Charles Boyer was a French-American actor who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s as a leading man in romantic dramas such as Algiers, Love Affair, and Gaslight. He was nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Actor, and received an honorary Oscar in 1943. He also appeared as himself on the popular sitcom I Love Lucy, where he famously kissed Lucille Ball.
But behind his charming and sophisticated persona, Boyer had a tragic personal life that ended in suicide. What was the cause of death of Charles Boyer, and what led him to take his own life?
A Devoted Husband and Father
Boyer married British actress Pat Paterson in 1934, and they remained together until her death in 1978. They had one son, Michael Charles Boyer, who was born in 1943. Boyer was a devoted husband and father, who often turned down roles that would take him away from his family. He once said, “I have learned that it is far better to be happy than to be important.”
Boyer and Paterson were known as one of the most stable and loving couples in Hollywood, and they enjoyed a simple and quiet life away from the spotlight. They lived in a modest home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where they raised horses and dogs.
A Series of Losses
However, Boyer’s happiness was shattered by a series of losses that left him heartbroken and depressed. In 1965, his son Michael committed suicide at the age of 21, after struggling with drug addiction and mental illness. Boyer never recovered from this tragedy, and blamed himself for not being able to help his son. He became withdrawn and reclusive, and rarely accepted any acting roles.
In 1978, his wife Paterson died of cancer at the age of 68, after a long and painful battle. Boyer was devastated by her death, and felt that he had lost his reason to live. He said, “She was my whole life.” [5]
A Final Decision
Two days after Paterson’s death, on August 26, 1978, Boyer took an overdose of barbiturates in his home in Phoenix, Arizona. He left a note that read, “I am too old to go on alone.” He was 78 years old. [6]
He was buried next to his wife and son at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. His grave is marked by a simple plaque that reads, “Charles Boyer / Pat Paterson / Michael Charles Boyer”. [7]
Charles Boyer cause of death was suicide by drug overdose, but it was also the result of a lifetime of love and sorrow. He was a romantic star who gave joy to millions of fans, but he could not find peace in his own life. He once said, “A man should live with dignity even when he suffers.” [8] He died with dignity, but also with despair.
