Johnny Stompanato

John Stompanato
Stompanato with Lana Turner
Birth nameJohn Stompanato Jr.
Nickname(s)Johnny, Jack, Handsome Harry, Johnny Stomp, John Steele, Oscar
Born(1925-10-10)October 10, 1925
Woodstock, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1958(1958-04-04) (aged 32)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Place of burial
Oakland Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1943–1946
RankPrivate
UnitService Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
Spouse(s)
Sara Utush
(m. 1946; div. 1949)
(m. 1949; div. 1949)
(m. 1953; div. 1955)
Other workMob Bodyguard

John Stompanato Jr. (October 10, 1925 – April 4, 1958) was a United States Marine and gangster who became a bodyguard and enforcer for gangster Mickey Cohen.

In the mid-1950s, he began an abusive relationship with actress Lana Turner. In 1958, he was stabbed to death by Turner's daughter, Cheryl Crane, who said she did it to defend her mother from a vicious beating by Stompanato. His death was ruled as justifiable homicide because he had been killed in self-defense.