Lindsay Crosby, Son of Bing, Dies of Gunshot Wound

Lindsay Crosby, son of crooner Bing Crosby, apparently shot himself to death Monday in his home in Las Virgenes, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office reported.

Crosby, AGE 51, was found dead in the den of his home in the 26300 block of Bravo Lane with a gunshot wound to the head, said coroner’s and Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators.

He was the youngest of four sons of Crosby and Crosby’s first wife, Wilma Wyatt, a jazz singer whose stage name was Dixie Lee. She died in 1952. Crosby married actress Kathryn Grant in 1957 and raised a second family before dying in October, 1977 at age 73.

Lindsay Crosby was never a big success in his entertainment career, which began when he appeared as himself in family-oriented special programs. He made his television debut in 1957 on “The Edsel Show” with his father and Frank Sinatra. He later appeared in low budget films such as “The Glory Stompers,” “Bigfoot” and “Free Grass.”

He had a nervous breakdown in 1962, went through two divorces and was arrested several times for drunk driving and battery. In 1977, he was arrested in Durango, Colo., on indecent exposure charges by sheriff’s deputies who said he was running nude around a motel pool.

In 1983 he supported his brother Gary, who attacked their father’s folksy, kindly image in Gary Crosby’s memoirs, “Going My Own Way”’--a play on the movie title “Going My Way” for which his father won a best actor Oscar playing a wise priest.

Gary Crosby described their father as an abusive tyrant who beat his sons until they bled and otherwise mistreated them. Lindsay Crosby said at the time that his brother’s description was accurate. “I hope it clears up a lot of the old lies,” he said.