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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

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

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

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

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

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

^ "The real-life Ray Donovans: Fixers behind Tinseltown's dark secrets", by Tim Walker, Independent, July 14, 2013.
^ "Mike Wallace Television Interview". 1957-08-25. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
^ Oliver, Myrna (1992-10-08). "Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
^ ^a ^b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
^ Jones, M.A. "US Government Memorandum" (PDF). National Archives. NARA. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ ^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.
^ "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.
^ Otash, Fred, Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective (1976), Henry Regnery Company. ISBN 0809280132
^ Morales, Eric (2013-06-10). "Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
^ ^a ^b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
^ "FX, James Ellroy Developing Drama Based on Famed Detective Fred Otash", by Lesley Goldberg, April 22, 2013.
^ Ellroy, James (2021), Widespread Panic, William Heinemann, ISBN 9781785152580, OCLC 1245842550, retrieved 2021-06-20

External links

Fred Otash at IMDb
Los Angeles Times
Fred Otash private eye to the stars
Otash Fred at University of Texas
Fred Otash at Pimall
Back in the News: Fred Otash
Gebremariam, Mereb (10 June 2013). "Marilyn Monroe Death: Fred Otash Witnessed Murder? Heard Tapes Of Sex Scandal With President Kennedy, Conspiracy Plot Thickens". Mstars News. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
"Marilyn Monroe's death, sex with JFK, taped by private eye Fred Otash". news.com.au. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
"Old Hollywood Post: The Fred Otash Files". 7 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
Schumann, Rebecka (11 June 2013). "Marilyn Monroe Sex Tape: Private Investigator Fred Otash Reveals He Spied On JFK Love Affair". International Business Times. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
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
"Fred Otash". Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 June 2013.

[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.

[hollywoodreporter2-4] 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.

[''Daily_News''-6] "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.

[lat-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.

[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.

[hollywoodreporter1-10] 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

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+{{Short description|American private investigator (1922–1992)}}
-'''Fred Otash''' (January 7, 1922 – October 5, 1992) was a [[Hollywood]] police officer, [[private investigator]], and author. Fred Otash has been interviewed numerous times in the media, including in 1957 by [[Mike Wallace]], which can be viewed online at the University of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/otash_fred_t.html |title=Mike Wallace Television Interview |date=1957-08-25 |accessdate=2013-06-16}}</ref>
+'''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 [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] [[fixer (person)|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 (1974 film)|''Chinatown'']].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-real-life-ray-donovans-fixers-behind-tinseltowns-dark-secrets-8707532.html "The real-life Ray Donovans: Fixers behind Tinseltown's dark secrets", by Tim Walker, ''Independent'', July 14, 2013.]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/otash_fred_t.html |title=Mike Wallace Television Interview |date=1957-08-25 |accessdate=2013-06-16}}</ref>
+== Early life and family ==
-Otash worked for Hollywood Research Incorporated, which did business with the [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] magazine ''[[Confidential (magazine)|Confidential]]''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter2">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508?page=2 |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> He is also known for being hired by [[Peter Lawford]] to investigate [[Marilyn Monroe]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter2"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=M.A.|title=US Government Memorandum|url=https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32304320.pdf|website=National Archives|publisher=NARA|accessdate=27 October 2017}}</ref> Fred Otash also was involved in the investigation of the "Wrong Door Raid" involving Frank Sinatra.  Otash died at the age of 70 on October 5, 1992. Otash suffered from [[emphysema]] and [[high blood pressure]]. He wrote about his life in his [[memoir]], ''Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective''. Fred Otash was the youngest of 6 children and is survived by his daughter, Colleen Otash, and his four sisters, Evelyn Abisalih, Grace Steiner, Selma Otash and Lila Merhige, and one brother Mitchel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1992-10-08/news/mn-826_1_fred-otash |title=Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1992-10-08 |accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>
+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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-08-mn-826-story.html |title=Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1992-10-08 |access-date=2013-06-10}}</ref>
-Author [[James Ellroy]] has used a fictionalized version of Fred Otash in two of his novels from the [[Underworld USA Trilogy]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web|url=http://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 another story by James Ellroy called ''Shakedown''. The movie [[Chinatown (1974 film)|''Chinatown'']]'s (1974) 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>
+== Career ==
-{{as of|2014|12}}, a Fred Otash [[TV show]] is in development at [[HBO]] and is being produced by ''[[Seven (1995 film)|Se7en]]'' director, [[David Fincher]], as well as the writer of ''[[L.A. Confidential]]'', a [[film]] which is very inspired by the life and times of Otash, [[James Ellroy]].{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
+Otash worked for Hollywood Research Incorporated, which did business with the [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] magazine ''[[Confidential (magazine)|Confidential]]''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rock-hudsons-wife-secretly-recorded-562508?page=2 |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> He is also known for being hired by [[Peter Lawford]] to investigate [[Marilyn Monroe]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter2"/> An [[FBI]] file released as part of the [[President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992|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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=M.A.|title=US Government Memorandum|url=https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32304320.pdf|website=National Archives|publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration|NARA]]|accessdate=27 October 2017}}</ref>
+Otash also was involved in the investigation of the "Wrong Door Raid" involving Frank Sinatra.{{cn|date=January 2019}}
+== Personal life ==
+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,<ref name="''Daily News''">{{cite news |title=Divorced Star Rejoins Her Cop a Week Later |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25228899/doris_houck/ |work=Daily News |date=November 5, 1950 |location=New York, New York City |page=B 10|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = January 25, 2019}}</ref> and their final divorce was granted June 19, 1952.<ref name="lat">{{cite news |title=Vice Squad Officer's Wife Given Divorce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25228237/doris_houck/ |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 1952 |location=California, Los Angeles |page=Part II - 10|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 17, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> He maintained residences at the [[Jockey Club]], in Miami, Florida, and in [[Cannes, France]]. Otash suffered from [[emphysema]] and [[high blood pressure]].
+== Death ==
+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.<ref name="''Daily News''"/>
+== Legacy ==
+Otash  wrote about his life in his [[memoir]], ''Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs of Hollywood's Top Private Detective''.<ref>Otash, Fred, ''Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective'' (1976), Henry Regnery Company. {{ISBN|0809280132}}</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 |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 4/16/2024, 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==
 {{reflist}}
-*Otash, Fred, ''Investigation Hollywood: Memoirs Of Hollywood's Top Private Detective'', [[Regnery Publishing|Henry Regnery Company]] 1976, {{ISBN|0809280132}}
 ==External links==
 *{{IMDb name|id=0652756|name=Fred Otash}}
-*http://articles.latimes.com/1992-10-08/news/mn-826_1_fred-otash   retrieved June 23, 2012
+*[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-08-mn-826-story.html Los Angeles Times]
-*http://venetianvase.co.uk/2010/01/27/fred-otash-private-eye-to-the-stars/   retrieved June 23, 2012
+*[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   retrieved June 23, 2012
+*[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=Marylin 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://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337652/Hollywoods-private-eye-Fred-Otash-recorded-Rock-Hudson-confessing-gay-wife-Phyllis-Gates.html|title= 'Grow out of it': The moment Rock Hudson's wife confronted him about his homosexuality - almost 30 years before he told the world he was gay |last=Bates |first=Daniel |authorlink= |publisher=MailOnline.com |date=7 June 2013 |work=MailOnline.com |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 |work= |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/ Fred Otash The Marilyn Tapes]
-*{{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= |publisher= [[International Business Times]] |date=11 June 2013 |work= |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://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}}
@@ Line 31: / Line 51: @@
 [[Category:1922 births]]
 [[Category:1992 deaths]]
-[[Category:Private detectives and investigators]]
+[[Category:Private investigators]]
 [[Category:Los Angeles Police Department officers]]
+[[Category:American people of Lebanese descent]]
+[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II]]

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