Sunny Vickers was an actress who appeared in a few movies in the early 1950s, but she is best known for being the wife of Scotty Beckett, a former child star who was part of the Our Gang comedy series. She died of complications from alcoholism at the age of 39, six months after her ex-husband’s death. In this article, we will explore her life, her marriage, and her cause of death.
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A Brief Career in Hollywood
Sunny Vickers was born on December 24, 1928, in Pennsylvania, USA, as Beverly Jane Vickers. She moved to Hollywood in the late 1940s, hoping to pursue a career in acting. She got some minor roles in movies such as Gasoline Alley (1951), A Yank in Korea (1951), and Never Trust a Gambler (1951). Her most notable role was in Ridin’ the Outlaw Trail (1951), where she played the female lead, Betsy Willard. She was also credited as Sunny Vickers in some of her films, according to IMDb.
A Turbulent Marriage with Scotty Beckett
Sunny Vickers met Scotty Beckett, a former child star who was part of the Our Gang comedy series, also known as The Little Rascals. Beckett had a successful career as a child actor, appearing in movies such as A Star Is Born (1937), The Wizard of Oz (1939), and The Jolson Story (1946). However, he also had a troubled personal life, involving drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic violence, and legal issues. He married Sunny Vickers on June 27, 1951, and they had a son, Scotty Jr., in 1952. Their marriage was rocky, and they divorced in 1957, according to Find a Grave.
A Sad End to a Short Life
Sunny Vickers continued to struggle with alcoholism after her divorce from Scotty Beckett. She checked herself into Metropolitan State Hospital for treatment, according to IMDb. However, she did not recover from her addiction, and she died of complications from alcoholism on November 27, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was 39 years old. She was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California, USA, according to Find a Grave.
Her death came six months and 17 days after her ex-husband Scotty Beckett, who died of a barbiturate overdose on May 10, 1968, at the age of 38, according to CSTC. Their son, Scotty Jr., was orphaned at the age of 16, and his fate is unknown.
A Forgotten Starlet and a Cautionary Tale
Sunny Vickers was a starlet who had a brief and modest career in Hollywood, but she is mostly remembered for being the wife of a former child star who had a tragic downfall. Her life and death are a cautionary tale of the dangers of alcoholism and the pitfalls of fame. She is one of the many forgotten faces of the golden age of cinema, who deserve to be recognized and honored for their contributions and struggles.
