#dorothystratten

Daily drawing 23 aug 2024

DOROTHY STRATTEN

1960-1980

            Dorothy Stratten (Hoogstraten) was a Canadian Playboy model (1979-1980) who also dabbled in acting.

            Stratten, 20, was murdered by Paul Snider on 14 August 1980. The couple’s relationship came to an end and a divorce was to proceed. Paul lured Dorothy to his home and told her it was so they could ‘discuss their divorce’.

Paul was living with his private investigator Stephen Cushner who wasn’t home at the time of her murder.  Stephen came home and found Paul’s bedroom door was closed. Hours later Stephen went into Paul’s room and discovered the bodies of both Paul and Dorothy. Paul had assaulted Dorothy before he took her life and then took his own.

Dorothy met Paul in 1977, Paul, 26 worked at a club and worked as a pimp. Dorothy, 19, was photographed in the buff by Paul who sent her photos to Playboy. In 1978, the couple married in Las Vegas and lived in Los Angeles.

Hugh Hefner encouraged Dorothy to get into acting, she first appeared on the TV series, Fantasy Island. Hefner witnessed Paul’s disturbing behaviour and warned Dorothy that she should break up with him. Paul was toxic so Dorothy broke up with him and started seeing director Peter Bogdanovich, she filed for divorce and moved in with Peter. Paul who was controlling and abusive, had his private investigator follow her.  

Peter wrote the memoir Killing of the Unicorn Dorothy Stratten (1984). Hefner accused Peter of preying on Dorothy’s young sister, Louise, 13. Peter denied this even though in 1988, Peter, 49, married Louise, 20 – they divorced in 2001.

Bryan Adams dedicated his song The Best Was Yet to Come (1983) to Dorothy.