Fred Otash Explained

Fred Otash (January 7, 1922 – October 5, 1992) was a Los Angeles police officer, private investigator, author, and a WWII Marine veteran, who became known as a Hollywood fixer, while operating as its "most infamous" private detective; he is most remembered as "the inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character Jake Gittes in the film, Chinatown.[1] He was interviewed numerous times in the media, including in 1957 by Mike Wallace, an interview that can be viewed online via the University of Texas.[2]

Early life and family

Fred Otash was the youngest of six children born to Lebanese immigrants Habib Otash and Marian Jabour; his siblings were: Evelyn Abisalih, Grace Steiner, Selma Otash, Lila Merhige, and one brother, Mitchell.[3]

Career

Otash worked for Hollywood Research Incorporated, which did business with the tabloid magazine Confidential.[4] He is also known for being hired by Peter Lawford to investigate Marilyn Monroe.[4] An FBI file released as part of the JFK Assassination Records suggest that Otash was investigating Lawford and John F. Kennedy, and attempted to talk a call girl into arranging a meeting with Kennedy in which she would wear a wire to record incriminating statements.[5]

Otash also was involved in the investigation of the "Wrong Door Raid" involving Frank Sinatra.

Personal life

On January 6, 1950, Otash married film actress Doris Houck, at the Beverly Hills courthouse. They were divorced twice: the first order was vacated following a November 1950 reconciliation,[6] and their final divorce was granted June 19, 1952.[7] He maintained residences at the Jockey Club, in Miami, Florida, and in Cannes, France. Otash suffered from emphysema and high blood pressure.

Death

Otash died at the age of 70, on October 5, 1992, at his West Hollywood home. He was survived by his daughter, Colleen Gabrielle Otash.[6]

Legacy

Otash wrote about his life in his memoir, Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs of Hollywood's Top Private Detective.[8]

The 1974 film Chinatown's main character, played by Jack Nicholson, was also based in part on Fred Otash.[9]

Author James Ellroy has used a fictionalized version of Fred Otash in all three of the novels in his Underworld USA Trilogy;[10] Otash appears in The Cold Six Thousand and Blood's a Rover.[10] Otash is also the main character in the sordid, fictional Ellroy novella, Shakedown, which Ellroy was in development with for HBO, in 2013.[11] In 2021, Ellroy published a full-length novel narrated by the fictional Otash, Widespread Panic. It was followed in 2023 by a sequel, The Enchanters.

On 4/16/24, a biography of Fred Otash, The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars and Marilyn, authored by Josh Young and Manfred Westphal was published by Grand Central Publishing. It is a best seller on Amazon books in several categories.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-real-life-ray-donovans-fixers-behind-tinseltowns-dark-secrets-8707532.html "The real-life Ray Donovans: Fixers behind Tinseltown's dark secrets", by Tim Walker, Independent, July 14, 2013.
  2. Web site: Mike Wallace Television Interview . 1957-08-25 . 2013-06-16.
  3. Web site: Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author . Oliver . Myrna . . 1992-10-08 . 2013-06-10.
  4. Web site: Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession . Galloway . Stephen . . 2013-06-06 . 2013-06-10.
  5. Web site: Jones. M.A.. US Government Memorandum. National Archives. NARA. 27 October 2017.
  6. News: Divorced Star Rejoins Her Cop a Week Later . Daily News . November 5, 1950 . New York, New York City . B 10. Newspapers.com. January 25, 2019.
  7. News: Vice Squad Officer's Wife Given Divorce . The Los Angeles Times . June 19, 1952 . California, Los Angeles . Part II - 10. Newspapers.com. November 17, 2018.
  8. Otash, Fred, Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective (1976), Henry Regnery Company.
  9. Web site: Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die' . Morales . Eric . Digital Journal . 2013-06-10 . 2013-06-16.
  10. Web site: Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession . Galloway . Stephen . The Hollywood Reporter . 2013-06-06. 2013-06-10.
  11. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fx-james-ellroy-fx-fred-otash-444022 "FX, James Ellroy Developing Drama Based on Famed Detective Fred Otash", by Lesley Goldberg, April 22, 2013.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fred Otash".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.