At 95, Mamie Van Doren greets every morning by the Pacific, crediting her oceanside ritual with helping her thrive. In her new memoir, “You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, …,” Van Doren looks back on a storied Hollywood past that included an unexpected encounter with Howard Hughes.
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When Mamie Van Doren Met Howard Hughes: “When I Looked, There Wasn’t That Much There”
Photo by Nyt News Today
Key Takeaways:
- Mamie Van Doren is 95 years old and credits a daily beach routine for her well-being
- She walks to the same rock in Southern California each morning, placing her feet in the Pacific
- She met Howard Hughes, famously remarking, “When I looked, there wasn’t that much there”
- Her memoir, “You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, …,” delves into her history
- She feels her morning ritual “kind of heals” her
A Morning by the Pacific
Every morning, Mamie Van Doren walks down to the beach near her home in Southern California and settles on the same rock. With her feet in the Pacific, she sets the course for her day, finding comfort and claiming, “It kind of heals me.”
Reflections on Long Life
Van Doren is now 95, a milestone age that sets her apart. She has outlived most of her peers and remains a vivid storyteller, reflecting on a life that spans Hollywood’s many eras.
Meeting Howard Hughes
Among her countless anecdotes stands her memorable encounter with Howard Hughes. Van Doren later quipped, “When I looked, there wasn’t that much there,” offering a tiny glimpse into her private meeting with one of America’s most enigmatically influential figures.
A Memoir of Memories
Today, Mamie Van Doren continues to document her eventful life in her new memoir, “You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, ….” She offers candid perspectives on her journey, pulling the curtain back on her encounters, rituals, and reflections on a remarkable career—one that shows no signs of being forgotten anytime soon.
