John Paul Getty III, RIP, kidnap victim and actor

[Maurice]

John Paul Getty III died on 5th February, aged 54. When he was 16, his right ear was cut off by kidnappers to confirm their intention to kill him if a ransom was not paid.

In a brief acting career, he was 'Ron' in THE TERRITORY (1981) directed by Raoul Ruiz, and 'Dennis' in THE STATE OF THINGS aka DER STAND DER DINGE (1982) dir. Wim Wenders.

He appeared as himself in the documentary SCHNEEWEIBROSENROT (1991) directed by Rainer Langhans and Christa Ritter.

John Paul Getty III is survived by his son, actor Balthazar Getty, whose screen career began as Miles in THE TURN OF THE SCREW (TV, 1989) and Ralph in LORD OF THE FLIES (1990).

[Brief Encounter]

Was it his father who helped fund the BFI?

[darrenburnfan]

Here is a link to today's obituary in the Daily Telegraph.

John Paul Getty III - Telegraph

[wadsy]

What a tragic life he had, no wonder he went off the rails.

I seem to recall one headline (after the kidnapping) where he & a model girlfriend were arrested

for having sex on a bandstand in England I think. All the partying caught up with him but at such

a terribly young age! R.I.P.

[Maurice]

Was it his father who helped fund the BFI?

Yes. The BFI's purpose-built Conservation Centre, covering 11 acres in Berkhamsted, was opened in 1987 and is named after its sponsor, John Paul Getty II.

The same year, his donation also enabled the BFI to move to its new HQ in Stephen Street, London.