wrongful death lawsuit
    Stompanato’s brother Carmine, who attended the inquest, alleged afterward that he felt Turner “failed to tell the whole truth,” and that law enforcement had “made up their mind right from the start that Johnny deserved to die.”Stompanato’s ex-wife, Sarah Ibrahaim, filed a wrongful death …
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Cultural Depictions

  • A 1962 novel by Harold Robbins entitled Where Love Has Gone was inspired by Stompanato’s death, followed by a 1964 film adaptation starring Susan Haywardand Bette Davis. In November 2009, Sara Davies premiered a radio drama for BBC 4 titled A Night with Johnny Stompanato by playwright Jonathan Holloway, which is based on the case.
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