Johnny Stompanato
John Stompanato | |
|---|---|
Stompanato with Lana Turner | |
| Birth name | John Stompanato Jr. |
| Nickname(s) | Johnny, Jack, Handsome Harry, Johnny Stomp, John Steele, Oscar |
| Born | October 10, 1925 Woodstock, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1958 (aged 32) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Place of burial | Oakland Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Service Battalion, 1st Marine Division |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Spouse(s) | Sara Utush
(m. 1946; div. 1949) |
| Other work | Mob Bodyguard |
John Stompanato Jr. (October 10, 1925 – April 4, 1958) was a United States Marine and gangster who became a bodyguard and enforcer for gangster Mickey Cohen.
In the mid-1950s, he began an abusive relationship with actress Lana Turner. In 1958, he was stabbed to death by Turner's daughter, Cheryl Crane, who said she did it to defend her mother from a vicious beating by Stompanato. His death was ruled as justifiable homicide because he had been killed in self-defense.