Gia Scala was a British-American actress who rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s with roles in movies such as The Guns of Navarone, The Garment Jungle, and The Tunnel of Love. She was known for her exotic beauty, elegant style, and captivating screen presence. However, behind her glamorous image, she struggled with personal issues, depression, and addiction that eventually led to her untimely death at the age of 38. What was the cause of death of Gia Scala? How did her life and career unfold? And what legacy did she leave behind? In this article, we will explore the tragic story of Gia Scala, one of Hollywood’s forgotten stars.
Early Life and Career
Gia Scala was born Josephine Grace Johanna Scoglio on March 3, 1934, in Liverpool, England, to a Sicilian father and an Irish mother. She had one sister, Tina Scala, who also became an actress. When she was three months old, her family moved to Sicily, where she grew up on her grandfather’s citrus estate. She learned to speak English, Italian, and French fluently.
When she was 16, she moved to New York City with her aunt, where she attended Bayside High School. She had a passion for acting and studied with Stella Adler and the Actors Studio. She also worked as a model and a travel agent to support herself. She dated actor Steve McQueen for two years before moving to Hollywood in 1954.
She was discovered by a Universal Studios agent who saw her on a game show and offered her a screen test. She impressed the studio executives with her talent and beauty and was signed to a contract. She changed her name to Gia Scala, dyed her hair dark brown, and had her teeth capped. She made her film debut in All That Heaven Allows (1955), starring Rock Hudson.
She quickly rose to prominence with supporting roles in films such as The Price of Fear (1956), The Garment Jungle (1957), Don’t Go Near the Water (1957), The Two-Headed Spy (1958), and The Angry Hills (1959). She also appeared on television shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Convoy, The Islanders, and The Rogues.
Her breakthrough role came in 1961 when she played Anna, a mute Greek resistance fighter, in the war epic The Guns of Navarone, opposite Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. The film was a huge success and earned seven Academy Award nominations. Scala received rave reviews for her performance and became an international star.
Personal Problems and Decline
Despite her professional achievements, Scala faced many personal challenges that affected her mental health and career. She suffered from depression and anxiety since childhood and was deeply affected by the death of her mother in 1957. She also had a difficult relationship with her father, who disapproved of her acting career and remarried without telling her.
She turned to alcohol and pills to cope with her emotional pain and loneliness. She became addicted to sleeping pills and barbiturates, which impaired her judgment and behavior. She was arrested several times for drunk driving and public intoxication. She also had several failed romances with actors such as Stewart Granger, Richard Egan, James Darren, and Robert Evans.
She married actor Don Burnett in 1959 after co-starring with him in The Triumph of Robin Hood (1962). However, their marriage was unhappy and turbulent. They separated several times and finally divorced in 1970. Scala blamed herself for not being able to have children and felt guilty for aborting a pregnancy early in their marriage.
Her substance abuse and personal problems affected her work as well. She became unreliable and difficult to work with on set. She lost her contract with Universal Studios in 1962 and had trouble finding good roles afterwards. She moved to Europe in the mid-1960s and appeared in low-budget films such as Agent 3S3: Passport to Hell (1965), Operation Counterspy (1966), The Rover (1967), and Target: Harry (1969).
She returned to Hollywood in 1969 and made her last appearance on television in It Takes a Thief (1969). She tried to revive her career by studying painting and taking acting classes again. She also sought help from psychiatrists and therapists for her addiction and depression. However, she could not overcome her demons and lost hope for the future.
Death
On April 30, 1972, Scala was found dead in her bedroom at her Hollywood Hills home. She was naked on her bed with bruises on her body and blood on her pillow. A bottle of pills was found next to her. The coroner ruled that she died from an acute ethanol and barbiturate intoxication and classified her death as accidental.
However, the circumstances of her death were suspicious and controversial. Her sister Tina believed that she did not commit suicide or overdose accidentally, but that she was murdered by someone who wanted to silence her. She claimed that Scala had information about a drug ring involving some Hollywood celebrities and that she was planning to expose them. She also said that Scala had received threatening phone calls and letters before her death.
Tina also questioned the coroner’s report, which stated that Scala had taken three Valium tablets, which are benzodiazepines, not barbiturates. She also wondered why Scala was nude and why there were signs of violence on her body. She suspected that Scala was raped and strangled by her killer, who then staged her death as an overdose.
Tina tried to reopen the case and hired a private investigator to find evidence of foul play. However, she could not prove her allegations and the case remained closed. She wrote a book about her sister’s life and death titled Gia: A Life of Grace, which was published in 1991.
Legacy
Gia Scala was a talented and beautiful actress who had a promising career in Hollywood. She starred in some memorable films and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. She had a loyal fan base and a glamorous image. However, she also had a tragic life that was marred by personal problems, addiction, and depression. She died young and under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind many unanswered questions.
Scala is remembered as one of the most captivating stars of her era, who left an indelible mark on the screen. She is also regarded as a symbol of the dark side of fame and fortune, which can destroy even the most talented and beautiful people. Her story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and depression, which can affect anyone regardless of their status or success.
Scala’s films are still enjoyed by many fans today, who appreciate her performances and charisma. Her life and death are also the subject of interest and speculation by many biographers, journalists, and researchers, who try to uncover the truth behind her mysterious demise. Scala’s legacy lives on through her films, her fans, and her sister, who keeps her memory alive.
