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The 1974 film [[Chinatown (1974 film)|''Chinatown'']]'s main character, played by [[Jack Nicholson]], was also based in part on Fred Otash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaljournal.com/article/351945 |title=Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die' |last=Morales |first=Eric |publisher=Digital Journal |date=2013-06-10 |accessdate=2013-06-16}}</ref>
The 1974 film [[Chinatown (1974 film)|''Chinatown'']]'s main character, played by [[Jack Nicholson]], was also based in part on Fred Otash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaljournal.com/article/351945 |title=Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die' |last=Morales |first=Eric |publisher=Digital Journal |date=2013-06-10 |accessdate=2013-06-16}}</ref>


Author [[James Ellroy]] has used a fictionalized version of Fred Otash in all three of the novels in his [[Underworld USA Trilogy]];<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508 |title=Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession |last=Galloway |first=Stephen |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2013-06-06|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> Otash appears in ''[[The Cold Six Thousand]]'' and ''[[Blood's a Rover]]''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> Otash is also the main character in the sordid, fictional Ellroy novella, ''Shakedown'', which Ellroy was in development with for [[HBO]], in 2013.<ref>[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.]</ref> In 2021, Ellroy published a full-length novel narrated by the fictional Otash, ''Widespread Panic''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ellroy|first=James|title= Widespread Panic|year=2021 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1245842550|isbn= 9781785152580|oclc=1245842550|access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref> It was followed in 2023 by a sequel, ''The Enchanters''.
Author [[James Ellroy]] has used a fictionalized version of Fred Otash in all three of the novels in his [[Underworld USA Trilogy]];<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508 |title=Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession |last=Galloway |first=Stephen |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2013-06-06|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> Otash appears in ''[[The Cold Six Thousand]]'' and ''[[Blood's a Rover]]''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> Otash is also the main character in the sordid, fictional Ellroy novella, ''Shakedown'', which Ellroy was in development with for [[HBO]], in 2013.<ref>[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.]</ref> In 2021, Ellroy published a full-length novel narrated by the fictional Otash, ''Widespread Panic''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ellroy|first=James|title= Widespread Panic|year=2021 |publisher=William Heinemann |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1245842550|isbn= 9781785152580|oclc=1245842550|access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref> 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.
On 4/16/2024, 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.


==References==
==References==
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*[http://venetianvase.co.uk/2010/01/27/fred-otash-private-eye-to-the-stars/ Fred Otash private eye to the stars]
*[http://venetianvase.co.uk/2010/01/27/fred-otash-private-eye-to-the-stars/ Fred Otash private eye to the stars]
*[http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/otash_fred_t.html Otash Fred at University of Texas]
*[http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/otash_fred_t.html Otash Fred at University of Texas]
*http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/fredotash.html retrieved June 23, 2012
*[http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/fredotash.html Fred Otash at Pimall]
*http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2011/02/back-in-the-news-fred-otash.html retrieved June 24, 2012
*[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2011/02/back-in-the-news-fred-otash.html Back in the News: Fred Otash]
*{{cite web |url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/14170/20130610/marylin-monroe-death-fred-otash-witnessed-murder-heard-tapes-sex.htm|title=Marilyn Monroe Death: Fred Otash Witnessed Murder? Heard Tapes Of Sex Scandal With President Kennedy, Conspiracy Plot Thickens |last=Gebremariam |first=Mereb |authorlink= |publisher=Mstars News |date=10 June 2013 |work=Mstars News |accessdate=11 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/14170/20130610/marylin-monroe-death-fred-otash-witnessed-murder-heard-tapes-sex.htm|title=Marilyn Monroe Death: Fred Otash Witnessed Murder? Heard Tapes Of Sex Scandal With President Kennedy, Conspiracy Plot Thickens |last=Gebremariam |first=Mereb |authorlink= |date=10 June 2013 |work=Mstars News |accessdate=11 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/world-news/marilyn-monroe8217s-death-sex-with-jfk-taped-by-private-eye-fred-otash/story-fndir2ev-1226661134249|title=Marilyn Monroe's death, sex with JFK, taped by private eye Fred Otash |last= |first= | authorlink= |publisher=news.com.au |date=10 June 2013|work=news.com.au |accessdate=11 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/world-news/marilyn-monroe8217s-death-sex-with-jfk-taped-by-private-eye-fred-otash/story-fndir2ev-1226661134249|title=Marilyn Monroe's death, sex with JFK, taped by private eye Fred Otash |last= |first= | authorlink= |date=10 June 2013|work=news.com.au |accessdate=11 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/78489128.html|title= Old Hollywood Post: The Fred Otash Files |last= |first= |authorlink= |publisher= |date=7 June 2013 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/78489128.html|title= Old Hollywood Post: The Fred Otash Files |last= |first= |authorlink= |publisher= |date=7 June 2013 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/marilyn-monroe-sex-tape-private-investigator-fred-otash-reveals-he-spied-jfk-love-affair-1301755#|title= Marilyn Monroe Sex Tape: Private Investigator Fred Otash Reveals He Spied On JFK Love Affair |last=Schumann |first=Rebecka |authorlink= |work= [[International Business Times]] |date=11 June 2013 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/marilyn-monroe-sex-tape-private-investigator-fred-otash-reveals-he-spied-jfk-love-affair-1301755#|title= Marilyn Monroe Sex Tape: Private Investigator Fred Otash Reveals He Spied On JFK Love Affair |last=Schumann |first=Rebecka |authorlink= |work= [[International Business Times]] |date=11 June 2013 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}
*http://blog.everlasting-star.net/2013/06/relationships/fred-otash-the-marilyn-tapes/ posted 7 June 2013, retrieved 24 June 2013
*[http://blog.everlasting-star.net/2013/06/relationships/fred-otash-the-marilyn-tapes/ Fred Otash The Marilyn Tapes]
*http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508?page=show published June 6, 2013, retrieved June 24, 2013
*http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508?page=show published June 6, 2013, retrieved June 24, 2013
*{{Find a Grave|85923842|accessdate= 11 June 2013}}
*{{Find a Grave|85923842|accessdate= 11 June 2013}}

Latest revision as of 06:31, 21 December 2024

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[citation needed]

Personal life

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[12] It was followed in 2023 by a sequel, The Enchanters.

On 4/16/2024, 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.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The real-life Ray Donovans: Fixers behind Tinseltown's dark secrets", by Tim Walker, Independent, July 14, 2013.
  2. ^ "Mike Wallace Television Interview". 1957-08-25. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  3. ^ Oliver, Myrna (1992-10-08). "Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  4. ^ a b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  5. ^ Jones, M.A. "US Government Memorandum" (PDF). National Archives. NARA. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Divorced Star Rejoins Her Cop a Week Later". Daily News. New York, New York City. November 5, 1950. p. B 10. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Vice Squad Officer's Wife Given Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. June 19, 1952. p. Part II - 10. Retrieved November 17, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Otash, Fred, Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective (1976), Henry Regnery Company. ISBN 0809280132
  9. ^ Morales, Eric (2013-06-10). "Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  10. ^ a b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  11. ^ "FX, James Ellroy Developing Drama Based on Famed Detective Fred Otash", by Lesley Goldberg, April 22, 2013.
  12. ^ Ellroy, James (2021), Widespread Panic, William Heinemann, ISBN 9781785152580, OCLC 1245842550, retrieved 2021-06-20
[edit]
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