The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Bing Crosby

When Bing Crosby's son, Gary Crosby, published his harrowing memoir, Going My Own Way, in 1983, the A-list crooner wasn't alive to witness the following blow: his son, Lindsay Crosby, sided with his brother, confirming the allegations. As People revealed at the time, Lindsay's "endorsement [was] surprising: By most accounts, he was Bing's favorite of the four."

When their father was still alive and the boys were already adults, it looks like Bing put time and energy into trying to make sure his sons didn't go astray. In fact, according to American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered, while Lindsay was struggling with alcohol and depression, Bing considered placing him in a psychiatric ward, concerned for his son's health. "There were decades of clean up," mused Bing's daughter, Mary Crosby, in the documentary.

Ultimately, it looks like Lindsay rejected Bing's pleas for help and, sadly, could not get healthy after his father's passing in 1977, either. In December of 1989, Lindsay committed suicide after learning the family inheritance he had was gone. As Marilyn Reiss, a representative for Gary Crosby told the Los Angeles Times, the youngest of Bing and Dixie Lee's children battled alcoholism and depression for years, along with "the strain of living under the shadow of his famous father."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

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