Susan Cabot — Biography
Born in Boston, Susan Cabot experienced a childhood marked by instability, moving through eight different foster homes. Her teenage years saw her in Manhattan, where she discovered a passion for acting through her high school's dramatic club. Before settling on a career path, she juggled artistic pursuits, illustrating children's books by day and performing as a singer at the Village Barn in Manhattan by night. It was during this period that she made her cinematic debut as an extra in the 1947 Fox film Kiss of Death, also appearing in New York-based television productions.
Maxwell Arnow, a casting director for Columbia Pictures, encountered Cabot at the Village Barn, leading to a co-starring role in the studio's lesser-known South Seas drama, On the Isle of Samoa, released in 1950. Her move to Hollywood also brought a part as an Indian maiden in Universal's 1951 film Tomahawk, alongside Van Heflin. Universal then signed Cabot to an exclusive contract, resulting in numerous co-starring roles opposite prominent actors like John Lund, Tony Curtis, and Audie Murphy. Dissatisfied with the repetitive nature of her western and Arabian Nights roles, Cabot sought and obtained her release from Universal. She then returned to New York to star in Harold Robbins' play "A Stone for Danny Fisher."
Roger Corman brought her back to Hollywood for the lead in his rock-and-roll melodrama Carnival Rock in 1957. She remained in Hollywood, starring in five more films for the ambitious young producer-director. Following a widely publicized relationship with Jordan's King Hussein in 1959, Cabot divided her professional attention between television appearances and stage productions.
Cabot later engaged in a seven-year romantic involvement with King Hussein of Jordan, a relationship known to the CIA. Their son, Timothy Scott, was born out of wedlock in 1964, with Hussein providing $1500 in monthly support. In 1968, she married Michael Roman, her second husband, with whom she raised Timothy before their divorce in 1983. On the evening of December 10, 1986, police responded to a call reporting an intruder at Cabot's Encino, California residence. Upon arrival, they discovered Cabot deceased, having suffered fatal blunt force trauma. Cabot's son, Timothy Roman, informed the police of an attack by a "tall Latino with curly hair, dressed like a Japanese Ninja warrior," who had allegedly used "ninja methods" and made off with approximately $70,000 in cash. Roman claimed he fought the intruder and was knocked unconscious. His account, coupled with the superficial injuries Cabot presented to the police, quickly raised suspicions about his involvement in her death. Roman subsequently confessed to killing his mother with a weightlifting barbell and was charged with murder. A declassified government memo from
Maxwell Arnow, a casting director for Columbia Pictures, encountered Cabot at the Village Barn, leading to a co-starring role in the studio's lesser-known South Seas drama, On the Isle of Samoa, released in 1950. Her move to Hollywood also brought a part as an Indian maiden in Universal's 1951 film Tomahawk, alongside Van Heflin. Universal then signed Cabot to an exclusive contract, resulting in numerous co-starring roles opposite prominent actors like John Lund, Tony Curtis, and Audie Murphy. Dissatisfied with the repetitive nature of her western and Arabian Nights roles, Cabot sought and obtained her release from Universal. She then returned to New York to star in Harold Robbins' play "A Stone for Danny Fisher."
Roger Corman brought her back to Hollywood for the lead in his rock-and-roll melodrama Carnival Rock in 1957. She remained in Hollywood, starring in five more films for the ambitious young producer-director. Following a widely publicized relationship with Jordan's King Hussein in 1959, Cabot divided her professional attention between television appearances and stage productions.
Cabot later engaged in a seven-year romantic involvement with King Hussein of Jordan, a relationship known to the CIA. Their son, Timothy Scott, was born out of wedlock in 1964, with Hussein providing $1500 in monthly support. In 1968, she married Michael Roman, her second husband, with whom she raised Timothy before their divorce in 1983. On the evening of December 10, 1986, police responded to a call reporting an intruder at Cabot's Encino, California residence. Upon arrival, they discovered Cabot deceased, having suffered fatal blunt force trauma. Cabot's son, Timothy Roman, informed the police of an attack by a "tall Latino with curly hair, dressed like a Japanese Ninja warrior," who had allegedly used "ninja methods" and made off with approximately $70,000 in cash. Roman claimed he fought the intruder and was knocked unconscious. His account, coupled with the superficial injuries Cabot presented to the police, quickly raised suspicions about his involvement in her death. Roman subsequently confessed to killing his mother with a weightlifting barbell and was charged with murder. A declassified government memo from
