1958 Oscars: Lana Turner's career took a terrible turn with real life killing of boyfriend

She was the ultimate movie star & she loved men. Lana Turner received her only best actress nomination for "Peyton Place" (1957). She returned with her lover Johnny Stompanato from vacation in Mexico. Turner wrote in her autobiography, "Lana: The Lady, the Legend, the Truth", that she was trying to get rid of Johnny. She went with her daughter Cheryl Crane to the 1958 Oscars leaving Johnny at home in Beverly Hills. He was furious & on the night that was supposed to be a crowning achievement in her film career. He beat her up.

A news reporter, Lana Turner, Johnny Stompanato & Cheryl Crane.

(A return from Mexico 1958).

Johnny was said to be one of Mickey Cohen's (mobster) body guards. He wouldn't let go of Lana & if she left him. He said he would kill her whole family. Cheryl (14) heard Johnny & her mom fighting on "Good Friday" 1958. She wanted to protect her mother & went down to the kitchen to grab a knife. She waited outside her mom's bedroom before he came out the door. The knife she held went straight into his abdomen & it killed him. Cheryl was arrested & Lana testified for nearly an hour on the witness stand. Many people said that it was the performance of her career. The Jury returned in 20 minutes with justifiable homicide for Cheryl.

(Lana Turner presented Best Supporting Actor Award)

(Red Buttons won for "Sayanora" 1957).

Over the decades since that fateful night in 1958. Many believed Lana was the one who stabbed her abusive boyfriend. She & her daughter have always claimed that Cheryl did it to protect her mom. Lana became infamous after Johnny's death. Her career was ignited when her fans flocked to movie theaters when she starred in the remake of "Imitation of Life" 1959. It was a box office smash & Lana took a percentage of the profits earning $1 million plus. Lana wrote about Johnny in her 1982 autobiography. Cheryl Crane also wrote about him in her 1988 book "Detour: A Hollywood Story." Johnny's death has also been picked a-part by other biographer's, documentaries & news stories. It will forever be a subject of talk in Hollywood & beyond.