Key facts
- Mamie Van Doren's new memoir is titled 'You Thought I Was Dead.'
- Van Doren describes feeling 'used' and 'guilty' due to Hollywood's casting couch culture.
- She likens young actresses in her era to 'blood in the water to the male sharks at the studio.'
- The memoir contrasts past exploitation with the empowerment of the #MeToo movement.
- Van Doren also recounts experiences entertaining troops during the Vietnam War.
Actress Mamie Van Doren, now 95, has released a new memoir titled 'You Thought I Was Dead,' detailing her experiences in Hollywood. In the book, she addresses the pervasive issue of the casting couch, describing how young actresses were vulnerable to powerful men during the industry's 'Golden Age.' Van Doren recounts feeling 'used' and 'guilty,' likening the environment to 'blood in the water to the male sharks at the studio.' She contrasts these past experiences with the empowerment fostered by the #MeToo movement, noting that figures like Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein have been held accountable. Van Doren also shares personal anecdotes from her time entertaining troops during the Vietnam War, including a poignant story about a young Marine named Charlie who was killed in action. She reflects on her decision to leave Hollywood in the 1960s due to the drug culture and the deaths of contemporaries like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, seeking a better life for her son. Despite her past, Van Doren acknowledges her enduring status as a sex symbol, stating she was 'born with it' and helped open doors in a conservative post-war era.