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Starlet's Lover Died at Sea, She Missed Death Trip
25 May
Summary
- Mamie Van Doren refused a film role on a boat trip where her lover died.
- Her lover, Steve Cochran, died at sea with three women who couldn't sail.
- The group drifted for 10 days before rescue near Guatemala.
Silver screen legend Mamie Van Doren, now 95, narrowly escaped a terrifying experience at sea. In the late 1950s, she starred in two films with actor Steve Cochran, who was known for his numerous romantic conquests. Van Doren recounts that Cochran confessed his love for her, but she was not seeking a serious relationship at the time.
When Cochran asked Van Doren to participate in a film project that involved sailing to Mexico on his schooner, she declined. She cited her responsibilities as a single mother and a new movie project as reasons for her refusal. This choice ultimately saved her life.
Shortly after Van Doren's refusal, Cochran embarked on a voyage to Mexico with three young women he had recruited. During the journey, he became gravely ill and died. The women, unable to navigate the vessel, drifted for ten days with Cochran's body aboard.
The schooner, named the Rogue, was eventually found drifting off the coast of Guatemala, near Champerico. The three distressed women were rescued by a passing fishing boat. Cochran's body was later flown to San Francisco for burial.
