We Will Always Live in Beverly Hills: Growing Up Crazy in Hollywood

by Ned Wynn

The son of actor Keenan Wynn and the grandson of comedian Ed Wynn describes growing up in the Hollywood milieu, discussing the famous people he has known and his search for meaning and belonging in the glamorous film world

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

Ned Wynn is the son of actor Keenan Wynn, step-son of actor Van Johnson, and grandson of actor Ed Wynn.

Reviews

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ned Wynn comes from a series of celebrities. His grandfather was Ed Wynn, a vaudeville and radio star whose quippy style was his trademark. His father was Keenan Wynn, one of MGM's second tier stars who had a famous friendship with Van Johnson, until Keenan divorced his wife Evie only to have her marry Johnson. The people around him were far from the perfect characters they played on screen. His father had a drinking problem and his step-father had arrogant tendencies and an unpredictable temperament.

This is Ned's story of growing up in Hollywood around pampered children and an unstable family during a hectic time in American history.

All at once, Ned Wynn grabs you with his vivid writing style. It sucks you in with romantic images of a child at play in a world that offers everything a boy could ask for. The dream quickly swirls into a nightmare created by laziness and selfishness, both qualities spawned by growing up around movie stars in luxury. We don't always like him because in his youth, Ned was so wrapped up in himself that he rarely cared deeply for anyone else. The saving grace is the tone of narrator Ned who explains his actions as a young man with the knowledge of his years.

It would have been nice to have a more thorough ending, but this book is an enjoyable and informative read, partly about the children of old Hollywood celebrities, but mostly about a youth growing up in the transition between the 50s and the 60s.

Ned's memories give us a chance to get up close and personal with some of the brightest stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and not all of them are nice, but that is okay because it provides a more realistic view. I devoured this book, and it has a lot of substance, so I would gladly read it again

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly didn't paint a pretty picture. Ned certainly couldn’t be more honest in his confession of being a clown and a wimp. And in my opinion a coward. A sad life, how he made it to adulthood is surprising. However, he didn’t have much in the way of parenting. His folks were too busy keeping up appearances and had issues of their own.

He describes his whining and crying, being shuffled to private schools, being bullied or getting into trouble. Later on it was haphazard attempts at acting, drifting along, eventually drugs, but always drifting. He admits to never having any ambition and thinking that the world owed him just because he was who he was.

He lived among the biggest names in Hollywood and their kids. He even met Charles Manson. He figured he was just another hippie burn out like everyone else. He claimed at times he didn't feel he deserved all the trappings of the Hollywood life, yet he didn't want to work, He wanted to be taken care of. His adult life was spent adapting to anyone who could or would provide for him.

All in all...I understand how he turned out that way.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty darned tempting to give this book 5 stars. It's one of the best Hollywood-related memoirs I've ever read. In addition to the principals related to the author--Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Van Johnson--you've got "cameos" by Judy Garland, Steve McQueen, John Phillips, Brian Wilson, Terry Melcher, Mia Farrow, the Maharishi Yogi, and many, many more. Most important, the writing is excellent. I won't bore you with a synopsis because if you're reading this you already have a pretty good idea of who Ed, Keenan, and the rest of the Wynns are, so I'll just say this book was intriguing, enlightening, and fascinating. I'd love to know what the author is doing today; I totally coincidentally met one of his nieces last night.

[Leila Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that this was a hard book to read. I always figured that celebrity children had a good life, being able to hob nob with the rich and famous, getting out of traffic tickets because of who their relation is, easy street, huh? Such is not the case in Ned Wynn’s family. He loved his father; he loved his step father; he loved (kind of) his mother but the adults in his life did not prepare him for adulthood. Rather sad to be aimless in life. It must have been hard to tell his story but I admire him for that. I respect him for turning his life around as he could have ended up like so many other celebrity children. I’d rather be raised by an anonymous family; not to have to measure up! I respect the telling of his story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great memoir by Ned Wynn, son of actor Keenan Wynn and grandson of actor Ed Wynn. Apparently Ned developed a substance abuse problem and certainly has many more harsh words for himself than he does for his family members.

Lots of name-dropping, parents switching partners, and Hollywood excess along the way, but makes for great reading.

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Ned Wynn's autobiography "We Will Always Live in Beverly Hills: Growing Up Crazy in Hollywood" upon publication. While I was respectful of Mr. Wynn's recovery efforts I found it too disclosive. I would like to hear his siblings', biological and step, take on family issues. Alas, a very lukewarm review; sorry!

[Kris Marolt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very honest, and somewhat funny book about growing up in Beverly Hills.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book didn't click with me - even though many great movie stars are referenced.