J.D. Blackwell articles

Janis Joplin made Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" a number-one hit, but he never got over Joplin's death.

Robert Redford’s rise in Hollywood felt almost inevitable. With classic good looks and a quiet intensity, he quickly stood out in the 1960s film scene. But Redford was never just a pretty face.

From the moment Leif Garrett stepped into the spotlight, everyone assumed he was destined for greatness. But behind the teen-idol grin lurked a far darker truth. Pushed into roles he never wanted and controlled by people who valued profit over his well-being, Garrett was dragged into a world of secrets, pressure, and destructive habits he could never outrun—setting the stage for a lifetime of battles no fan ever saw coming.

David Soul had parallel successful careers as an actor and a singer-songwriter.

Richard Burton was one of Hollywood’s wildest hellraisers and a formidable acting talent. But it was his tempestuous romance with Elizabeth Taylor that provided the world with the most delicious tabloid fodder: Vicious fights, passionate displays of affection, and bitter betrayal. Still, no matter how bright he burned—Burton was always doomed to a heartbreaking end.

Sal Mineo was one of Hollywood's most promising young stars, but his life ended in one devastating instant.

The 50s was a glamorous era, and curvy actresses were the epitome of it. Styled as England’s answer to Marilyn Monroe, Diana Dors was one of the women who exuded sensuality during a time of restrained femininity. The gorgeous actress seemed destined for greatness, that is, until her scandalous personal life threw a terrible shadow over everything.

Tom Laughlin directed and starred in the cult classic Billy jack, among his many other accomplishments.

Chuck Connors was a rare two-sport athlete who went on to a legendary TV career as "The Rifleman."