The Unlucky Lives of the Barrymore Family

In 1950, Diana married actor John Howard, hoping her second marriage would succeed where her first had failed. Howard was steady and kind, a working actor without her fame or family baggage. For a short time, life seemed calm—she worked occasionally, stayed sober, and dreamed of starting over.

But the peace didn’t last. Her drinking returned, and the arguments grew vicious. Howard tried to help her seek treatment, but Diana resisted, convinced she could handle it alone. Within two years, their marriage crumbled under the strain of addiction and disappointment, leaving her lonelier than ever before.