They Knew How To Party
While the group of singers and actors known as the Rat Pack knew how to party it up, there was a dark side to this group of hard-drinking and swinging men. Frank Sinatra was the unofficial chairman of the board, and he ruled over the others with an iron fist. Sometimes it was his way or the highway.
And then, as the five men got older, each had to pay for their many sins with punishments that none of them could have seen coming.
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1. It All Started In Vegas
Maybe you don’t associate Humphrey Bogart with the Rat Pack, but he had a strong connection. He was the leader of what most people consider the original Rat Pack. When he came home from a trip with his buddies in Las Vegas, he looked like he’d been partying very hard. His wife, actress Lauren Bacall, took one look at them and said they looked like a “rat pack”.
Now, it was time for the next generation of rats.
Elmer Fryer, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Started His Own
You see, there were actually two Rat Packs, and there is only one common denominator between them. That’s Frank Sinatra. Sinatra ran with Bogart and his pack of rats, which included stars like Errol Flynn and Jerry Lewis. Sinatra would then use this same name for his own group of party boys. Years later, Bogart and Sinatra would meet up again, and it would be scandalous.
In the meantime, Sinatra was ready to lead his own Rat Pack.
Philippe Halsman, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Suffered
Sinatra’s journey to the “Chairman of the Board” of the Rat Pack was a difficult one. He almost didn’t survive his own delivery and later suffered from an eardrum puncture and terrible acne scars. His classmates teased him because of this, and even his own mother had a habit of belittling him.
Somehow, he turned this troubled childhood into becoming America’s number one heartthrob.
Capitol Records (File No. 3860-25). Photographer unknown., Wikimedia Commons
4. He Needed A Renaissance
But Sinatra’s career soon hit a low point. When he heartlessly left his wife, Nancy, for Ava Gardner, his public approval rating hit its lowest point. In 1953, he needed a career overhaul, and that came in a role in the movie From Here To Eternity. Some say he got the role because of his connections to the Mafia. How he got it didn't matter. He received an Academy Award for his efforts.
Sinatra was a star again, and he was ready to hit the high life.
Columbia Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
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5. He Assembled A Pack
Once Sinatra was back on his feet, he saw that it was time for Rat Pack 2.0. He assembled his friends: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. They sang together, made movies together, and, perhaps most importantly, knew how to party. But this was a band of performers with both huge talent and huge egos.
Peter Lawford soon learned not to cross an easily angered Sinatra.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
6. Even His Birth Was A Scandal
Rat Pack member Peter Lawford was born into scandal. You see his birth as actually a secret-revealing disaster. When his mother got pregnant, she was married to someone else. And the father? He had a wife, too. Lawford’s mom later said, “I can’t stand babies”. This was Lawford’s introduction to family life.
No wonder he gravitated to a group like the Rat Pack.
Macfadden Publications page 2, Wikimedia Commons
7. He Married Into Dysfunction
When it came time for Lawford to start a family, he chose to involve himself with an infamous one. He married a Kennedy. This was Patricia Kennedy, who was the future president’s little sister. Being among the Kennedys brought Lawford attention. Soon, Rat Pack leader Frank Sinatra was looking to get Lawford to join the pack.
But the results would be a disaster.
8. He Was Useful
Because of the Kennedy connection, Sinatra gave Lawford the nickname “Brother-in-Lawford”. So, it was pretty clear why Sinatra wanted him in his little clique. In 1962, Lawford even connected Sinatra with JFK for a rendezvous. Sinatra was so excited that he built a helicopter landing pad just for JFK’s arrival.
This would not end well.
9. He Tore It Down
Somehow, Kennedy got cold feet about the hookup with Sinatra. Some say it was because of the crooner's connections to gangs. So, Kennedy changed his plans and stayed with Bing Crosby instead. Sinatra was so angry that he angrily tore down the helipad.
He then turned his wrath directly on Lawford.
Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons
10. He Got Fired
After the disaster with Kennedy, Sinatra promptly fired Lawford from his movie, Robin and the 7 Hoods. In a glaringly ironic move, Sinatra chose Crosby as Lawford’s replacement. Lawford was officially on the outs with the Rat Pack, and once Sinatra even refused to sing until Lawford left the building.
But Sinatra would soon have to eat his words.
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11. He Needed Help
In 1963, Sinatra’s son, Frank Sinatra Jr., disappeared. When Sinatra got a call to pay a ransom, he knew who he could turn to for help. Even though he hadn't spoken to his ex-friend Lawford, he came crawling back. He wanted to use Lawford for his connection to Robert F Kennedy. With Kennedy’s help, Sinatra’s son survived the ordeal.
Rat Pack member Joey Bishop also got in hot water with Sinatra.
LBJ Library photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Was The Funny One
Joey Bishop was perhaps the funniest member of the Rat Pack, and he joined up when Sinatra saw him perform comedy at the Latin Quarter. Sinatra liked his humor and gave him a job as his opening act. Over the years, Bishop's star soared, and he even got his own TV show. But when he didn't show loyalty to Sinatra, he was in for a world of pain.
NBC Television., Wikimedia Commons
13. He Asked Him For A Favor
Sinatra had a gig at the Cal-Neva Lodge, and he couldn't make it, so he asked Bishop for a friendly favor. He wanted him to do the gig for him. The keyword here is “friendly”. To Sinatra, this was something that friends did for each other. For Bishop, this was a way to earn money.
The two did not see this in the same way, and there soon was trouble.
14. He Asked For The Moon
Bishop saw Sinatra’s request as simply a business deal. To replace Sinatra, Bishop asked for $50,000 as a fee. He also made another costly request. He wanted a private jet to take him to the gig. It’s not clear exactly what Sinatra expected, but this extravagance clearly wasn’t it.
It was time for Bishop to face the chairman and accept his punishment.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
15. He Got The Boot
The thing was, Sinatra likely felt that he had made Bishop into a star and shouldn’t be paying the big bucks to have him perform. And just like that, Sinatra cut Bishop out of the Rat Pack. Just like Lawford, he also kicked Bishop out of his film Robin and the 7 Hoods. Shortly after this, NBC canceled Bishop’s series.
It was this next Rat Packer that Sinatra had a soft spot for.
Screenshot from Robin and the 7 Hoods, Warner Bros. Pictures (1964)
16. He Started Young
Harlem-born Sammy Davis Jr started performing in vaudeville at the age of four. He turned his vaudeville career into a solo show when he performed at Ciro’s and wowed the crowd that was full of celebrities. Soon, he was a big deal and in 1959 joined Sinatra and his pack of friends. But the name this group was using wasn’t going to sit well with Davis.
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
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17. He Changed The Name
When Sinatra was getting his clique together, he toyed with the idea of calling it “the Clan”. Davis Jr was the only Black member of the group, and he didn’t like the connection to the other clan—the one that starts with three Ks. Sinatra kindly gave the name a pass. But the rest of America wasn't quite as kind as Sinatra.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
18. They Said He Couldn’t Marry Her
In the late 50s, Sammy Davis Jr fell for actress Kim Novak—but their interracial relationship ruffled feathers. According to rumors, studio boss Harry Cohn was furious, and got the mob involved, with some accounts even claiming that Davis was briefly kidnapped. In order to get them off his back, he married dancer Loray White, paying her to be with him for a year—but the ruse broke Davis’s heart (more on that later)
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
19. There Was A Problem With His Girlfriend
The Rat Pack decided to get behind JFK when he was running for president, so they briefly called themselves the “Jack Pack”. Davis had no issue with Kennedy, but voters had an issue with Davis. You see, he was dating the beautiful Swedish actress May Britt, and most Americans were not in favor of marriage between races. Kennedy had to distance himself from Davis in order to win the election.
This put Sinatra between a rock and a hard place. Ultimately, Davis decided to put off his wedding, so it took place after the election. But this sticky situation wasn't over yet.
Express Newspapers, Getty Images
20. His Plan Worked
The story goes that Davis’ gesture brought tears to Sinatra’s eyes. It also worked. JFK became president, and Sinatra could stand by Davis as he married his sweetheart, Britt. Sadly, when JFK held his victory gala, he left Davis off the guest list. Only Dean Martin refused to go in support of Davis. After all this trouble, Davis’ marriage to Britt only lasted eight years.
This next Rat Pack member was a complete imposter.
Universal History Archive, Getty Images
21. He Had A Rough Childhood
Dean Martin was an unlikely member of the Rat Pack. As a boy, he was far from cool. He was shy, and he had an embarrassing stammer. Adding to his boyhood traumas was the fact that he didn’t speak English when he started school. His first language was Italian, and the other kids had a heyday making fun of him.
Somehow, from this difficult childhood, a star was born.
22. He Met His Partner
Once Martin got the ball rolling as a singer, he met a comedian named Jerry Lewis. They soon became Martin and Lewis and “one of the greatest duos show business had ever seen”. Their stage show soon turned into wildly popular movies and TV appearances. They were each earning millions of dollars and taking on Hollywood.
But there were storms ahead in the forecast.
Los Angeles Daily News, Wikimedia Commons
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23. He Said Good Bye
The problem was that fans were seeing Lewis as the talent and Martin as the accessory. Martin wasn't about to play second fiddle to anyone, so in 1956, they parted ways. Many assumed that Lewis would flourish and Martin would fade away. But Sinatra stepped in and made sure that didn’t happen.
NBC Photo-photographer:Herb Ball, Wikimedia Commons
24. He Fit Like A Glove
When Martin walked away from Lewis, he walked right into someone else’s arms: Frank Sinatra's. Sinatra welcomed Martin into the inner circle of the Rat Pack, and he fit like a glove. He was soon appearing in Las Vegas with the Rat Pack. The marquee at the Sands often read something like “Dean Martin—Maybe Frank—Maybe Sammy”.
But there was something strange about Martin’s involvement with the Rat Pack.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
25. It Was All An Act
Martin was really making a name for himself. Amongst the Rat Pack, his fame centered around his drinking. While performing, he became known as the one with the glass of Scotch in his hand. But the truth was, the Scotch was usually apple juice. Surprisingly, of all the other Rat Packers, Martin was the closest to sober.
But Martin may have needed a drink when Sinatra pulled this next stunt.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Brought Them Together Again
As time passed, it became clear that Martin was never going to reconnect with his old comedic partner, Jerry Lewis. But then meddling Sinatra stepped in. While Lewis was hosting his usual telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, Sinatra shocked Lewis by hauling Martin onto the stage. It was all smiles on Lewis’ face, but it was clear that he was not happy with this surprise.
Yes, Sinatra was doing his best to help his buddies. But let’s not forget, it was really about the parties.
The Ettinger Company, Hollywood (public relations), Wikimedia Commons
27. They Liked Them Bloody
When the Rat Pack was partying it up, they had a drink that they all liked. And they liked it a lot. During one particularly boozy event, they ordered an astonishing 300 Bloody Marys from room service. That’s got to be some kind of a record. In addition to a signature beverage, the Rat Pack also had their regular women.
Underwood Archives, Getty Images
28. They Had Regulars
Of course, the Rat Pack had a group of women who were usually banging around. They included stars like Lauren Bacall, Angie Dickinson, Shirley MacLaine, and even Marilyn Monroe. Some even called these women the “mascots” of the Rat Pack, which, let’s face it, is nothing but a big insult.
But some parties were just for the guys—and a few special guests.
Studio publicity still, Wikimedia Commons
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29. They Got Hot And Bothered
Sinatra enjoyed helping other members of the Rat Pack with their secret rendezvous, and he apparently arranged for some very steamy parties. Well, they were steamy because he held them in the health clubs of casinos. Making the situation even hotter was the addition of groupies and “working girls”.
But even when Sinatra was going one-on-one with a woman, it was a scandal.
Screenshot from Robin and the 7 Hoods, Warner Bros. Pictures (1964)
30. He Liked Them With A Ring
Back in the day, sleeping with a married woman was not just immoral but also against the law. Authorities caught Sinatra with a married woman and were going to press charges. Sinatra somehow got away with it and continued with his lust for other men’s wives.
Of course, for these rendezvous, Sinatra needed a bachelor pad.
Distributed by 20th Century Fox. Photographer uncredited and unknown., Wikimedia Commons
31. He Had A Pad
Of course, no pack is worth its salt without a headquarters. Sinatra owned a spectacular home called Farralone in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley. The not-so-clever name refers to it being “far” and “alone”. Back then, the area was sparsely populated, and this gave Sinatra and his pack room to do what they did best: party hearty.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
32. They Bet Fortunes
While at Farralone, Sinatra and his boys played poker into the wee hours. While they were friendly games, the stakes were often ”huge fortunes” that us mere mortals cannot even fathom. Money was also no object when it came to refreshments. They consumed “million-dollar rounds” of drinks.
But there was another vice taking place at Farralone.
33. It Was A Secret Place
Sinatra used Farralone for his own affairs with Lauren Bacall and Ava Gardner, but he also lent it out. It allegedly became the meeting place of President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. This was around the same time that Monroe sang her infamous “Happy Birthday” song to the then-president, who was married to Jackie.
Besides partying hard, the Rat Pack made an iconic film.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
34. They Made The Original Ocean’s 11
One of the most iconic Rat Pack films was Ocean’s 11. Yes, this was long before George Clooney and Brad Pitt did their version. This was 1960, and it featured all of the Rat Pack members plus constant companion Shirley MacLaine.
One star got a message to steer clear of Sinatra and Ocean’s 11.
Screenshot from Ocean's Eleven, Warner Bros. Pictures (1960)
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35. They Were His Flunkies
Movie star Steve McQueen had been thinking of taking a role in Ocean’s 11, but turned it down. The reason gives insight into Sinatra’s relationship with the Rat Pack. Gossip columnist Hedda Hopper told McQueen he should “be his own man rather than Frank Sinatra’s flunky”.
Well, these flunkies were about to find out what real work was.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
36. They Had A Staggering Schedule
The members of the Rat Pack were so busy that it was hard to find time to film Ocean’s 11. Their routine during this time sounds absolutely exhausting. They would wake up in the afternoon and go do their shows on the Las Vegas strip. After performing into the wee hours, they would go straight to makeup and film Ocean’s 11 until sunrise. The next day, it was “rinse and repeat”.
Ocean's 11 is about a Las Vegas heist. As it turned out, Sinatra was already robbing the casino blind.
Screenshot from Ocean's Eleven, Warner Bros. Pictures (1960)
37. He Was A Bad Boy
Now the Rat Pack felt very at home in the casino in Las Vegas, and there’s a good reason. Apparently, Sinatra would do favors for the mafia in exchange for poker chips. These “gifts” of chips sometimes totaled into the thousands of dollars. But this free ride was not going to last forever.
20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Lost His Privileges
When millionaire Howard Hughes bought The Sands Casino, the Rat Pack was no longer allowed to run quite as freely as before. When Sinatra didn’t receive his stack of free chips, he pulled a tantrum like no other. The casino manager, Carl Cohen, tried to explain to Sinatra that the rules had changed.
Cohen was about to come face-to-face with Sinatra’s dark side.
Las Vegas News Agency, Wikimedia Commons
39. He Got Punched
Sinatra was unwilling to listen to Cohen, and to show his displeasure, he dumped some hot coffee on him. Cohen did not hold back and punched Sinatra right in the face. It was the end of an era for Sinatra, the Rat Pack, and the Sands Hotel and Casino. But things had always been a little icy between Sinatra and this hotel.
20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
40. He Did Some Good
Because Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr was Black, he sometimes had trouble getting into venues and hotels. Sinatra would have none of it, and when the Sands Hotel and Casino wouldn’t give Davis service, Sinatra stood up for him. When wait staff wouldn't serve Davis or other Black performers, Sinatra looked into getting the offending staff member fired.
But for every kind deed Sinatra did for a friend in need, there seemed to be another that undid it.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
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41. He Was A Rat
Back in 1956, Humphrey Bogart was suffering from cancer, and he didn’t have many days left. Bacall was at his side and looked like the perfect wife. Except for one thing. Before Bogart had breathed his last breath, Bacall and Sinatra had started an affair. With scandalous deeds like this, it seemed that the Rat Pack should have the worst karma ever.
Well, it was time for the Rat Pack to pay up big time.
42. He Lost His Son
In 1986, Martin’s son—Dean Paul Martin—went missing while on a routine training mission for the Air National Guard. When the worst possible news came back, Martin was a wreck. Sinatra was there to comfort him, as he had lost his mother in a plane wreck in almost the same location.
When Martin seemed to have no will to live, Sinatra stepped in to save the day.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
43. He Didn’t Want To Party Any More
The solution that Sinatra brought to Martin was to go on tour and party like they used to. Martin went along, but it ended up being a terrible idea. Martin was in a bad place, and the audience saw it. He also flatly refused to party with the rest of the Rat Pack. Martin eventually quit the tour and went home. They replaced him with Liza Minnelli.
Martin could not recover from the loss of his son.
Creative Management Associates (CMA), Wikimedia Commons
44. His Vice Got Him
While Martin may have only pretended to be a drinker, it was another vice that got him in the end. In 1993, his doctors gave him the bad news. He had lung cancer. His family was heartbroken—but their nightmare was just beginning. Martin said no to the surgery they offered him, and on Christmas Day, he passed at home at the age of 78.
It was also near Christmas when we lost Lawford.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
45. He Ended Up In The Ocean
Peter Lawford passed in 1984, right on Christmas Eve. The reason was cardiac arrest, but he also suffered from both kidney and liver failure. These were both attributed to his misuse of various substances. When he died, his own children refused to pay his funeral bills. His widow ended up asking the tabloid The National Enquirer to witness her as she tossed his ashes into the Pacific Ocean.
Davis also suffered from his partying ways.
46. It Was A Disaster
On the night of Davis’s wedding to his first wife, Loray White—yes, the one he’d paid to get the mob off his back—things got ugly. Davis was so miserable at their wedding, he drank heavily to cope—but while it was unfair, nothing can forgive what he did to her that night. On their way to the honeymoon suit, he tried to strangle White. But the nightmare didn’t end there.
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47. It Made Him Lose His Will To Live
Later that same night, Davis’s personal assistant went to check up on him. What he found in Davis’s hotel room stopped him cold: Davis had a revolver pointed at his head. Davis looked at his assistant and cried: “Why won’t they let me live my life?” Luckily the assistant was able to defuse the situation and Davis carried on with his plan to divorce White six months later.
Allan warren, Wikimedia Commons
48. He Left Her In Debt
Even after the divorce, Davis’s suffering didn’t end. He was a heavy smoker, and it resulted in throat cancer. Doctors offered to remove part of his throat to save his life. Davis famously said that he’d rather keep his voice. He passed on May 16, 1990, at age 64. Sadly, his widow inherited not a fortune, but a crippling debt.
Next up would be the chairman himself.
49. They Commemorated His Passing
By the late 1990s, Sinatra was suffering from high blood pressure, bladder cancer, and both heart and breathing problems. In February 1997, the worst happened: he had a heart attack. His last words were: “I’m losing”. To commemorate his passing, the Empire State Building turned its lights blue, the Las Vegas Strip lights shone a little less brightly, and for one miraculous minute, the casinos stopped spinning.
There was only one Rat Pack member left.
50. He Outlived Them All
Unlike his Rat Pack cohorts, Joey Bishop stayed with the same wife for 58 years. Maybe this was why he outlived the other members. He lived to the ripe old age of 89 and passed from multiple organ failure on October 17, 2007. Like Lawford, his ashes also ended up in the Pacific.
Maybe it is fitting that it was Bishop who passed on the Rat Pack torch.
51. It Was Rat Meets Brat
When Bishop appeared in the 1990 movie Betsy’s Wedding, he created a link between two packs. You see, also appearing in this movie were Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. These two, along with stars like Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, and Rob Lowe, were members of the Brat Pack.
But there was one thing that the Rats had over the Brats.
52. They Brought Glamor To The Desert
Many attribute this fact to the Rat Pack: they brought glamor to Las Vegas. Before these boys hit the strip, it wasn’t a place to wear a tuxedo or even a suit. Sinatra became famous for only going out dressed to the nines. Even in the desert heat. Think about this the next time you put on your cargo shorts for a day at the casino.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
