The Craziest Things That Happened at Chateau Marmont 

Image via Complex Original

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.