Tyrone Power: Newspaper Articles-November 15, 1958

WILL COMPLETE 'SOLOMON' FILM DESPITE DEATH
November 16, 1958

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 15 (UPI)--Producers of the $6,000,000 movie "Solomon and Sheba" said today they would try to complete the production despite the death of its star, Tyrone Power.

Like other film land figures, Edward Small, head of the production company backing the filming in Spain, received the news of the actor's death with shock and grief.

"We just had the news this morning," he said in Palm Springs. "We haven't formulated any plans. We can't make a decision now. I can't go beyond saying that we will try to complete the picture."

Small disclosed that Power had passed an insurance company physical examination before the picture was started. "His death was a great shock to all of us," he said. "He was one of the nicest persons in show business. He was passed by the insurance company as very healthy and that made the impact of his death even greater."

Small and his associates will make the final decision on what is to be done with the film.

A similar case confronted Hollywood producer sin 1937 when the platinum-haired actress, jean Harlow, died after being stricken on the set of the film, "Saratoga."

Praised as Actor

The Harlow picture, however, was in its last states and it was completed by the use of a stand-in actress who wore large picture hats to obscure her face.

Director Edmund Goulding called Power "the greatest actor of this generation." "Ty had a deep, penetrating intelligence," he said. "He had the sensitivity and feeling for life that all fine artists must have. And he had a whale of a sense of humor to give him balance."

Henry King, who directed Power in 11 pictures and gave him his first screen test, said: "It seems almost incredible to me that one of the most brilliant of all screen careers should so abruptly and tragically come to a close because Tyrone Power was a man surcharged with a love of life."

Darryl F. Zanuck, former head of 20th Century Fox, now in Paris, released a statement through his Hollywood office, saying: "It was my good fortune to have launched his screen career. He was an artist with a great heritage as both his father and grandfather before him illustrious actors."

"As the then head of 20th Century Fox studios I cast him in a small bit part in his first picture, but so striking was his personality and so perfected his talent that we had no hesitancy in starring him in the very next picture, 'Lloyds of London.'

On-the-Scene Story : HOW TYRONE POWER DIED
ACTOR, 44, STRICKEN DURING FILM DUEL
New York Journal American
Sunday, November 16, 1958

MADRID, Nov. 15 (UPI).--Tyrone Power, whose acting and handsome profile made him one of Hollywood's greatest stars, collapsed during the filming of a swashbuckling duel scene in a Biblical extravaganza today and died of a heart attack. He was 44.

The star suffered the attack in the presence of his co-star, Gina Lollobrigida, on the outdoor set of the six million dollar film "Solomon and Sheba."

The dueling scene was with George Sanders, who was playing the role of Adjonijah, Solomon's older brother.

This correspondent, who came here from his Hollywood beat to do a story on the filming of Power's new picture, was on the set when the actor collapsed. Power died as he was being driven to a hospital, in the robes he was wearing in the role of the ancient king. His pregnant young wife, Debbie Ann Minardos, was in a state of shock. she sobbed over and over that he was not dead.

Death was attributed to angina pectoris.

Complained of Not Feeling Well

Power had complained of not feeling well this morning when he arrived on the set. but he insisted on going through with the duel scene in bitter cold temperature that had the actors and actresses shivering in their flimsy Biblical robes. His makeup man and friend of many years, Ray Sebastian, said he had suffered an attack of dysentery two days ago in the unseasonable cold Madrid weather, but he appeared well enough to go on today with a difficult assassination scene.

Sebastian said the actor had always been sensitive to the cold in spite of his strong physique.

"Ty always wears wool socks Winter and Summer," Sebastian said. "Here he has been barefoot all the time and in this weather, I've been worried stiff." the scene called for Power to fall to a cold stone floor and writhe away from the lunge of an assassin'[s dagger.

Suddenly he limply waved his hand in "cut" signal. Ashen-faced he walked unsteadily to his trailer dressing room and asked Sebastian for brandy. Sebastian said Power began gasping for air so he loosened the actor's plastic breastplate. Power became nauseated and his face became mottled with red splotches.

Producer Ted Richmond called for a car, bundled the star into it and raced to a hospital. Power slipped into unconsciousness and was dead on arrival.

When Richmond returned from the hospital, he was near collapse. He tried to say that Power was dead, but broke down in tears and rushed to his own trailer.

Performers and technical staff members clustered in little groups around the ice-cold set. they seemed unbelieving. It had happened so fast. Miss Lollobrigida, who was playing the role of Sheba, burst into tears when informed of Power's death. "I was just talking with him a few minutes ago," was all she could manage to say.

She summoned her physician husband, Dr. Milko Skofic from Rome to Madrid to be with her.

Mrs. Power was placed under sedatives even before being taken to the hospital to see the body of her husband. She was half-carried to the hotel and a physician ordered her kept in bed.

Co-star George Sanders, tears streaming over his makeup said: "I can't believe it. He was such a sweet person and a fine specimen of manhood."

The the body will be flown to the United States by military plane for burial, probably tomorrow. It was removed form the hospital and taken to the U.S. Air Force Base at Torejon, 13 miles from Madrid.

Plans for disposition of the body had been delayed because the widow was too distraught for several hours to discuss the matter with U.S. embassy officials.

There was no mention of religious ceremonies. Power was born a Roman Catholic. Power's death was a duplicate of that of his father, Tyrone Power the 2nd. His father was stricken on the set of a picture, "The Miracle Man." He died several house later in the arms of his son.

Studio officials said Power had a heart checkup a few weeks ago. Although some concern was felt about his health, no one dreamed his life was in danger.

WORK FILM STOPPED

All work halted on the color film. Director King Vidor said the United Artists Company in Hollywood would have to decide whether it should be scrapped. Vidor said there was still a month of shooting, including the love scenes, to be done.

"In these circumstances," he said, "we would have to replace Power with another actor. I think we will be able to use all battle scenes already shot with Ty, and re-do the close-ups using his successor. Obviously the picture is facing a grave situation at this particular moment. I don't know what we'll do. I've ordered that all shooting be discontinued."

Power was born in Cincinnati, May 5, 1914. Like his father, Tyrone Power 2d, his father Tyrone Power 2d, also had been a great theatrical star in his day.

Solomon was the 26the starring role for Power in a 22-year career as one of Hollywood's top romantic stars.

The thrice-married Power had been determined to make this his greatest picture since he burst on the Hollywood scene in 1936 as the dashing young broker in "Lloyds of London", a film currently making the rounds of TV late shows.

POWER BEGAN AS AN USHER

CINCINNATI, Nov. 15 (UPI)--Movie actor Tyrone Power was a young soft-spoken youth, who at 28 years ago carried cups of water to projectionists in the old Orpheum Theatre here.

Max Tull, the chief projectionist, recalled that Power who died today in Spain, wanted to be a football player rather than an actor. "He always told me he wanted to be an athlete, a football player mostly." Tull said. "When he came back to the Orpheum in 1940 for the premiere of the "Mark of Zorro", he was a star but I didn't recognize him."

Tull said Power would carry the water as part of his job as an usher. Then he would go back to ushering and watch parts of the movies on the screen, on which he someday would star.

TY'S DEBBIE CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE
Serge Fliergers [NY Journal-American Correspondent]

PARIS, Nov. 15--The women in his life mourned Ty Power today.

Debbie Ann Minardos Power still won't believe her husband is dead. This correspondent just talked on the telephone with Ted Richmond, producer of "Solomon and Sheba," the film that starred Ty in his last tragic role. "she just refuses to believe her husband is gone," Richmond said. He was the one who had to break the news to Debbie, who is expecting a child in February.

"She's up there in her room so shocked she cannot even cry. Dry sobs are shaking her." Richmond said from Madrid's Castellana Hilton Hotel.

Richmond said he is making plans for Debbie and Power's body to fly to California Wednesday. this correspondent informed Linda Christian of Ty's death as she arrived in Paris on the Nord Express from Amsterdam, where she had celebrated her birthday with her father.

"I knew some tragedy would happen to Ty," the blonde star wailed as we drove in a limousine from the station. "An astrologer had told me last summer something would happen to Ty," Linda disclosed. "I didn't tell Ty anything because I know how much he loved life. "Once just after we were married I asked him where we should be buried and he told me, 'never speak tome of death.'"

Linda asked me about Ty's last moments and when I informed her that he died on the set she sighed: "he met his end as he would have liked to--swiftly and right in the midst of his work."

Linda is the mother of Ty's two girls, Romina and Taryn. She said that now that he is dead, she doesn't know how she will support the children, who are with her family in Mexico, but she said she believed Ty left life insurance in her or the children's names. "All this doesn't matter in the face of this tragedy," she said. Linda said her heart went out to Ty's present wife, Debbie--"I know how she must feel. "Tragedy seems to haunt the men I love," Linda confessed, gripping my arm as we rode through the still streets of Paris. "The first man I loved, the Englishman Geoffrey Wilson, was killed at El Alamein. The Marquis Portago (auto racer) came into my life. One day I had a terrible presentiment almost one of clairvoyance.

"Fon (nickname for Alfonso), I told him if you go to the race in Italy I shall bring you back on a slab and bury you beside your father." "He looked at me with wondering eyes. Then he died. "Now Ty is dead, I don't know what to do. "But I vow to bring up our children to honor his memory."

Then Linda took a letter from her handbag. It was from Power to the little daughters he adored. with breaking voice Linda read:

"My dearest Romina and Taryn, I hope you and the family are well. I think of you all the time. Be good girls and work hard in school so that your mummy and daddy can be proud of you."

In a little French hamlet near the Spanish border another woman wept for Ty. she is his first wife, French movie actress Annabella, now retired. As I talked to her on the telephone she was crying unashamedly. "A great wonderful man is now gone. It's an unbelievable tragedy for all of us who knew and loved him--but most of all a tragedy for Ty. "For Ty was looking forward to what he wanted most in the world. Not fame or fortune--but a son."

Annabella said she saw Ty and his third wife Debbie five days ago in Madrid. "We had dinner together and Ty confessed to me that he was expecting the most happy event in his life--the birth of a son."

POWER AIDED HEART APPEAL

HOLYWOOD, Nov. 15--(UPI)--Tyrone Power's last film work in Hollywood before leaving for Madrid was in an appeal for aid in the battle against heart disease, the malady that took his life today.

The film shows the actor sitting in an easy hair dressed in a robe and wearing the beard he grew for "Solomon and Sheba." He picks up an hour glass, thoughtfully looks at it, turns it upside down and says, as the sands run out: "for all of us, especially the medical scientists, the most precious element we have is time. But the time runs out all too soon for many millions of us because of a health enemy that takes more lives than all other dreaded diseases combined. "Remember, the best way to fight heart disease is through you American Heart Association."

"RITES HELD FOR ACTOR"
November 15, 1958

MADRID (AP).--Movie stars and stagehands paid their final respects Sunday to Tyrone Power at a memorial service at the U.S. Torrejon Air Base.

The 45-year-old actor suffered a heart attack on the motion picture set of "Solomon and Sheba" during a duel scene Saturday and died an hour later. Sunday his body was lying in state in the Torrejon Base hospital with only members of the "Solomon and Sheba" company and close friends being admitted.

Telegrams Pour In

Air Force Chaplain Floyd M. Patterson conducted the memorial service in a chapel in the base service club.

Thousands of telegrams of condolences continued arriving from throughout the world. Among those wiring the grief stricken widow, the former Debbie Ann Minardos, were Noel Coward, Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh, Bioly Wilder and Director Henry Hathaway.

A spokesman for the "Solomon and Sheba" company said no final decision had yet been reached on the place of burial. The young widow, a bride of only a few months who is expecting a baby in February, intends to fly to Hollywood with the body and burial probably will be in a Hollywood cemetary.

"MUST STOP, SAYS TY--DIES"
TYRONE POWER DIES AT 45
New York Mirror, Sunday, November 16, 1958

MADRID, Nov. 15--Tyrone Power died suddenly today as he had lived--in the creation of a legend. He was 45.

The handsome, dashing hero of stage and film collapsed with a heart attack on a movie set at the height of a gripping scene in which he portrayed the great biblical King Solomon. Halting in mid-action, he said, "I've got to stop. I don't feel well." Within the hour, he was dead.

His beautiful, brunette bride of five months, Debbie Ann Minardos, who is expecting a baby in February, was overcome by uncontrollable grief after crying out at the news: "I don't believe it, I don't believe it."

A few hours after his death, arrangements were made to fly the body to the U.s. by military plane, probably tomorrow. the body had been removed to the U.S. Air Force Base at Torejon, 13 miles from Madrid and plans were held up for some time because his widow was too shocked to discuss arrangements with embassy officials.

There was no mention of religious ceremonies. Ty was born a Roman Catholic. Ty died shortly after being rushed to a hospital in the car of his leading lady, Gina Lollobrigida.

Equally stunned by tragedy were Annabella, Ty's first wife, who had loved him to the end, and his second mate and mother of his two children, Linda Christian, who swayed, broke into tears and exclaimed: "Oh my god. Ty, Ty..."

Mourned Annabella: "He was a man of wonderful kindness. for me, he is irreplaceable."

Ty's death was a shocking duplicate of that of his actor-father, Frederick Tyrone Power, who was stricken fatally on a Hollywood set while filming the "Miracle Man" in 1931.

It came as Ty jousted with veteran actor George Sanders, 52, who was playing Solomon's older brother in the picture--"Solomon and Sheba"--and who was to be killed in the action. Instead of applying the finishing touches, however, Ty suddenly held up his hand weakly to signify "cut," lit a cigarette and murmured: "I've got to stop. I don't feel well." He walked slowly to his dressing room and a nurse was summoned. In the dressing room, Ty asked Producer Ted Richmond for brandy, saying: "I'll be all right in a little while."

When Richmond suggested postponing the scene. Ty smiled feebly and said: "No. Just give me a few minutes and we'll go on."

Ty took a little sip of brandy and pitched to the floor. While the rest of the crew watched in disbelief, Richmond helped cart Ty to Gina's red Mercedes sedan, parked in front of Ty's dressing room, and rushed him to the hospital.

When the announcement of his death from angina pectoris--came, director King Vidor, who had stopped all shooting sat down on the floor and, in the words of Richmond, "cried like a baby."

Gina collapsed and was nearly incoherent as she sobbed: "It was terrible, terrible. I still see his face before me." She said that earlier she had noticed Ty had gone "white in the face" and she had told him he must take care of himself, that he had been working too hard. but he just said: "It's nothing, I'll be all right." Richmond, who was at the bedside when Ty died, left immediately to tell Debbie Ann, 26, who had wed him only last May 8 in tunica, Miss.

The death ended a brilliant career in which Ty, scion of a long line of actors, came out of Cincinnati to captivate the hearts of Hollywood and movie fans as few ever had done before or since.

Handsome, gifted with charm, poise and ease of manners he was the stuff women's dreams are made of. Withall, he was undeniably masculine and rose to fame on the wings of swashbuckling parts in romantic films.

BORN IN CINCINNATI on May 5, 1913, he had his first stage role at 7. After graduating from high school, he began preparing for a theatrical career instead of going to college. He studied Shakespearean drama under the tutelage of his father, who himself had been taught by Ty's grandfather and great grandfather, the latter being Tyrone Power, who was a popular comedian on the Dublin stage as far back as 1827. The Power baptismal name sprung form County Tyrone, Ireland, and has been passed down through the generations.

When the father was at work in the "Miracle Man," the family moved to Hollywood. After the elder Power was stricken, Ty, convinced he would be unable to get a break in Hollywood, turned to stock work i Chicago.

In 1936, he got his big break--a 20th Century contract and his starring role n "Lloyds of London."

From that time on, he was one of the brightest lights in Hollywood history. In the late 30s and early 40s--prior to the war--he was THE box office attraction.

HE STARRED IN such films as "Alexander's Ragtime Band,"; "Marie Antoinette"; "Jesse James" (whom he made more legendary even than Jesse was); "Brigham Young"; "Johnny Apollo"; "The Mark of Zorro"; "The Sun Also Rises"; "The Rains Came", and "The Eddie Duchin Story."

when World War II came, he tossed it all over and enlisted as a private in the Marines. when a friend asked why he didn't apply for a commission, Ty replied "Why should I (?) what the hell do I know about being an officer."

Whatever he needed to know, he learned quickly at Officers Candidate School, took flight training and logged 3,500 flight hours piloting a transport plane for the Marines in the Pacific. He was discharged as a captain in 1945.

WHEN HE RETURNED from service, Ty, who had married Annabella, the French actress, in 1939, became restless and chafed under the usual dashing roles he was asked to continue. He explained: "Right now freedom is the greatest thing in the world to me. Nothing else matters."

Soon, in 1948, he was free from Annabella, the woman who was older than he but of whom he always insisted: "She helped me discover in myself more than I've ever been able to find alone."

He used his newfound freedom--he and Annabella had no children, though she had one by a previous marriage--to travel all over the world. His romances with Hollywood and foreign lovelies were many and included a brief but hectic fling with Lana Turner.

AND THEN ON JAN. 26, 1949, the day his divorce became final, he surprised everybody by wedding global wanderer Linda Christian in a ceremony which movie fans turned into a near-riot in Rome.

The couple had two daughters, Romina Francesca, and Taryn, before the marriage ended in divorce and million-dollar settlement for Linda in 1955.

Since that time, Ty had eschewed Hollywood to go on the stage in playing "Mr. Roberts" in London, touring with "John Brown's Body" and on Broadway with "The Dark is Light Enough" and "Back to Methusaleh." He returned to Hollywood only occasionally, the last time to introduce his bride.

BUT FOR TY, the Hollywood he had known and loved, was gone. He remarked: "Movies used to be of supreme importance in Hollywood. Now they are only an adjunct. Many of the old familiar faces are gone."

His death was the more unexpected as he had had a physical checkup only a few days ago and was pronounced fit. His makeup man and friend of many years, Ray Sebastian, said he had an attack of dysentery two days ago, but had recovered in time for the difficult dueling scene.

STUDIO MAY TRY TO FINISH WITHOUT TY

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 15--The producers of the $6,000,000 film "Solomon and Sheba", will try to finish it without Tyrone Power.

Edward Small, production head, said a final decision will be made shortly whether to complete it with a stand-in. There still is a months' shooting to be done--including some love scenes--which might make a stand-in impractical.

In 1937, a similar event occurred because of the death of Jean Harlow while making "Saratoga." A stand-in was used to finish the picture, but it had already been in its last stages.

3 Who Loved Him Mourn Their Loss

PARIS, Nov. 15--The three main women in Tyrone Power's life--those who had loved and wed him--were as one in their grief for him today.

Debbie Ann Minardos, the bride he left behind, was too shaken to even weep. Wracked by dry sobs, she said she "Won't believe it."

Annabella, who wed him first, said a large part of her own life had died with Ty. "Only last week we were together," she said. "He had invited me to meet his new little wife, whom he adored. He is irreplaceable for me."

And Linda Christian, his second wife, almost fainted when she heard the news. She sobbed: "Oh Ty, Ty...I'm at a loss for words! And the poor children, to lose their father like that!"

Only yesterday, said Linda, she received a letter--his last--to the children and said she was planning to take it to them n Mexico. In it, Ty told his daughters: "Be good girls and work hard in school, so Mummy and daddy can be proud of you. Hugs and kisses to you both and all the love from your daddy." Crumbling the letter in trembling hands, Linda, obviously badly shaken, then exclaimed: "And now he's dead! He will never write then another letter." Tyrone' s death was the second such shock for Linda within a year. The Marquis de Portago of Spain, whom she was to wed, was killed in an auto race in Italy in 1957.

As for Ty, it was left to Annabella to sum up the thoughts of all three women when she said: "The most wonderful man in the world is gone."

BRYNNER TO ASSUME TYRONE POWER ROLE
New York Times; Nov. 16, 1958

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Nov. 16--Yul Brynner will assume the starring role in "Solomon and Sheba", which Tyrone Power was playing when he died of a heart attack yesterday on the set of the film in Madrid. Mr. Brynner will leave for Spain at the end of this week.

Edward Small, producer, said today at his home in Palm springs that the multimillion-dollar production "will have to be virtually reshot." It was about two-thirds completed.

He said that King Vidor, director, plans to continue filming by shooting sequences not involving the title character until Mr. Brynner arrives. The leading lady is Gina Lollobrigida.

By a turn of the fate, Mr. Brynner now is to be associated with a picture that he had turned down originally. Mr. small said Mr. Power at one time also had declined to do the picture but accepted after the script was revised. He said that Mr. Brynner found the current script to his liking and that no major changes are planned for the screen play.

"Solomon and Sheba" is being made for United Artists release and has a production budget of $5,000,000. The picture was covered partly by insurance against accidents, Mr. Small stated, but he could not estimate the amount of the additional costs.

Service Held in Madrid

MADRID, Nov. 16 (AP)--film stars and stagehands paid final respects today to Tyrone Power at a memorial service at the United States Torrejon Air Force Base.

The 44 year old actor suffered a heart attack on the motion picture set of "Solomon and Sheba" during a duel scene yesterday and died an hour later. His body lay in the Torrejon Base Hospital today with only members of the "Solomon and Sheba" company and close friends being admitted.

Floyd M. Patterson, air Force chaplain, conducted the memorial service in a chapel in the base service club.