Rex Harrison was cancer to women. Poor Carole Landis!

In early 1947 with Horace in New York, Carole met Rex Harrison on the set of “Out of the Blue”. Within days, they were spending every spare moment together. Carole was in love again but Rex was just looking for another conquest. He was still very much married to actress Lilli Palmer who spent their marriage looking the other way.

One Sunday afternoon, Carole had planned a pool party with an intimate dinner with Rex. He told his friends later that, after dinner, he told Carole the affair was over. It must have been too much for her damaged heart to endure. When Rex left, she took all of her personal files and mementos, sorted them into two bags with a note on one for Rex. One bag was found in the house, the other in the driveway of the house where Rex was staying with friends. The following morning, while Carole’s maid was making breakfast in the kitchen, Harrison burst into the house. He asked the maid to go up and check on Carole. “I think she is dead”.

In the summer of 1948, Carole had planned a pool party for that Sunday afternoon with an intimate dinner with Rex. He told his friends later that, after dinner, he told Carole the affair was over. It must have been too much for her damaged heart to endure. When Rex left, she took all of her personal files and mementos, sorted them into two bags with a note on one for Rex. One bag was found in the house, the other in the driveway of the house where Rex was staying with friends. The following morning, while Carole’s maid was making breakfast in the kitchen, Harrison burst into the house. He asked the maid to go up and check on Carole. “I think she is dead”.

They found Carole sprawled on the bathroom floor. An empty pill bottle lay nearby. Harrison, who claimed he felt a slight pulse, fled the house, ostensibly to call the doctor or police. He did neither until a full hour later when he returned. But they had already been called. The coroner determined Carole had been dead 12 hours. Since notes were found (one to Rex and one to her mother) a brief inquest declared the death a suicide. The note to Rex was never disclosed and was among the articles later burned by Harrison and his wife. Harrison bribed a police officer to destroy it. But Hollywood, the press and Carole’s fans would hold Rex Harrison responsible.

In the suicide note she left for her mother was written: “Dearest Mommie, I’m sorry, really sorry, to put you through this but there is no way to avoid it. I love you darling, you have been the most wonderful mom ever. And that applies to all our family. I love each and every one of them dearly. Everything goes to you—look in the files and there is a will which decrees everything. Good bye, my angel. Pray for me, Your Baby.”