Kim Schmidt was a German actress who had a promising career in the 1970s. She appeared in several films and TV shows, such as The Odessa File, The Streets of San Francisco, and The Rockford Files. She was also married to the Oscar-winning actor Gig Young, who was known for his roles in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, Teacher’s Pet, and Come September. However, their marriage ended in a horrific tragedy that shocked the world. Here is the story of Kim Schmidt’s cause of death and the mystery behind it.
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A Brief Biography of Kim Schmidt
Kim Schmidt was born in 1947 in Germany. She was the daughter of Paul and Rosemarie Schmidt, who were immigrants from Germany to Australia. She had four siblings: Irmi, Fred, Henry, and Doris. She grew up in Eildon, Victoria, where her parents ran a motel. She attended Eildon Primary School and Alexandra High School. She developed an interest in acting at a young age and participated in school plays and local theater productions.
According to IMDb, Kim Schmidt moved to Los Angeles in 1972 to pursue her acting career. She landed some minor roles in TV shows, such as The Rookies, Police Story, and Barnaby Jones. She also appeared in some films, such as The Man from Acapulco, The Killer Elite, and The Odessa File. She was praised for her beauty and talent by critics and audiences alike.
How Kim Schmidt Met Gig Young
Kim Schmidt met Gig Young in 1977, when they were both cast in a TV movie called Spectre. Young played the lead role of Dr. Hamilton, a criminologist who investigates a series of occult murders. Schmidt played his assistant, Mitri Cyon. The two had an instant chemistry on screen and off screen. They began dating shortly after the filming ended.
According to AmoMama, Young was 30 years older than Schmidt and had a troubled history with women. He had been married four times before, to Sheila Stapler, Sophie Rosenstein, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Elaine Williams. He had also been engaged to actress Jeanne Moreau, but she broke off the engagement after he attempted suicide. He had a daughter, Jennifer, with Williams, but he was estranged from her.
Young was also an alcoholic who suffered from depression and anxiety. He had been hospitalized several times for his mental health issues and had undergone electroshock therapy. He had also lost many of his friends and colleagues due to his erratic behavior and substance abuse.
Despite these red flags, Schmidt fell in love with Young and believed that she could help him overcome his demons. She moved in with him in his apartment in Manhattan Plaza, a high-rise building for artists in New York City. She also supported him financially, as he was struggling to find work due to his reputation and age.
The Wedding and the Murder-Suicide
On September 27, 1978, Kim Schmidt and Gig Young got married in a small ceremony at City Hall in New York City. They were accompanied by their friend and agent Marty Baum, who served as their witness. They planned to have a bigger celebration with their families and friends later.
However, three weeks after their wedding, on October 19, 1978, they were found dead in their apartment by their maid. They had both been shot in the head with a .38 caliber revolver that belonged to Young. Young’s Oscar statuette was lying near their bodies.
The police ruled their deaths as a murder-suicide, with Young being the shooter. They found no signs of struggle or forced entry in the apartment. They also found no suicide note or any indication of why Young would kill his wife and himself.
According to Dead or Kicking, some speculated that Young was jealous of Schmidt’s success and youth, or that he was afraid that she would leave him for someone else. Others suggested that he was suffering from a terminal illness or that he had a psychotic breakdown due to his alcoholism and medication.
However, none of these theories could be confirmed or disproved by any evidence or witnesses. The true motive behind Kim Schmidt’s cause of death remains unknown to this day.
The Aftermath of the Tragedy
Kim Schmidt’s death shocked and saddened her family and friends, who remembered her as a kind, generous, and talented person. Her parents flew from Australia to New York to claim her body and take it back to their homeland. They buried her under the name Ruth Schmidt Young (1947-1978) with them in Eildon Weir Cemetery; Pinniger Rd; Eildon, Victoria; Australia.
Gig Young’s death also stunned and saddened his fans and colleagues, who remembered him as a charming, witty, and talented actor. His daughter, Jennifer, who had not seen him for years, inherited his estate and his Oscar. She later sold the Oscar for $157,000 in 1994.
Kim Schmidt’s cause of death was a tragic end to a promising life and a troubled love. She was only 31 years old when she died. She left behind a legacy of films and TV shows that showcase her beauty and talent. She also left behind a mystery that may never be solved.
