aside from stars who have passed away naturally or died on film in mysterious circumstances, the list of

actors committing suicide is surprisingly long

;

the most prominent are:

George Sanders

The star of Hitchcock classics Rebecca and the Foreign Agent, the super suave Sanders killed himself in 1972, because he couldn’t accept his fading fortunes and the loss of his status.

Pier Angeli (1932 – 1971)

sensitive looking Italian actress married to Vic Damone, she committed suicide in 1971. cause; pills

Charles Boyer (1899-1978)

Gentlemanly French actor mostly in intrenational films, went to Hollywood in 1929, and gained a reputation as a great lover. He committed suicide following the death of his wive of 44 years

Charles Butterworth (1896 – 1946)

Balding american comic actor who through the ’30s played his own role of shy upper class bachelor, never getting the girl and sometimes drowning his sorrows in drink, He died in a car crash.

Dorothy Dandridge (1922 – 1965)

American leading actress of unrecognised potential. she begain in films as a child but found few roles as an adult. Known for Carmen Jones and Porgy Bess. she died in poverty due to an overdose of drugs.

Albert Dekker

Dutch stage actor of long experience, his films are disappointing, Hanged himself in 1968, and left a suicide note in lipstick.

Alan Ladd

The star of Shane was handicapped by his size – he was 5 feet five inches but audiences rooted for him  He never displayed much interest in acting and was more concerned with what clothes his character would wear, he died as the result of alcohol and an overdose of sleeping pills.

Carol Landis – (1919 – 1948)

Uninhibited blonde leading actress, Credits include Turnabout and It Shouldn’t Happen to a dog. She was married four times, the first at 15. she killed herself over a failing love affair with Rex Harrison.

George Reeves

The actor who played Superman on TV, his life was filmed as the movie Hollywoodland. Typecast,he found no other roles to play, Became a wrestler, Shot himself in 1959.

Jean Seberg

The girlfriend of Jean Paul Belmondo in  A Bout de Souffle, she was found dead in her car at the age of 41.

Everett Sloane

incisive actor introduced to Hollywood by Orson Welles. Famous line; ‘old age. Mr thompson. Its the only disease you don’t enjoy being cured of.

Margaret Sullivan (1911 – 1960)

A leading actress of the thirties, she had a special whimsical quality that was unique. Her first three husbands were HENRY FONDA, William Wyler and Leland Hayward.

Lupe Velez (1908 -1944)

Temperamental Mexican leading lady best remembered with Leon Errel in the Mexican spitfire series.she was married to Johnny Weissmuller and committed suicide when pregnant after a love affair went wrong.

Gig Young

Light comedy leading man with a pleasant bemused air, committed suicide after killling his fifth wife. He was previosly married to actress Elizabeth Montgomery. 

I really cannot stress how much I have been enjoying this series.

set in Lillehammer, the northern city in Norway which was host to the 1994 Winter games, its about a Chicago gangster forced to hide out in Norway as part of his relocation process.

just as desperate Housewives uincovered the dark underbelly of the rich suburban elite, lily hammer suggests that even a country as socially democratic and egalitarian as Norway may not be quite as fair as we could imagine, so much so that the gangster is made almost noble by his dealings by the very people who should be above corruption and protectionism. For instance, in the first episode Johnny uncovers compromising photos of the social worker who has been assigned to help him assimilate in the country.

time and again the gangster is made to appear an unlikely hero in the face of nitpicking bureaucracy and pointless regulations. So when he goes to buy a pram which is the most expensive and best in the shop, we know that we can’t trust the seller, indeed only moments later we watch him attempt and fail to collapse the pram and destroy it, and we know that the store will try not to accept any responsibility.

Last episode we saw was when the rival gangsters from New York had got hold of his whereabouts. this was another skillful demonstration of who the real bad guys are. Not Giovanni Henriksen, new in town and already a local hero and expectant father of twins, but the heartless and cold-blooded murderers who on their first day savagely assualt a gas station attendant.

The season has two episodes yet to air. Let us hope there are more to follow.

Just a quick plug for Sorbitum ices. I trried two of their ice creams at the Observer Food awards and they were most delicious.