Playboy was Anna Nicole Smith's passport to fame and glamour. However, unknowingly, she had made it to the long list of Playboy's playmates who could not even reach 50.
In a long glossy history of Playboy, automobile accidents, drug overdoses, homicides and plane crash have claimed the lives of many Playmates. There are many whose, reasons of death were not even known.
It's sad how many girls we've lost. It's a curse to be beautiful,
said Peter Gowland, who has famously photographed a number of centerfolds for Playboy.
Long back in 1974, Paige Young died of a drug overdose. Jayne Mansfield, another Playboy babe expired in a car crash in 1967 at 34. Just two months after gracing the cover of Playboy, Dorothy Stratten, was murdered by her jealous husband at a mere age of 20. Hugh Hefner, says that he never got over Stratten's death. Eve Meyer, a 1955 Playmate, died in a plane crash in 1977 at the age of 46. Famous as 'Star Stowe' ,Ellen Louise Maligo, was mysteriously murdered in Coral Springs in 1997. Marilyn Monroe, who featured on the debut issue of the glossy died 36 due to overdose of sleeping pills. Tonya Crews, Carol Willis and Claudia Jennings all lost their lives if fatal car accidents while still in their 20's. Willy Rey, died at a mere age of 23. Elisa Bridges was recovered mysteriously dead in 2002.
Their lives of Playboy beauties have mostly been miserable. They have all been, both in and out of the spotlight, but Playboy's fame has always made their death bombshell news.
There've been some that do too much booze and too much drugs, just as in the general population,
said former Playboy editor Gretchen Edgren.
I personally feel that fame at such a young age takes people astray, as most of them are not able to handle their wealth and glamour with maturity. A majority surrenders their lives to drugs and booze and die silent deaths.
