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Donald Jeffries

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On Borrowed Fame: Money, Mysteries, and Corruption in the Entertainment World Paperback – January 16, 2022

by Donald Jeffries (Author), John Barbour (Foreword)

4.3 45 ratings

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This meticulously researched book explores the concept of fame in all its fleeting glory and confounding inconsistency. Why do so many entertainers do so much better financially than peers who have comparable resumes? Author Donald Jeffries also examines a subject he is quite familiar with; the myriad of unnatural deaths which have plagued the entertainment industry since the dawn of Hollywood. The deaths of John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and many others are scrutinized in exacting detail. Jeffries communicated with many older entertainers during the course of researching the book, and their perspectives are included here. On Borrowed Fame will be of great interest to fans, celebrities, and anyone with even a cursory affinity for the world of show business.

If you’re anything like me, and have a hard time not looking at the car crash as you drive by: You will love this book. I’m dyslexic and have difficulty reading but found it even more difficult stopping. The book showed me how very lucky I’ve been, pursuing my passions; Acting, Class A Speedway Racing and Inventing.
- Billy Gray, Father Knows Best, The Day the Earth Stood Still

Donald Jeffries’ On Borrowed Fame is indeed a revelatory and painful experience. It paints the big picture of the price of Fame in Hollywood. One that mercilessly illustrates through fact and story the real price paid by many of my colleagues and myself. Fame is not a blessing, it’s a curse. This book is a witness to the carnage and horrible truth of the matter. Fame is not what it appears to be on the outside. Fame is a glamorous car wreck. Fame sucks. This is an important book that tells us all as fellow human beings that attention must be paid.
I congratulate Mr. Jeffries for having had the courage to write it.
- Nick Mancuso, Paris 2020

“It’s possible to be a musician in the biggest band imaginable, and within a few years be forced to work a regular job.” That ominous statement is echoed throughout Donald Jeffries’ whirlwind of woe in the world of entertainment, On Borrowed Time. Those household name actors in your favourite TV shows you assumed were well paid and would surely always have a firm foothold in show business? Not so much it turns out, as stated here: “A regular on a television series is at least as likely to have their acting career end when their show does.” The arbitrary payment structures that seem to have been made up on the spot, the blatant rip offs and the sheer number of early and often suspicious Hollywood deaths that were rarely investigated would make anyone think twice about being an actor. What an eye opener this book is!
- Graham Parker, singer-songwriter

If you’ve ever dreamed of being famous--and who hasn’t--then Donald Jeffries offers a shocking literary vaccine--so you might avoid those pitfalls. Just maybe! “On Borrowed Fame,” his juicy and richly detailed fast moving dossier, catalogues the long and winding and perilous road trod by some of the most famous names in showbiz. Those talented celebs had one thing in common: They inevitably discovered that fame does not guarantee fortune-- but is often a prescription for bankruptcy and early death. I have reported on Hollywood for nearly half a century but can attest that Jeffries has entertainingly laid out the most detailed compendium of horror stories experienced by some of tinsel town’s biggest names. No one is spared--from Stan Laurel to Marlon Brando to Michael Jackson. And so, so many more. His research is formidable. This is the most fascinating chronicle of show business malfeasance, mayhem and misery I have ever read. The Beatles sang “Can’t Buy Me Love,” They should have added “happiness” as well!
- Ivor Davis

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ BearManor Media (January 16, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1629338079
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1629338071
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.42 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,891,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14,508 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #20,081 in Performing Arts (Books)

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4.3 45 ratings

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Donald Jeffries

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Donald Jeffries has been a JFK assassination researcher since the mid-1970s. His first novel, "The Unreals," was published in 2007. His first nonfiction book, "Hidden History: An Expose of Modern Crimes, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups in American Politics," was released by Skyhorse Publishing in November 2014 and quickly became a best-seller. The paperback edition featured a new Foreword from Roger Stone. His writing has been compared to Voltaire by award-winning author Alexander Theroux, and likened to Rudyard Kipling and John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" by "Night at the Museum" screenwriter Robert Ben Garant. Jeffries' second nonfiction book, "Survival of the Richest" was released to universal critical acclaim in July 2017. His next book, "Crimes and Cover Ups in American Politics: 1776-1963" will be released in May 2019.

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A N O N Y M O U $ E
Could Not Put It Down
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
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This book is crammed with information, a firehose in spots, relentless and hugely informative. I could not put it down. Jeffries is a compelling writer; smart, funny, good with the dot-connecting. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

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2 people found this helpful

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James Herington
Your key to the world of celebrity
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022
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I must say this was a well researched book. His meticulous writing and knowledge about the subject, made it hard to put down. Very intriguing from front to back. Mr. Jeffries has my full undivided attention

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4 people found this helpful

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Gena D. Jacobs
Enjoyable for the most part
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
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I have read a few works from the author and this book is typical in style and pacing. I am familiar with most of the individuals discussed so it has been an enjoyable read. I really don't care what the author's political opinions are so having arbitrary statements regarding an actor's hatred of Trump just wastes my time and memory on my tablet declaring the obvious. What? Hollywood hates that guy?
The second problem is the inconsistent attitude regarding money earned by entertainers as inconsistent or unethical does not.take into.account many factors but in one paragraph the author is frustrated that former entertainers are destitute and not fairly compensated and yet immediately turns and passes judgement on those actors who left large estates or chose not to leave assets as the author sees fit.
But this is par for the course for this author so if you can blur those issues as you read it can be informative and mostly enjoyable.

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Shocking facts
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022
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I loved the book and reading this it’s disheartening to see how many musicians and actors were screwed over by dishonest managers, parents, and studios. Its also amazing to see who made big money and are hardly remembered and others flat broke and had long careers. Fame is fleeting and borrowed and sometimes deadly. I would have given this 5 stars but the kindle version had hardly any paragraphs and at times made the ready difficult. The subject matter was eye opening. Highly recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

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GoFigure
Fabulous read
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
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The book details myriad ways the folks in the early entertainment industry got shafted. Of course much of that has changed since the 80s or so.

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4 people found this helpful

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David Erickson
Interesting book
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2022
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Good book, very interesting.

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3 people found this helpful

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Mystery
Atop The Bill
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
Don Jeffries strikes again, once again taking a deep look into his subject. The bright lights of Hollywood are not what they are cracked up to be. The dream of everyman often turns into a nightmare, wishing they could get back on the bus to Smalltown, USA. Hollywood's hidden history is a must have for anyone interested in the darkness behind the klieg lights. Jeffries uses his skills as a writer and historian to give us another must-have accounting of the entertainment world.

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10 people found this helpful

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WillG
Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
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Shows that the entertainment business is more corrupt than I thought. So many celebritys get hooked on drugs. I guess because they have the money for it. It was very informative and entertaining.

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Rimmer
Fame
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
I love books about Hollywood and it's darker side and this one doesn't disappoint, it's fascinating, full of fact ,anecdotes and gossip.Well worth a dead

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