Jump to content

Fred Otash: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Removing link(s): Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Digital Journal closed as soft delete (XFDcloser)
added that Fred Otash was married to an actress named Doris Houck for a short time, provided reference, minor editing and linking
Line 1: Line 1:
'''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 [[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>


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>
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 [[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> 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''. On January 6, 1950, Otash married film actress [[Doris Houck]], but they were divorced on 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> 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>


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>
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>

Revision as of 00:43, 17 November 2018

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.[1]

Otash worked for Hollywood Research Incorporated, which did business with the tabloid magazine Confidential.[2] He is also known for being hired by Peter Lawford to investigate Marilyn Monroe.[2] 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.[3] 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. On January 6, 1950, Otash married film actress Doris Houck, but they were divorced on June 19, 1952.[4] 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.[5]

Author James Ellroy has used a fictionalized version of Fred Otash in two of his novels from the Underworld USA Trilogy.[6] Otash appears in The Cold Six Thousand and Blood's a Rover.[6] Otash is also the main character in another story by James Ellroy called Shakedown. The movie Chinatown's (1974) main character, played by Jack Nicholson, was also based in part on Fred Otash.[7]

As of December 2014, a Fred Otash TV show is in development at HBO and is being produced by 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]

References

  1. ^ "Mike Wallace Television Interview". 1957-08-25. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  2. ^ a b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  3. ^ Jones, M.A. "US Government Memorandum" (PDF). National Archives. NARA. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  4. ^ "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
  5. ^ Oliver, Myrna (1992-10-08). "Fred Otash; Colorful Hollywood Private Eye and Author". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  6. ^ a b Galloway, Stephen (2013-06-06). "Rock Hudson's Wife Secretly Recorded His Gay Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  7. ^ Morales, Eric (2013-06-10). "Private Investigator: 'I listened to Marilyn Monroe die'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Fred_Otash&oldid=869194002"