Libby Holman, born in 1904, was a close friend of actor Montgomery Clift. Though Montgomery Clift was gay, they supposedly had a romantic and sexual relationship for a period of time. Their relationship lasted for about ten years, with Holman becoming a mentor to him. In her heyday, Holman was a famous torch singer and musical stage actress of the 1920s and 1930s. Her hit recordings included Am I Blue? and Body and Soul and Moanin' Low. She was also well known for her unconventional and complex personal life. Her lovers included both men and women and at 27, she married Zachary Smith Reynolds, a man seven years younger than herself and an heir to a fortune. A few months after their marriage, he died of a gunshot wound after a party at his family estate and Holman was accused of his murder. The charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. She reportedly later said, "You want to know the truth? The night Smith Reynolds died, I was so drunk I can't remember what happened!". The scandal tarnished her career; however, she continued to perform and make records. Holman died by suicide in 1971 at age 67.
