Bobby Darin, a Frank-Sinatra-esque singer with a list of hits including “Mack the Knife,” was born Walden Robert Cassotto, on May 14, 1936, in New York City,
Beloved original Gidget actress Sandra Dee was born Alexandra Zuck on April 23, 1942, in Bayonne, New Jersey.
When Bobby Met Sandra
Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee met on a movie set in Italy in the summer of 1960 and wed that December. She was 19; he was 24. After a tumultuous seven years, the marriage ended in divorce. She had issues with substance abuse and struggled with anorexia and the post-stress-disorder of being assaulted by her stepfather. Darin had problems of his own. Namely, he was the jealous type, while he was incapable of compassion for Dee’s challenges. He just wanted to be a star and remained focused on his career.
Second Fiddle
Sandra Dee’s acting aspirations became second to Bobby Darin’s musical career. She was dedicated to supporting his performances in venues like Las Vegas, but he was battling alcoholism and gambling.
Dee commenced her addiction to prescription drugs following the birth of their son Dodd, while Darin assumed she was cheating on him with one of her costars.
Following a brief reconciliation, Darin filed for divorce from Dee in 1967 and died of a heart attack six years later at 37.
Dee never wed again, made insignificant guest star roles on TV shows like Night Gallery, and in 2005, died of complications from kidney disease related to her anorexia.
In the End
Like many entertainers who struggle with personal relationships, the love and romance between Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin could not be sustained amid the pressures of being in the Hollywood spotlight.
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This article originally appeared on Newsbreak.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
Featured Image Credit: IMDb.
