Bernard Lafferty
Bernard Lafferty | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1, 1945 Creeslough, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | November 4, 1996 (aged 51) |
| Occupation(s) | Butler, heir to Doris Duke |
Bernard Lafferty (1945–1996) was the butler and heir to well-known American tobacco heiress and philanthropist, Doris Duke. Duke hired Lafferty in 1987 and named him the executor of her $1.2 billion estate 6 months prior to her death in 1993. Their unorthodox relationship sparked controversy and speculation, although no charges were ever filed against Lafferty regarding her death.[1][2][3][4]
Career and Doris Duke
Lafferty was born in Creeslough, County Donegal, Ireland and moved to Glasgow, Scotland with his mother in 1964 shortly after his father's death. His mother died less than a year later, when Bernard was twenty.[5] Lafferty later emigrated to the United States to live with his aunt in Philadelphia around 1980. Lafferty became the maître d' at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. He befriended many famous and influential people during his tenure, including Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Peggy Lee.[3][6]
In 1987, at the age of 42, Lafferty was hired by tobacco heiress, socialite, and philanthropist, Doris Duke as her personal butler at "Duke Farms", her home in Hillsborough, NJ. Lafferty soon endeared himself to Duke, becoming her closest confidant and travelling with her worldwide during his seven years as her employee.
Although Duke was a public figure, she spent her twilight years privately and mostly with Lafferty. Much of what actually transpired between must be left to speculation, but the consensus is they maintained a relatively healthy friendship. In 2007, HBO Films produced a semi-fictional film about the couple in a movie titled: "Bernard and Doris", starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes.[6]
Inheritance and death
In a controversial move, Duke made Lafferty the executor of her estate six months before she died in 1993. After Duke's death, Lafferty managed her many philanthropic endeavors as directed in her will. Lafferty relinquished control as co-executor of the Duke estate in a 1995 settlement with Duke's disinherited adopted daughter. Lafferty lived at "Falcon Lair", Duke's Bel Air estate until he died of illnesses related to alcohol and drug abuse in 1996.[7][8]
References
- ^ Stout, David (November 5, 1996). "Bernard Lafferty, the Butler For Doris Duke, Dies at 51". www.nytimes.com.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Mansfield, Stephanie (1992). The Richest Girl in the World: The Extravagant Life and Fast Times of Doris Duke. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
- ^ a b PEYSER, MARC (February 19, 1995). "DID THE BUTLER DO IT?". Newsweek.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help); Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ A&E Television Networks (November 13, 2017). "Doris Duke Biography.com". www.Biography.com.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "From Creeslough to Hollywood- The life of Bernard Lafferty - The Creeslough View". The Creeslough View. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
- ^ a b Garron, Barry (February 5, 2008). "Bernard and Doris". The Hollywood Reporter www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ LIEBERMAN, PAUL (November 5, 1996). "Butler Made Wealthy by Heiress Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "5 Things You Didn't Know About Doris Duke". 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2018-02-10.