Judy Garland faced addiction issues before she sought help from a private investigator
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Judy Garland was in urgent need of help in the mid-60s because of her addiction to drugs and alcohol when Hollywood’s most infamous private detective Fred Otash came into her life, as claimed by a new book.
‘The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars and Marilyn’ written by Josh Young and Manfred Westphal sheds light on the life of Otash and how he played a crucial role in the ‘Meet Me in St Louis’ star’s life.
Judy Garland hired Fred Otash to protect her children
Garland hired the late police officer after separating from her third husband, Sid Luft, Fox News reported.
The publication spoke with the book’s co-author Manfred Westphal who shared, “When Judy Garland filed for divorce from her third husband, Sid Luft, she was afraid to be in her home alone.
“She feared that Sid might kidnap the children. So her attorney, Jerry Giesler, hired Otash to serve as her bodyguard,” he stated, before revealing, “He turned out to be her fixer.”
Fred Otash lived with Judy Garland to help her
As per reports, on Garland’s demand, Otash even began living with her.
The writer mentioned, “Fred Otash moved in. And when he did, he soon discovered her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.”
He continued, “So, he took charge of the situation. Much to Judy’s chagrin, he locked up all the booze in her garage and flushed all her pills down the toilet. She struggled with withdrawal.
“She had many, many sleepless nights. She pretty much demanded or forced Fred to stay up every night with her into the wee hours of the morning.”
Westphal further explained to Fox News that the late actress and the investigator “would just sit in her living room, and he would patiently listen to her talk about all the trials and tribulations that she went through in her life. He knew that it would be good for her to get it all out.”
Fred Otash’s efforts helped Judy Garland to become ‘clean’
Besides, the tell-all biography citing Otash described ‘The Wizard of Oz’ actress as “a crazy mixed-up kid inside a woman’s body, scared to death of living while killing herself with self-doubt, booze, and those sh***y little pills.”
However, eventually, Otash’s efforts paid off as Garland became “clean and his work helped reconcile her marriage to Sid Luft. And they became good friends throughout the process.”
“Fred had a great affection for her. He had even become quite attached to her children,” Westphal added.
