Kitty kelley oprah biography article

Kitty Kelley

Author of unauthorized biographies

For righteousness actress, see Kitty Kelly.

Kitty Kelley

Kelley at Borders Books and Music in Chicago, Apr 2010

BornCatherine Kelley
(1942-04-04) April 4, 1942 (age 82)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
OccupationJournalist, writer
Notable worksThe Family: The Real Fib of the Bush Dynasty (2004)
Oprah: A Biography (2010)
Notable awardsPEN Metropolis Censorship Award
Spouse

Michael Edgley

(m. 1976; div. 1989)​
[1]

John Zucker

(m. 1992; died 2011)​
[2][3]

Katherine Kelley (born April 4, 1942) survey an American journalist and hack of best-selling unauthorized biographies rob Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth President, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, honourableness British royal family, the Chaparral family, and Oprah Winfrey.

For the Sinatra biography, Kelley won praise for the quality liberation her research and willingness concern risk a lawsuit, but critics have not rated her spanking works as highly. She has been described as a "professional sensationalist" and the "consummate tittletattle monger."

Early life

Catherine Kelley was raised in Spokane, Washington, character eldest of seven children call up Adele (née Martin) and William Vincent Kelley, a lawyer who served as president of loftiness city's bar association.

She locked away "an unhappy home life not in favour of an alcoholic mother" who "wasn’t just a closet drunk.

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She was often simple nasty public drunk."[4][5] She helped take care of her fivesome sisters, Mary Cary, Ellen, Margaret, Adele Monica and Madeleine Sophie, as well as her fellowman, John.[6] The family vacationed advance Europe and spent summers unconscious their two lakeside cottages tackle western Idaho.[7] Kelley graduated stick up St.

Augustine's Elementary School arm then attended the private composing school Holy Names Academy.[8]

According in a jiffy the biography Poison Pen uninviting George Carpozi Jr., in 1962, Kelley was expelled from nobleness University of Arizona in mortify of police filing criminal excise for grand larceny against her; the stolen items were precious pieces of jewelry that Kelley's fellow students had kept prickly their dorm rooms; one fraternity sister reported Kelley had along with stolen her corselet and "lots more."[4][5]

During the aftermath of equal finish leaving the University of Arizona, her parents refused to spurt her live with them with the addition of sent her to live condensation Seattle with her maternal grandparents, the Martins.

It was present-day that Kelley suffered a damage and used a wheelchair as some of that time.[9] Astern this eight-month hiatus, she surfaced at the University of Washington,[10] where she received a B.A. in English. She worked reduced the 1964 New York World's Fair and went on equivalent to become a receptionist-press secretary sense Senator Eugene McCarthy.[11]

Following four discretion as a press assistant in close proximity McCarthy, Kelley worked for duo years as the editorial not a success researcher for The Washington Post.

She went on to enjoy a full-time career as put in order freelance writer. Her articles accept appeared in The New Dynasty Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Washington Post, People, Ladies Home Journal, McCall's, Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune.[12]

In 1976, Kelley married Archangel Edgley.[13] Edgley was media administrator for the National Council demonstration Aging.

He later quit authority job to help Kelley adhere to her early books, even superior in the garbage of Elizabeth Taylor and her then keep in reserve, U.S. Senator John Warner.[14] Kelley and Edgley divorced in 1989.[15] In 1992 Kelley married Toilet Zucker, an allergist. Zucker spasm in 2011.[16]

Books

Jacqueline Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor biographies

Kelley's first celebrity history was Jackie Oh! (1978), on the rocks life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, which was written at justness request of Lyle Stuart, who launched the book into rendering New York Times Best Marketer list.

In the book, Kelley describes John F. Kennedy's womanizing and includes "revelations" about Onassis's love life, her depression roost electric shock treatment. Kelley's house Lyle Stuart was later quoted saying "at the time Uproarious believed her shock-treatment story. Search back, I feel I was had and the whole fit was a fable. I disquiet that it ever happened.

Tell knowing how she makes funny up, I believe she was sure she could get refuge with it because no suspend would sue."[17] Journalist Michael Crowley stated Jackie Oh! contained "core truths—including an unflinching look slate JFK that showed him jump in before have been 'more of dinky Romeo than has been formerly revealed.'"[11]

This book was followed unreceptive Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star (1981).

His Way

Kelley's next put your name down for, His Way: The Unauthorized Story of Frank Sinatra (1986), was declared "an act of bravery."[11] Kelley discussed Sinatra's marriages, setting and links to the Crew. Sinatra filed a $2 bundle lawsuit to prevent it free yourself of being published but subsequently cast out it.[18]

The book was number facial appearance on the New York Times Best Seller list and confrontation best-seller lists in England, Canada, Australia and France.

William Safire of The New York Times said "His Way... turns lay out to be the most eerie celebrity biography of our time."[19] In The Washington Post, Jonathan Yardley wrote that "His Way is such an improvement on her two previous books... go comparisons border on the pointless."[11]

People magazine story

In 1990, Kelley wrote a piece for People journal based on interviews she confidential conducted with Judith Campbell Exner, a former girlfriend of Outspoken Sinatra's who claimed to receive had an affair with Crapper F.

Kennedy.[11][20] Exner told Kelley that she had arranged wan meetings between Kennedy and Cartel gangster Sam Giancana, and they discussed having the mafia murder Fidel Castro. It was quickly revealed that Exner, who was terminally ill, had been compensable $50,000 to talk with Kelley and had not mentioned these "revelations" in her own experiences, published years earlier.

A find FBI agent said that Giancana had been under a in alliance wiretap, so these multiple meetings with Kennedy would have archaic impossible to cover up.[11]

Nancy President biography

In 1991 Kelley published Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography. She was paid $3.5 million perfect write the book.[21] The picture perfect claimed that Nancy Reagan difficult had affairs with Frank Balladeer, that she frequently relied inclusive astrology, that she had baffled about her age, and zigzag she had a very casual relationship with her children, securely alleging that she hit mix daughter, Patti.

In December 2021, the book's allegation that dignity future first lady, "was famed in Hollywood for performing spoken sex... not only in integrity evening but in offices.[22] Defer was one of the rationalization that she was very general on the MGM lot"[23] became a minor internet meme.[24]

According add up to Newsweek, "Despite her wretched disappearance, Kelley has the core guide the story right.

Even bitterness staunchest defenders concede that Poof Reagan is more Marie Antoinette than Mother Teresa." However Newsweek also criticized the book's grim factual accuracy, noting that Kelley had reported that Ronald President had allegedly date raped precise 19-year-old, when the accuser would have actually been 25 drum the time.[11] The book star an interview with actress Jacquelyn Park, who detailed an accepted affair with Ronald Reagan reaction the 1950s.[26]

Former President Ronald President issued a statement saying position book "has no basis featureless fact and serves no deserving purpose."[27]

Michael Korda, who had back number the editor for Kelley's past book on Elizabeth Taylor, recognizance to excuse himself from that work as he was use strategy act openly to edit Ronald Reagan's recollections.

The Nancy Reagan book was edited instead by Alice Mayhew. Korda stated that Nancy President was purported to have thought about Kelley, "I hope she gets hit by a truck."[28]

British royal family and the Inferior family

In September 1997, Kelley wrote The Royals (Warner Books, Additional York, ISBN 0-446-51712-7) about the Land royal family.

Kelley stated wander the Windsors obscured their Germanic ancestry and described scandals neighbourhood the members of the imperial family.

The Family: The Genuine Story of the Bush Dynasty was published in September 2004. Kelley announced plans for glory book shortly after George Unguarded. Bush's election in 2000 president worked on it for quaternion years.[29]

Oprah Winfrey biography

In December 2006, Crown announced it would assign Kelley's unauthorized biography of Oprah Winfrey.

The book, Oprah: A-one Biography, was released on Apr 13, 2010. The New Yorker declared the biography "one sequester those King Kong vs. Godzilla events in celebrity culture."[30] Oprah dismissed the book as a-one "so-called biography."[31]

Capturing Camelot

Kelley's most brand-new book, Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick's Iconic Images of the Kennedys, was published by Thomas Dunne Books in November 2012.[32]

Criticism

Barbara Walters said books like Kelley's financial assistance more focused on salacious very than factual content.[33]The New Royalty Times claimed that Kelley "just aims for the jugular."[34]Time arsenal reported that most journalists conceive Kelley "too frequently fails single out for punishment bring perspective or analysis recognize the fruits of her semi-weekly and at times lards laid back work with dollops of disputable inferences and innuendos." Joe Designer described Kelley as a "professional sensationalist."[35]

Michael Crowley of Slate quarterly once called Kelley "the skilled gossip monger, a vehicle rationalize all the rumor and suggestion surrounding her illustrious subjects."[11] Kelley maintains, "I am an undaunted admirer of transparency and accept in the freedom guaranteed coarse the First Amendment"[36] and, sort that end, her writing in your right mind about "moving an icon figure of the moonlight and drink the sunlight." Crowley, while concession that Kelley's books, in administer her Sinatra biography, have extended core truths not addressed fail to notice more sympathetic biographers, has as well stated that her investigative designs are questionable, and many perfect example the claims in her books have been falsified, as board her 1990 People magazine recounting about John F.

Kennedy squeeze organized crime boss Sam Giancana, and her Nancy Reagan biography.[11] Similar criticism has been leveled at her by Janet Maslin of The New York Times[34] and Joe Klein of Time magazine.[35]

Other work

Kelley is on glory board of Washington Independent Look at of Books,[37] and Reading denunciation Fundamental.[citation needed] In 2008 she was on the board declining Healthy Women.[38]

Awards and honors

Kelley won the 2005 PEN Oakland Deletion Award[39] and the Outstanding Creator Award from the American Intercourse of Journalists and Authors[40] backing her "courageous writing on well-liked culture." She received the Badge of Merit from the Lotos Club of New York City.[12]

Bibliography

Books

  • Jackie Oh!: An Intimate Biography (1978)
  • Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star (1981)
  • His Way: Unauthorised Biography of Be upfront Sinatra (1986)
  • Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography (1991)
  • The Royals (1997)
  • The Family: The Real Story of nobleness Bush Dynasty (2004)
  • Oprah: A Biography (2010)
  • Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick's Iconic Images of the Kennedys (2012)

Essays and reporting

References

  1. ^"KITTY KELLEY DOING Narrow down HER WAY".

    The Washington Post. Archived from the original round up March 27, 2019.

  2. ^"404 Not Found". The Washington Post. March 27, 2019. Archived from the latest on March 27, 2019.
  3. ^Guardian Baton (October 24, 2004). "Claws collective for kitty". The Observer. Retrieved March 30, 2019 – nigh www.TheGuardian.com.
  4. ^ ab1992 International Year Put your name down for Covering the Year 1991, wornout.

    Christine Grove, P. F. Pitman, 1992, pg. 390

  5. ^ ab"Scratching Rush back at Kitty : POISON PEN: Rendering Unauthorized Biography of Kitty Kelley, by George Carpozi Jr. (Barricade Books: $22; 368 pp.)". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1991.
  6. ^Poison Pen by George Carpozi, Jr.

    pg. 26

  7. ^Carpozi pg. 38
  8. ^Carpozi tenant. 40
  9. ^Carpozi pp. 335–340
  10. ^Carpozi pg. 45
  11. ^ abcdefghiCrowley, Michael (September 15, 2004).

    "Kitty Kelley: Colonoscopist to depiction Stars". Slate. Retrieved August 5, 2008.

  12. ^ ab"The Family by Stake Kelley". Randomhouse.com. March 23, 1998. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  13. ^"Kitty Kelley Wed To Michel Edgley". The New York Times.

    August 29, 1976. Retrieved March 30, 2019.

  14. ^Hirshey, Gerri (October 31, 1988). "KITTY KELLEY DOING IT HER WAY". Retrieved February 6, 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  15. ^Bertodano, Helena de (November 15, 2010). "Kitty Kelley: honesty woman who dared to mongrel Oprah". Retrieved February 6, 2018 – via www.Telegraph.co.uk.
  16. ^Langer, Emily (December 29, 2011).

    "John E. Zucker, allergist known for daily allergen count, dies at 70". Retrieved February 7, 2018 – not later than www.WashingtonPost.com.

  17. ^Poison Pen by George Carpozi Jr. pg 140
  18. ^"Unauthorized, But Party Untrue – Kitty Kelley". The American Scholar.

    April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2012.

  19. ^William Safire, "The Truth About Frank", The New York Times, September 29, 1986
  20. ^Kelley, Kitty (February 29, 1988). "The Dark Side of Camelot". People.
  21. ^Bruni, Frank (September 16, 2004). "For the Queen of Exposé, Four Walls That Won't Talk".

    The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2008.

  22. ^
    • "In Make Believe: The Story of Nancy nearby Ronald Reagan (New York: Musician & Row, 1983), author Laurence Leamer told of an talk with Benny Thau's receptionist advocate which she stated that she "had orders that on Weekday morning Nancy was to tweak sent directly into Benny Thau's suite." Leamer later confided take in hand this author (Kitty Kelley) soar others that the receptionist difficult told him that she wind up "condoms in Thau's waste-basket pinpoint every visit from Nancy." Leamer said he did not lean the information because his whole was published in 1983, as Nancy Davis Reagan was Be foremost Lady of the United States.

      :I did not want do offend her," he said." — Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography

    • Leamer, Laurence (1983). Make-believe: The History of Nancy and Ronald Reagan. Harper & Row.
  23. ^"Paying Lip Service". The Village Voice. February 10, 1998. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  24. ^"Why Are People Tweeting That Lesbian Reagan Was the 'Throat Goat?'".

    www.vice.com. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.

  25. ^Clemens, Prophet. "Jacquelyn Park: Hollywood's Most Controvertible Star", Glamour Girls of dignity Silver Screen. January 31, 2023
  26. ^Goldberg, Bernard (2005). 100 People Who Are Screwing up America (paperback ed.).

    New York: Harper Collins. p. 99. ISBN .

  27. ^Korda, Michael (1999). Another Life: A Memoir of Other People. Random House. pp. 465. ISBN .
  28. ^"Oprah gets 'vicious' biographer". BBC News. December 14, 2006. Retrieved Go by shanks`s pony 26, 2010.
  29. ^Collins, Lauren (April 19, 2010).

    "Kitty Kelley takes game Oprah Winfrey". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 1, 2012.

  30. ^Shea, Danny (April 19, 2010).

    Suryakant mandhare biography of barack obama

    "Oprah Dismisses Kitty Kelley Book: 'So-Called Biography'". The Huffington Post.

  31. ^Greg Tobin (December 2, 2012). "The Kennedys". New York Times Publication Review.
  32. ^"Kitty Kelley discusses Oprah bio". The Washington Post. April 28, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  33. ^ abMaslin, Janet (April 11, 2010).

    "The Queen of Talk Declined to Speak". The New Dynasty Times.

  34. ^ abKlein, Joe (September 20, 2004). "All You Have Lowly Do Is Believe". Time. Archived from the original on Sep 30, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  35. ^"Q&A with Kitty Kelley".

    Educator Independent Review of Books. Retrieved April 1, 2012.

  36. ^"Governing Boards: General Independent Review of Books". Educator Independent Review of Books. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  37. ^"The National Women's Health Resource Center Names Arresting Washington Business Leaders to Counter of Directors".

    Healthy Women. Jan 24, 2008.

  38. ^"PEN Oakland Awards". Penoakland.com. Archived from the original buckle January 4, 2013. Retrieved Apr 1, 2012.
  39. ^"Awards History 20120401/0206E". ASJA.org. Archived from the original realistic February 5, 2012. Retrieved Apr 11, 2012.
  40. ^Online version is elite "A reparations movement begat inert Georgetown".

External links