Tales of a Hollywood Housewife: A Memoir by the First Mrs. Lee Marvin

Betty Marvin

Mar 2010 · iUniverse

About this ebook

At sixteen, Betty runs away from the small river town shes always known, to live in Los Angeles with her father, an outrageous used car salesman and avid gambler. It is the first journey in what will be a remarkable life among remarkable people: Bettys first job out of college is as Joan Crawfords nanny, caring for the Crawford children at the height of the stars career. Hollywood is about to play an even larger role in Bettys life when she meets a young ambitious actor named Lee Marvin. After a whirlwind courtship and a trip to Las Vegas, Betty and Lee are married. In this unique memoir, both hilarious and touching, we follow Betty as she creates a family with Lee, and is by his side as he works with Marlon Brando, John Wayne and a host of other stars. She is the penultimate hostess and Hollywood Housewife. Nobody knew what was really going on at home - until, unable to take Lees womanizing, drinking and abuse, Betty leaves him and strikes out on her own. What follows are adventures that could only be Betty Marvins; from the building of her career as an artist. To a love affair with an Italian King, to dire straits as investment con artists leave Betty suddenly homeless. After years of the Hollywood life, Betty is left with only her car, her dog and her typewriter. Forced to employ all of her skills to survive, she comes out on top. This is the story of a woman who finds the real riches that come with learning the value of a joyful life.

Ratings and reviews

This memoir may be both hilarious and touching, but it's also inaccurate in at least one instance--Keenan Wynn's wife Betty did NOT run off with Donald O'Connor. To even suggest such a thing is ridiculous and irresponsible.

Love Lee, but Boy, did Mrs. Marvin #1 get way more than she bargained for. An honest, moving, and sometimes devastatingly sad account of two fractured families's kids coming together who both could have used a lot of couch time before, during & after meeting.

About the author

Betty Marvin received a BFA and MFA in visual art at Otis Art Institute. She was raised by her maternal grandparents in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. At twenty-three, after a whirlwind relationship, she married actor Lee Marvin. This is the story of the ups and downs of her life in Hollywood.