Paul Novak, Mae West’s companion regarding twenty-six decades therefore the recognized love of the girl life, died Wednesday morning on St. John’s Health Center in the Santa Monica, where he had been receiving treatment to possess cutting-edge prostate cancer. He was 76.
One of the musclemen about chorus collection of West’s fabled 1950s nightclub act one starred Vegas and you will toured the country more 5 years, Novak in the future fell deeply in love with West, who was almost three decades their older. She passed away inside the 1980.
a great.m. Aug. 5, 1999 On the Number Los angeles Moments Thursday August 5, 1999 Domestic Version Area A full page 18 Metro Dining table 2 ins; 47 conditions Variety of Matter: Modification Paul Novak–The Times’ July 15 obituary toward Paul Novak, Mae West’s mate from 26 decades, misspelled their completely new surname. age lawfully so you can Charles H. (Chuck) Krauser when he turned a specialist wrestler. If you’re appearing which have West within her 1950s dance club work, he grabbed title Paul Novak.
The new epitome of your strong, quiet kind of and you may an extremely personal child on avoid, Novak attempted usually in which to stay the back ground, stuff to let anyone trust he had been simply West’s bodyguard, when in fact he turned into their husband inside that which you but term.
They preferred folksy, small gatherings where Western enjoyed to entertain the lady nearest and dearest which have sounds and outrageous stories
The actual only real date Novak located themselves on headlines was when the guy punched out other person in West’s animal meat faith, Mickey Hargitay, the newest Hungarian-produced Mr. Universe that has getting romantically involved in Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield got produced specific unkind remarks regarding 60-and additionally Western, which still managed to make it hunt from the force you to the two guys was in fact assaulting more the lady.
It absolutely was so it experience you to driven Western to switch title out-of Charles Krauser–World war ii Navy gunner, member of the retailer , professional wrestler, circus roustabout and you can Muscle tissue Seashore denizen–to help you Paul Novak.
In fact, Krauser ended up being born Chester Ribonsky in the Baltimore. His buddy of greater than 50 years, Joe Gold, founder away from Gold’s Gyms and later Community Health clubs plus one affiliate from West’s chorus range, recalled you to definitely Ribonsky changed their name legally from inside the The new Orleans in order to Krauser, thinking it had been a good nickname to own a beneficial wrestler.
Western, a little, voluptuous lady having an attractive skin and a glowing smile, and you can Novak, that have a bodybuilder’s wider arms and you will huge boobs, made a striking couples. His black locks and you can serves in comparison dramatically with her blondness and you can affection to possess light shade. Their strong, craggy provides and her long lasting celebrity aura fuzzy the difference into the the age.
Independently, West and you will Novak was an amazingly compatible, easygoing couple. She never ever made an effort to take over the latest conversation, however, is click here for more info blogs to sit down as well as pay attention to Novak and you will anybody else keep ahead towards the newest incidents.
The common dedication became on passing many years and you may is touching so you can behold, yet , its very first romance is tempestuous and grabbed many years to repay off. They certainly were in a way one another solid-willed loners just who enjoyed the liberty. Shortly after, when West’s brother Jack and you will sis Beverly, which she supported, had been offering Novak a tough time, he called Gold to-drive your to The new Orleans very the guy you are going to register for several other tour away from obligations into supplier marine.
Novak loved in order to laugh doing she performed and you will is actually a superb, comedy storyteller in the individual right
“It just happened when you look at the 1964,” Dolly Dempsey, longtime confidant of couple, said regarding Novak’s deviation away from West’s Santa Monica beach household. “It actually was the 1st time We heard Mae most speak particularly Diamond Lil. While the Paul try leaving, she advised your, ‘Just remember, here isn’t zero swingin’ gates inside set!’ ”
However, Silver mentioned that whenever Novak involved to panel vessel inside the The newest Orleans, the guy stopped and work out a phone call. Coming back, he told Gold, “I have reached catch an airplane,” and you can flew home to Western, making Silver to push returning to Los angeles alone.
Novak’s unstinting dedication provided West a classic age of enviable delight and you can cover. With his lingering cover, their question on her behalf diet and exercise, Western managed to live this lady lifestyle almost since she always had up to she suffered the brand new number of shots one advertised the girl lives on chronilogical age of 87. She died at the the girl tend to-discussed white and you will gold apartment in the Ravenswood strengthening when you look at the Movie industry, this lady dominating family away from forty eight decades, with Novak and you can Dempsey handling her into end.
A dignified guy out of principle and you may respect, Novak was stunned by this lady demise, although it couldn’t have come since a shock so you can your. Ever before the latest realist, Western in her own last decades constantly questioned Novak so you can align an attorney so she you can expect to changes the lady have a tendency to inside the like, however, he procrastinated.
“I always thought to her, ‘Today, now, dear, there can be plenty of time to do that,’ ” he immediately following said. “Perhaps I thought she’d live forever.”
Western in turn would say one to Novak was “a good kid,” including when she was a student in their middle-80s: “ ‘Course, discover 40 men dyin’ to own their business!”
Silver told you Novak, exactly who will leave a few brothers when you look at the Maryland, wished no features and will also be cremated, together with his ashes strewn from the ocean the guy treasured.
