Trivia and Quotes
Trivia
 After she married sculptor Louis Schanker in 1959, her husband asked, "now that we`re married, dear, don`t you think you might use my name?" Astonished, Libby replied, "That`s ridiculous, would YOU exchange `Reynolds` for `Schanker?`" Her friends saw this indicative of her attitude toward her third husband for the remainder of her life.
As much as she liked FDR, Libby hated Harry Truman. In 1948 she actively supported Henry Wallace`s third-party candidacy and was one of his major financial supporters. While Truman narrowly defeated Thomas Dewey, Wallace garnered less than 2% of the popular vote.
Consistently maintained she was 2 years younger than she actually was.
Libby was offered numerous opportunities to return to Broadway immediately after the Reynolds episode. The one that got away: Producer Vinton Freedley offered her the lead in what would be considered the quintessential Cole Porter 1930`s Broadway musical, "Anything Goes," which she turned down. Freedley`s second choice was an unknown secretary named Ethel Merman, whose performance rocketed her to fame.
Libby`s decade-long obsessive, on again, off-again affair with Montgomery Clift gave her an unfortunate measure of undue influence over the sexually confused actor. It was Libby who advised Clift to turn down starring roles in both Sunset Blvd. (1950) (which had been especially written for him) and later, High Noon (1952).
Libby`s East Hampton beach home, `The Dune House` was purchased by ABC`s Roone Arledge in the mid 1980`s.
Adopted 2 boys, Timmy (born October 18, 1945) in 1945 while married to Ralph Holmes (they separated a week after) and Tony (born May 19, 1947) in 1947. They received $1 million each upon her death in 1971.
Established the Christopher Reynolds Foundation in 1952 in memory of her son. This foundation supported many civil rights causes of the 1950s-60s, notably financing emerging civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.`s 1959 trip to India to meet Prime Minister Nehru. This trip was instrumental in solidifying King`s conviction to non-violent protest.
Fabulously wealthy from her brief tragic marriage to tobacco heir Zachary Smith Reynolds, Libby maintained a Manhattan townhouse on 61st Street and a 16-bedroom mansion on 55-acres called `Treetops` in Stamford, CT. The estate was notable for it`s landscaping, which reportedly included 1-million daffodils and was eventually expanded to over 100-acres.
Found slumped over in her Rolls-Royce in her garage at her 55-acre estate, Treetops, on June 18, 1971. She was 67 years old. Although she was legally drunk (.12 BAC) there were indications that she had misgivings about killing herself as the car`s ignition was turned off. Many of her friends refused to believe the coroner`s suicide ruling.
Her 18-year old son, Christopher Reynolds, died in a climbing accident on California`s Mt. Whitney in August, 1950.
Her sister, Marion Holman (nee Holzman) Tuteur was also wealthy by marriage. Like her sister she was also manic depressive and committed suicide on December 13, 1963 in San Francisco.
Left an estate valued at $13.2 million (1971). Her beloved sprawling mansion, Treetops, was donated to Boston University. After bequests, the bulk of her estate was donated to the Christopher Reynolds Foundation.
Libby`s third husband, Louis Schanker died on May 8, 1981 in Manhattan at the age of 78.
Married three times. At 27 she married 20-year old millionaire Zachary Smith Reynolds in 1931 His death received the same degree of publicity as the Lindbergh baby kidnapping (or 60+ years later, the O.J. Simpson case). Although she and family friend Ab Walker were indicted for his murder and the charges were ultimately dropped her performing career was tarnished by the scandal. In the mid-1930`s audiences would often attend her shows to hiss her or for the novelty value of seeing what all the fuss was about. This ironically also got her work, since producers felt her presence could increase the box office.
The events surrounding her wealthy husband`s death on July 4, 1932 were fictionalized by David O. Selznick in an original story, "A Woman called Cheap" that was later produced as Reckless (1935) starring Jean Harlow in 1935. Libby took enormous satisfaction when the film flopped.
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