Johnny Stompanato

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Johnny Stompanato, Jr. (October 9, 1925–April 4, 1958) was a former United States Marine and the well-known mobster boyfriend of the late actress Lana Turner and bodyguard to the late gangster Mickey Cohen.

Born in Indiana, Stompanato had at least one brother, Carmine, who, as of 2006, still lives in Indiana and serves as a Presbyterian elder.

[edit] Public Murder Trial

Johnny Stompanato was stabbed to death on the night of April 4 (Good Friday), 1958, apparently by Turner's daughter, Cheryl Crane, who claimed she was protecting her mother from him at her mother's home in Beverly Hills. Stompanato was known to have been severely abusive, jealous and possessive of Turner for quite some time. She had attempted to end their relationship on several instances, but he had always kept her from doing so.[1] [2]

The incident was ruled justifiable homicide, although Stompanato's family vehemently disagreed with the ruling. There have been endless rumors since that time that Lana was the actual killer and that her minor daughter, who faced minimal judicial punishment under the circumstances, took the rap for her. However, there is insufficient evidence to prove such claims. [3]

Johnny Stompanato is interred at Oakland Cemetery, Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois.

[edit] Trivia

In the film adaptation of L.A. Confidential, Stompanato was portrayed by Italian actor Paolo Seganti. The previously announced film featuring Keanu Reeves as Johnny Stompanato has been cancelled. [4]

Allegedly, while filming the movie, Another Time, Another Place, Lana Turner was rumored to have been having an affair with her costar, actor Sean Connery. Stompanato stormed onto the set, and during a verbal altercation with Connery, Stompanato waved a gun in Connery's face. Connery reacted by taking the gun away from him, physically beating Stompanato and sending him off the film set. After Stompanato's death, there were rumors that organized crime mobsters believed Connery had helped bring on the eventual demise of Stompanato, and Connery is alleged to have laid low for a time. There is no evidence that Connery and Turner were having an affair; this sort of behavior was apparently normal for Stompanato.[5] [6] [7] [8]