Image via Complex Original
Few hotels are as famous or as notorious as the Chateau Marmont. For eighty-five years, the Chateau has been the go-to spot for stars who want to exhibit their baddest behavior just outside of the public eye. A West Hollywood landmark, the Chateau has been home to wild parties, secretive trysts, and all manner of drug-fueled, sexy Hollywood legends. Sunset Boulevard and Day of the Locust were written there; The Eagles' "Hotel California" is about the Chateau. From Clark Gable to Leonardo DiCaprio, from Joni Mitchell to Britney Spears, all manner of high profile celebrities have sought a mixture of hedonism and tranquility inside the Chateau’s thick walls. Despite a notoriously tight-lipped staff and a policy of secrecy among guests, some wild stories have escaped the Chateau and landed squarely in the public consciousness. As the hotel prepares to celebrate eighty-five years of that Hollywood life, lets look back at the 10 Craziest Things That Ever Happened at the Chateau Marmont.
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James Dean Jumped Through A Window For An Audition
There are a number of Chateau stories swirling around Dean, co-star Natalie Wood, and Rebel director Nicholas Ray. Dean is rumored to have landed the leading role in Rebel Without A Cause after making quite an impression by jumping through the window of Ray's room at the Chateau. Wood had another way of making an impression on the director; the underage Wood and Ray conducted an affair at the hotel prior to making the film.
Britney Spears Was Banned for "Smearing Food All Over Her Face"
Though the Chateau is known for wild parties and torrid love affairs, the hotel has also been home to some very unsexy celebrity breakdowns. Back in 2007, right in the middle of all that shaved head rough patch, Britney was reportedly banned from the Chateau for smearing a gourmet entree on her face, disgusting the guests and shocking the staff.
Johnny Depp and Kate Moss Made Love "In Every Room"
At least that's the story that Depp tells. Romance, Depp, and the Marmont first crossed paths when he and Winona Ryder took their Scissorhands love to the next level. After he and Ryder parted ways, Depp and Kate Moss began a long term love affair with the Chateau as a backdrop. Wild parties and wild lovemaking ensued: you know, the kind reserved for those far richer and far sexier than us mere mortals. For those counting (and perhaps getting a bit hot and bothered) at home, there are sixty-three rooms in the hotel.
Howard Hughes Was Peeping-Tom-In-Residence
Everyone's favorite aviator lived at the Chateau for three years in the 1950s. Howard passed his days at the hotel just as any eccentric rich dude would: he would begin his day by spying on starlets as they sunbathed and swam in the pool, and at night, he would call his favorites back to his pad for private "auditions." Suffice it to say, if he were actually casting a movie, it would have had a pretty huge cast.
Clark Gable and Jean Harlow Had an Affair During Harlow's Honeymoon
Though today's stars get into some wild antics at the Chateau, there are a number of OG celebs who put modern day Hollywood hedonists to shame. Jean Harlow was notorious for the affairs she carried on at the hotel. While she was on her third honeymoon with cinematographer Harold Rosson, she was bedding down with Clark Gable. Legend has it that Harlow would leave notes at the front desk reading, "Gone Fishing," indicating that she was hunting for yet another man to bring back to her Chateau quarters.
Dennis Hopper Threw Orgies There
We won't be the first publication to make a joke about how Mr. Hopper brought new meaning to the phrase "Easy Rider" with his parties at the Chateau and we're sure we won't be the last. You may remember him best for screaming about PBR in Blue Velvet, but Hollywood remembers him best for throwing orgies with over 50 women in attendance. That should make any parents reading this excited to send their daughters to live out in Los Angeles. Ever the sentimental type, Hopper recorded his lustful excesses on camera. Pro Tip: when you're old and no one comes to your orgies anymore, you're going to want those tapes.
Led Zeppelin's John Bonham Drove a Motorcylce Through the Lobby
The Led Zeppelin drummer's motorcycle stunt is one of the most famous events in the history of the Marmont, but it turns out that Bonham was not a hotel motorcycle monogamist. Bonham also drove his hog through the halls of the nearby Continental Hyatt House Hotel and the Andaz West Hollywood. Bonham and his Zeppelin brethren didn't limit their hotel destruction to joyrides. The band left a trail of destroyed TVs and lifetime hotel bans in their wake that may never be matched.
A Chateau Accountant Embezzled $12 Million
It turns out that it isn't just celebrities who have been on their worst behavior at this famed hotel. From time to time, the staff has been responsible for dirty deeds as well. Kelly Ebert was hired as the Chateau Marmont's controller in 1993 and embezzled millions of dollars over a six-year span. In true Hollywood style, Ebert used a portion of the money to purchase celebrity memorabilia. He also had eight firearms in his home when he was arrested, because this is America damn it.
Lindsay Lohan Was Kicked Out After Racking Up a $46,000 Bill
It's no secret that times have gotten tough for Ms. Lohan. Bad TV movies and worse dye jobs are her bread and butter these days. You know things have gotten bad when the Chateau will no longer put up with your behavior. Lindsay was banned from the Chateau Marmont after racking up a $46,000 bill. How do you spend that much at a hotel? All it takes is a month and a half stay and determination to waste some cash. Of course,TMZ got a hold of the bill, which lists $14 packs of cigarettes, $100 candles, and a whole lot of minibar.
John Belushi Died There
In 1982, John Belushi spent a wild night with a former backup singer for The Band and an ex-SNL writer. After a few V.I.P. parties and a bowl of lentil soup, Belushi and the singer, Cathy Smith, returned to the Chateau. Smith and Belushi did hard drugs all night. Both Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams visited Belushi that night, though neither stuck around long after they saw Belushi and Smith were strung out. The two of them continued to shoot up for most of the night, until Smith decided to leave, taking Belushi's Mercedes for a ride. By the time Belushi's personal trainer found him the next morning, he was bloated and discolored, already dead.