John Bowers(1885-1936)
- Actor
Began working in films from 1916, becoming a a star within five years
of his debut. His frequent co-star was was Marguerite de la Motte, whom
he later married. The advent of sound effectively ended his career.
Shortly after attending a party, the distraught 50-year-old Bowers
committed suicide by rowing into the Pacific Ocean and drowning
himself. It is commonly believed that his demise was the inspiration
for the similar death of fictional film star Norman Maine in both the
1937 and 1954 versions of "A Star is Born."
