Olivia Newton-John : Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Olivia and the late Karen Carpenter were good friends (Karen nicknamed her "Livvy" or "ONJ," pronounced "Ahhnj"), and she was interviewed for the recent biography "Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter" (a riveting read, but tragic for obvious reasons). This quote from Olivia is heartbreaking:

"Anorexia was not something that was talked about or known about in those days. People were very thin, but you didn't realize what it was. When I looked at Karen I saw this face with these big, beautiful, soulful brown eyes and this funny, quirky personality... She was a clown on the outside, but you know how clowns are- they are sometimes sad on the inside and funny on the outside- that was Karen."

Also, I didn't realize Karen (b. 1950) was actually younger than Olivia (b. 1948). The anorexia really aged her prematurely, I think.

Here's Karen and Olivia in happier times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DRnvAAUkE

And sadder times- Olivia and John Travolta are being interviewed with the Carpenters in 1981. Karen is tragically thin here, and although her personality is indeed funny in relating the "Hotel Dumpwater" story with Olivia, her marriage was falling apart and she was pretty depressed at the time. It seemed like the worse Karen's life got, the worse her anorexia got. (She gained weight and looked radiantly healthy at her wedding just the year before, which Olivia attended). According to the book, her husband Tom sadly turned out to be an emotionally abusive, gold-digging a-hole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWZz0Lt4ArA#t=0h04m12s


BONUS! Less depressing: Karen spoofs the stage version of "Grease" in 1976 (ONJ's movie version wasn't until 1978) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WMv3gQpU8Q&feature=related

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Cool!

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Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Olivia is quoted a lot in the book, actually, but that's one that stood out the most for me. They had also wanted to do a duet at some point, but were too busy. They had even discussed Karen guest-drumming for some of Olivia's concerts in 1982, but by then, her health didn't permit it.

There was a nice fan-made video that combined the two singing "Close to You":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj66bHm3SYY

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Cool! That YouTube clip is cool, as well.

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Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

According to the book, her husband Tom sadly turned out to be an emotionally abusive, gold-digging a-hole.

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How do we know?
..I noticed every bio by a woman celeb says the same thing,or that they were molested/abused by thier parents.etc.

Yes,and we all believe that Sonny was 'abusive' to Cher right? Not hardly. Some women feel abused because the man says "no".

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

Pretty much all of Karen's friends called Tom a "monster." He drained her bank accounts until she was just left with stocks and bonds (according to their financial advisor). After an argument with Tom, Karen arrived at her friend Frenda's "slumped over," barely able to walk. Her friend Itchie described Karen as "all bruised up."

This book was not written "by" Karen, as she is dead now. She did not bring up any of this in public, instead being cheerful. The only ones who knew of this were her close friends, who were interviewed for the book (the tone of which is factual rather than sensationalistic).


That is how we know.

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

How many times did Tom bruise/batter,and steal from her? As long as she permitted it, hoping he would change? I hope that she obtained a prompt divorce and didn't wait it out.
Btw, I believe she owned an apt building with her brother.

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

The marriage did not last long and they separated, and Karen sunk into a deep depression regarding the whole situation. She filed for divorce, but legal/financial issues prevented signing the final papers until the day she died. Fortunately she had updated her will before that so her family ended up with most of her things, but Tom still got their houses (and $$$ from Richard to keep quiet.)

Yes, the Carpenters owned two apartment buildings, "Close to You" and "Only Just Begun."

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

'and $$$ from Richard to keep quiet'
---------------
Paid to keep quiet about what?




'She filed for divorce, but legal/financial issues prevented signing the final papers until the day she died.'
--------------------
Do you mean the actual day she died?
But, the important thing is that they separated,how much time span between the marriage and the seperation?
Don't you think her problems were more deep-rooted than the marriage?

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

I'm assuming so Tom didn't write one of those "tell-all" books or anything- i.e., "My Life with an Anorexic Karen Carpenter" or whatever sleazy things that are sometimes done when a celebrity dies. He probably would've written it so he came off as a saint. The gag order was mutual, so Richard doesn't talk about the marriage either.

Yes, the actual day she died. She was due to sign the papers that very afternoon on Feb. 4, 1983. It was supposed to be earlier, but there were some legal issues that had to be resolved.

I'm glad they separated too, but I don't know the exact date.

Yes, her problems definitely were more deep-rooted than the marriage, but that was kind of the "straw that broke the camel's back." I recommend reading the book. It's well-written but sad (obviously).

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

I don't know how somebody that troubled,depressed,and anorexic, was able to accomplish so much work.

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

I don't either, but Karen (and others) really pushed herself to the breaking point. The Carpenters' schedule until 1975 was insane until she finally collapsed that year, then it was resting up in the hospital for a few months, and then it was back on the road.

Re: Olivia quoted in Karen Carpenter bio

I read the Carpenter's authorized biography, and I loved reading all the quotes from Olivia and the details about her friendship with Karen.

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