The Unlucky Lives of the Barrymore Family

By the early 1960s, John Drew’s growing dependence on alcohol and drugs began to overshadow his talent. He missed call times, fought with directors, and earned a reputation for being unreliable. Roles that could have launched him into stardom slipped away as studios quietly chose safer, more dependable actors.

Friends and family urged him to get help, but he brushed them off, convinced he could handle it. His career faltered, and soon he was appearing only in low-budget films and television guest spots. The same cycle that had destroyed his father and half-sister was repeating itself—public promise followed by private collapse.