Actress Gina Gershon has shared a haunting memory from her early years in Hollywood, recalling a brief but unsettling encounter with nightclub promoter Paul Snider shortly before the tragic murder-suicide that shocked the entertainment world in 1980.
During a recent interview, Gershon described meeting Snider at a nightclub while she was still a teenager. At the time, she had no idea that only weeks later the promoter would be responsible for the killing of his estranged wife, actress and model Dorothy Stratten, before taking his own life.
A Nightclub Meeting That Felt “Creepy”
Gershon explained that the encounter happened during a night out with actress Jodie Foster. The two young performers had gone dancing at a club when Snider approached them and began talking.
According to Gershon, the promoter quickly suggested that she should pose for Playboy. She politely declined, telling him she wanted to focus on building an acting career instead. Despite keeping the conversation short, she remembered feeling uneasy about the interaction.
Snider also mentioned his wife, Dorothy Stratten, who at the time was gaining attention in Hollywood and working with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich. Gershon and Foster soon decided to leave the venue after feeling uncomfortable with the situation.
The Shocking Crime That Followed
Only a few weeks after that encounter, news broke that Snider had murdered Stratten and then died by suicide. The crime took place in Los Angeles in August 1980 and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most tragic and widely discussed cases.
Stratten, who had been named Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1980, was just 20 years old at the time of her death. Investigations later revealed that Snider had shot her before killing himself. The case stunned the entertainment industry and later inspired books and films depicting her life and tragic end.
Looking back, Gershon said learning about the crime soon after meeting Snider gave her a disturbing realization about how close she had unknowingly come to someone dangerous.
A Memory That Still Stays With Her
Decades later, Gershon says the memory of that meeting still leaves a strong impression. She recalled feeling grateful that she trusted her instincts and declined Snider’s proposal at the time.
The actress added that the tragic story remains a reminder of how unpredictable Hollywood’s nightlife scene could be during that era and how quickly circumstances can change.
