How 12 Hollywood Legends Found Faith

In her recently released book, "Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends," Mary Claire Kendall delves deep into the lives of 12 Hollywood stars from Tinseltown's golden age to reveal a side of them most are unfamiliar with: their faith journeys. Whether they came from broken homes, struggled with addictions, or were rampant adulterers, each of the stars featured in "Oasis" rose from their own personal battle to find comfort and healing in faith.

Townhall had a chance to catch up with Kendall about her book and in the interview below you'll find out what her inspiration for writing "Oasis" was, which stories are her favorite, and what she hopes readers will take away from it.

Townhall: Your first chapter was pretty shocking, I had no idea that that early on abortions, the affairs, and everything that was going on in Hollywood, it's very similar to things we hear today. I was wondering what, if anything, you thought has changed about it today.

Kendall: Right, I know. The Gloria Swanson story was amazing. Food poisoning? But she was royalty.

I think what's changed today is the culture is not as conservative. The culture was more conservative back in the 20s and early 30s and Hollywood needed to clean up its act. Initially, in the teens and 20s, there were no rules governing what they put on the screen. Adolph Zukor complained 'youâ€™re picking my pocket' because there was that element he was appealing to—Hollywood being both art and commerce. (It's just the human condition. Let's be honest. People can be bottom-feeders.) But, the society at large was more conservative so, as a consequence, they had to clean up their act. That's when the production code was instituted and Hollywood began making films more in tune with the culture.

Now, fast forward to the 60s, when there was the new French wave and the culture was changing with the sexual revolution. (And, film, art, does reflect life.) And, there were no guideposts to kind of rein things in. Whereas in the 20s, when it was wild, with prohibition opening the floodgates as stars tested the limits, society collectively put its foot down.

Townhall: When I got to the part about the morals clause I think my jaw dropped, just imagining something like that happening there today is crazy.

Kendall: I know, I know, and they did it because Gloria Swanson, known as the "Queen of Hollywood," lived very large.

Townhall: How did you find all the stories, or how did you narrow down which to include?

Kendall: There were so many stars I could write about and obviously I'm very focused on Hollywood from its origins and I was focused on faith journeys. I was starting with Betty Hutton, and her faith journey, her life, just kind of galvanized my interest in stars and faith journeys. So then from there, it just kind of built. I have a good friend, Fr. C. John McCloskey, who when Jane Wyman died said 'another conversion story for you.' So I wrote about her. Then I was introduced to my friend A.C. Lyles, who was Ronald Reagan's best friend. I called him up because I was doing an article about Betty Hutton for Newport Life Magazine and got to know him just because he had given her eulogy. (Well he gave all the stars' eulogies, he was just charming.) So from there he introduced me to Gary Cooper's daughter because I knew Gary Cooper had had a really interesting faith journey. (Actually, Gary Cooper had a role in getting A.C. out to Hollywood.) And so I had this base of stories Gary Cooper, Betty Hutton, Jane Wyman. Then I wrote about Patricia Neal because Maria Cooper Janice had introduced me to Mother Dolores Hart, who wrote the Foreword to "Oasis." So you can see it's all interconnected, and it just wove together beautifully, and I was actually writing a book about Hemingway and one of the publishers said 'You know this might be a good book to start with—your book of profiles,' which I also mentioned to him. So, I really focused and then landed the publisher, Franciscan Media.

Kendall: Yes, I do see a sequel. Actually I'm working on Sir Alec Guinness' story now, as part of that, or possibly as a stand-alone.

Townhall: I was familiar with all the names in "Oasis," but I really had no idea about the details of their lives. Like you mentioned, Betty Hutton's story stood out to me as one of the more powerful conversion stories just because it's so hard to imagine a modern day celebrity finding herself homeless. Do you have any favorite stories within the book?

Well Betty Hutton really is one of my favorite stories. Though, sometimes I get a double-take so to speak in interviews. But, the fact is, she is a template for this book. Because, as A.C. Lyles described very vividly, she was huge, just was one of the biggest, most important stars, they ever had at Paramount, rising to the top overnight. But, because of her addiction to prescription pills, she torpedoed. So, her story is very current. She can speak to the stars today. Some of them are losing their battle. It was just a miracle how, over 20 years, she fell so low, becoming homeless, and gradually came out of that pit. So, yes, she is one of my favorites.

Gary Cooper is a favorite because his is such a beautiful story, you know, he was just Mr. Hollywood, Mr. Debonair, Mr. All American. Words defy describing Gary Cooper because he just … had that style, and he had that weakness he was a female magnet. And, along with that went the fame, the celebrity. And, in his own words he finally realized he didn't want to be such a "bum." And then after he turned his life around, he got sick and then saw his last days was God's will when most people would be bitter.

Townhall: Was anything surprising to you in your research since you'd been doing all these profiles for awhile?

Kendall: Lana Turner. I didn't know the details of her life. And, I did a big event up in New York, Park Avenue, organized by Maria Cooper Janis, the daughter of Gary Cooper. And, Time Magazine's Jeffrey Kluger, who's an author, was there and he asked me 'Is there anyone besides Gary Cooper that you'd like to have known?' I said Lana Turner because I would've loved to have told her 'Don't do it, Lana! He's not going to make you happy, don't marry him.' Yes, Lana Turner was a surprise. But they were all surprising because what's really surprising is how, actors are very vulnerable. My mother always used to say, 'your weakness is your strength, your strength is your weakness.' And, they were really weak, but strong in the weak places. But, some of the decisions they made, you think, really? Mary Astor was beautiful…really? She's the same. Really? She was so beautiful but her choice in men! But, she had had that abusive childhood and was looking for strength, support, emotional stability.

Kendall: Well this gets to what's new about my book, it really does show "the soul behind the billboard," as my friend Harry Flynn, publicist to Bob Hope, summed it up. Ron Masak said what I wrote were stories he never knew, he never heard them. They really show their human side. We owe these stars a lot of gratitude because they really bring a lot of joy into our lives, still to this day. Like when you watch "Meet Me in St. Louis," "The Three Godfathers," "Meet John Doe," and other Christmas films these stars were in, and to understand all that went into it and what they struggled with, I think that's really important. And, it tells us a lot about ourselves as well, I think, and also gives us insight into the spiritual journey. I love the Lana Turner quote when she was having a turnaround in the 80s and she was so happy and she said she knew that God was in her soul because all the happiness had to come from somewhere. That's brilliant, really.

Townhall: Is there anything else about the book you'd like our readers to know that I haven't asked you about?

Kendall: Most, not all, of the celebrities had a religious and faith foundation. Then, they had some kind of life crisis, and someone, usually a priest or spouse or other friend, intervened in their lives. To some, their work was their salvation, initially. I can relate. My mother was the one who suggested the idea for this book. And, in the midst of writing it, as the deadline was looming, she became sick and suddenly died within the month. And, I was so blessed to have this book because she was my best friend and her death was an enormous loss. Besides that parallel, the faith of these stars, these legends, was their ultimate salvation and source of healing. I can relate to that too!

no kidding. A lot of the utes won’t recognize most of these, but the geezers will. Got this from my MCL. I haven’t chased down the accuracy.

George Gobel comedian, Army Air Corps,
Sterling Hayden , US Marines and OSS. Smuggled guns into Yugoslavia and parachuted into Croatia. Silver Star.

James Stewart , US Army Air Corps. Bomber pilot who rose to the rank of General.

Ernest Borgnine , US Navy. Gunners Mate 1c, destroyer USS Lamberton. 10 years active duty. Discharged 1941, re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor.

Ed McMahon , US Marines. Fighter Pilot. (Flew OE-1 Bird Dogs over Korea as well.)

Telly Savalas , US Army.
Walter Matthau, US Army Air Corps., B-24 Radioman/Gunner and cryptographer.
Steve Forrest , US Army. Wounded, Battle of the Bulge.
Jonathan Winters , USMC. Battleship USS Wisconsin and Carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. Anti-aircraft gunner, Battle of Okinawa.

Paul Newman , US Navy Rear seat gunner/radsioman, torpedo bombers of USS Bunker Hill.

Kirk Douglas , US Navy. Sub-chaser in the Pacific. Wounded in action and medically discharged.

Robert Mitchum , US Army.captain and trainer
Dale Robertson , US Army. Tank Commander in North Africa under Patton. Wounded twice. Battlefield Commission.

Henry Fonda , US Navy. Destroyer USS Satterlee.
John Carroll , US Army Air Corps. Pilot in North Africa. Broke his back in a crash.
Lee Marvin US Marines. Sniper. Wounded in action on Saipan. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Sec. 7A next to Greg Boyington and Joe Louis.

Art Carney , US Army. Wounded on Normandy beach, D-Day. Limped for the rest of his life.

Wayne Morris , US Navy fighter pilot, USS Essex. Downed seven Japanese fighters.

Rod Steiger , US Navy. Was aboard one of the ships that launched the Doolittle Raid.

Tony Curtis , US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus. In Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan.

Larry Storch . US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus with Tony Curtis.
Forrest Tucker , US Army. Enlisted as a private, rose to Lieutenant.
Robert Montgomery , US Navy.
George Kennedy , US Army. Enlisted after Pearl Harbor, stayed in sixteen years.
Mickey Rooney , US Army under Patton. Bronze Star.
Denver Pyle , US Navy. Wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Medically discharged.

Burgess Meredith , US Army Air Corps.
DeForest Kelley , US Army Air Corps.
Robert Stack , US Navy. Gunnery Officer.
Neville Brand , US Army, Europe. Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Tyrone Power , US Marines. Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater.
Charlton Heston, US Army Air Corps. Radio operator and aerial gunner on a B-25, Aleutians.

Danny Aiello , US Army. Lied about his age to enlist at 16. Served three years.

James Arness , US Army. As an infantryman, he was severely wounded at Anzio, Italy.

Efram Zimbalist, Jr ., US Army. Purple Heart for a severe wound received at Huertgen Forest.

Mickey Spillane , US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot and later Instructor Pilot.

Rod Serling . US Army. 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific. He jumped at Tagaytay in the Philippines and was later wounded in Manila.

Gene Autry , US Army Air Corps. Crewman on transports that ferried supplies over “The Hump” in the China Burma-India Theater.

Wiliam Holden , US Army Air Corps.pilot
Alan Hale Jr , US Coast Guard.
Harry Dean Stanton , US Navy. Battle of Okinawa.
Russell Johnson , US Army Air Corps. B-24 crewman who was awarded Purple Heart when his aircraft was shot down by the
Japanese in the Philippines.

William Conrad , US Army Air Corps. Fighter Pilot.
Jack Klugman , US Army.
Frank Sutton , US Army. Took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan and Corregidor.

Jackie Coogan , US Army Air Corps. Volunteered for gliders and flew troops and materials into Burma behind enemy lines.

Tom Bosley , US Navy.
Claude Akins , US Army. Signal Corps., Burma and the Philippines.
Chuck Connors , US Army. Tank-warfare instructor.
Harry Carey Jr ., US Navy.
Mel Brooks , US Army. Combat Engineer. Saw action in the Battle of the Bulge.

Robert Altman , US Army Air Corps. B-24 Co-Pilot.
Pat Hingle , US Navy. Destroyer USS Marshall
Fred Gwynne , US Navy. Radioman.
Karl Malden , US Army Air Corps. 8th Air Force, NCO.
Earl Holliman . US Navy. Lied about his age to enlist. Discharged after a year when the Navy found out.

Rock Hudson , US Navy. Aircraft mechanic, the Philippines.
Harvey Korman , US Navy.
Aldo Ray . US Navy. UDT frogman, Okinawa.
Don Knotts , US Army, Pacific Theater .
Don Rickles , US Navy aboard USS Cyrene.
Harry Dean Stanton , US Navy. Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa.

Soupy Sales , US Navy. Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific.

Lee Van Cleef , US Navy. Served aboard a sub chaser then a mine sweeper.

Clifton James , US Army, South Pacific. Was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Ted Knight , US Army, Combat Engineers.
Jack Warden , US Navy, 1938-1942, then US Army, 1942-1945. 101st Airborne Division.

Don Adams . US Marines. Wounded on Guadalcanal, then served as a Drill Instructor.

James Gregory , US Navy and US Marines.
Brian Keith , US Marines. Radioman/Gunner in Dauntless dive-bombers.

Fess Parker , US Navy and US Marines. Booted from pilot training for being too tall, joined Marines as a radio operator.

Charles Durning . US Army. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. Shot multiple times. Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Survived Malmedy Massacre.

Raymond Burr , US Navy. Shot in the stomach on Okinawa and medically discharged.

Hugh O’Brian , US Marines.
Robert Ryan , US Marines.
Eddie Albert, US Coast Guard. Bronze Star with Combat V for saving several Marines under heavy fire as pilot of a landing craft during the invasion of Tarawa.

Clark Gable , US Army Air Corps. B-17 gunner over Europe.
Charles Bronson , US Army Air Corps. B-29 gunner, wounded in action.
Peter Graves , US Army Air Corps.
Buddy Hackett , US Army anti-aircraft gunner.
Victor Mature , US Coast Guard.
Jack Palance , US Army Air Corps.pilot Severely injured bailing out of a burning B-24 bomber.

Robert Preston , US Army Air Corps. Intelligence Officer
Cesar Romero , US Coast Guard. Coast Guard. Participated in the invasions of Tinian and Saipan on the assault transport USS Cavalier.

Norman Fell , US Army Air Corps., Tail Gunner, Pacific Theater.

Jason Robards , US Navy. was aboard heavy cruiser USS Northampton when it was sunk off Guadalcanal. Also served on the USS Nashville during the invasion of the Philippines, surviving a kamikaze hit that caused 223 casualties.

Steve Reeves, US Army, Philippines.
Dennis Weaver , US Navy. Pilot.
Robert Taylor , US Navy. Instructor Pilot.
Randolph Scott . Tried to enlist in the Marines but was rejected due to injuries sustained in US Army, World War 1.

Ronald Reagan . US Army. Was a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry before the war. His poor eyesight kept him from being sent overseas with his unit when war came so he transferred to the Army Air Corps Public Relations Unit where he served for the duration training and teaching .

John Wayne. Declared “4F medically unfit” due to pre-existing back injuries, he nonetheless attempted to volunteer three times (Army, Navy and Film Corps.) joined the fighting CB’s the army building corps roads etc. so he gets honorable mention and thank you.

And of course we have Audie Murphy, America’s most-decorated soldier, who became a Hollywood star as a result of his US Army service that included his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

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