Walburga Oesterreich
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Walburga "Dolly" Oesterreich (b. approx 1864 or 1870 in Germany or Milwaukee, Wisconsin; d. 1961 in Los Angeles) was an American homemaker and wife of a wealthy textile manufacturer. She is famous for her bizarre affair with Walter Klein. The story inspired The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom and was the basis for a TV film starring Neil Patrick Harris.
Oesterreich first became friendly with Klein around 1903 and described him as her "vagabond half-brother."[1] While living in Milwaukee, Klein lived in an attic unknown to Oesterreich's husband, Fred Oesterreich.[1] When the Oesterreichs moved to Los Angeles, a second secret room was constructed for Klein.[1] In 1922, after overhearing an argument between the Oesterreichs, Klein came out of the attic, shot Fred Oesterreich, and pushed Walburga Oesterreich into a closet.[1] The door was locked from the outside, and therefore Oestereich was not charged in the killing of her husband; Klein escaped punishment for 8 years.[1]
