Oona O'Neill and assistant, Harry Crocker. Crocker photographed the event for gossip columnist Louella Parsons, to whom Chaplin had given exclusive rights to publicize news of the marriage in the hopes that she would write a more positive article about it than her rival, Hedda Hopper, who strongly disliked him. The elopement received a large amount of media attention due to the 36-year age gap between O'Neill and Chaplin, and because his ex-girlfriend, Joan Barry, had filed a paternity suit against him only two weeks earlier. Although Agnes had given the union her blessing, it cemented O'Neill's estrangement from her father, who
William Hopper William DeWolf Hopper Jr., was born January 26, 1915 in New York City. He was the only child of actor, singer, comedian, and theatrical producer DeWolf Hopper (March 30, 1858September 23, 1935) and his fifth wife, actress Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885February 1, 1966). He had one older half-brother, John A. Hopper, from his father's second marriage in the 1880s. Hopper made his film debut as a baby in his father's 1916 silent movie "Sunshine Dad". His mother divorced his father in 1922 and moved to Hollywood with their son. Hedda Hopper became one of America's best-known