Esperanza Baur was a Mexican actress who married John Wayne, one of the most famous Hollywood stars of the 20th century, in 1946. Their marriage was turbulent and ended in a bitter divorce in 1954. Esperanza died of a heart attack in 1961, at the age of 40. What led to her tragic demise? Here is a brief overview of her life and death.
Early Life and Career
Esperanza Baur was born as Esperanza Díaz Ceballos on July 17, 1920, in Mexico City. She was nicknamed “Chata” by her family and friends. She appeared in a few Spanish-language films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, mostly in supporting roles. Some of her movies include Jalisco Nunca Pierde (1937), La Valentina (1938), Una luz en mi camino (1939), The Count of Monte Cristo (1942), and Guadalajara (1943).
Marriage to John Wayne
Esperanza met John Wayne in 1941, when he was vacationing in Mexico City. At the time, he was still married to his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz, but their marriage was on the rocks. Esperanza and John fell in love and kept in touch until he divorced Josephine in 1945. They got married on January 17, 1946, in Long Beach, California.
Their marriage was rocky and volatile from the start. Esperanza was reportedly jealous of John’s devotion to his work and to his four children from his previous marriage. They had no children of their own. John once said that their marriage was like “shaking two volatile chemicals in a jar”. Esperanza accused John of having an affair with Gail Russell, his co-star in Angel and the Badman (1947), which he denied. There were allegations of infidelity, violence, cruelty, and abuse from both sides. John described Esperanza as a “drunken partygoer who would fall down and then accuse him of pushing her”. Esperanza was also rumored to have had an affair with hotel heir Nicky Hilton during their divorce proceedings.
They separated in May 1952 and their divorce was finalized on November 1, 1954. It was one of the most scandalous divorces in Hollywood history. John had to pay Esperanza $6,000 a month in alimony until she remarried or died. He also had to give her half of his property in Mexico and some of his stocks and bonds.
Death and Legacy
Esperanza never remarried after her divorce from John. She lived a reclusive life in Mexico City, where she died of a heart attack on March 10, 1961. She was buried at the Panteón Jardín cemetery.
Esperanza Baur is mostly remembered as John Wayne’s second wife and for their tumultuous relationship. She has been portrayed by several actresses in biographical films and documentaries about John Wayne, such as The Duke (1979), The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), Hollywoodland (2006), and Trumbo (2015).
Esperanza Baur cause of death is a sad reminder of how fame and fortune can sometimes come at a high price for those who are involved with celebrities. She was a talented actress who had a promising career ahead of her, but it was overshadowed by her marriage to one of the biggest stars of all time. She died young and alone, leaving behind a legacy of controversy and mystery.
