The Barrymore family doesn’t let a little thing like death stop them from having a good time.
During an appearance on the YouTube show Hot Ones, Drew Barrymore was asked by the host, Sean Evans, “Is it true that your grandfather’s body was stolen from the morgue by WC Fields, Errol Flynn and Sadakichi Hartmann so that they could prop him up against a poker table and throw one last party with the guy?” The actress’s grandfather was, of course, famed stage, screen, and radio actor John Barrymore, who died in 1942.
Drew replied, “Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of that. A Blake Edwards film called S.O.B that’s just brilliant and fun to watch.” The actress couldn’t confirm, however, whether or not her grandfather was the inspiration behind Weekend At Bernie’s, saying, “I’ve heard things, but I can’t know ever if that’s even true.”
She added that she’d also love to go out like her grandpa and give her corpse one final hurrah. “I hope my friends do the same for me,” she said. “That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few last rounds.”
She added, “I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.” Just don’t forget to invite her cadaver to partake in the postmortem party.
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— Did Billionaire Tobacco Heiress Doris Duke Get Away With Murder?
— The Porn Industry’s Biggest Scandal—And Mystery
— After a Year in Hiding, Ghislaine Maxwell Finally Faces Justice
— Inside the Other Harry and Meghan Book by Longtime Royal Irritant Lady Colin Campbell
— From Tyga to Charli D’Amelio, TikTok Stars Are Having a Blast (at Home)
— The 21 Best Books for Tolerating 2020 (So Far)
— From the Archive: The Mystery of Doris Duke’s Final Years
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story.