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Cousins of Jackie Kennedy, The Bouviers, Were the Inspiration For “Grey Gardens”
Mother-daughter hoarders “Little Edie” and “Big Edie” Bouvier were famous for more than just being hoarders. They were also the cousins of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The Edies both lived in the lavish Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton, New York. Big Edie was abandoned by her husband, and left without alimony. Little Edie tried and failed to become an actress, and moved back in with her mom. Both of these women were living in absolute squalor. In 1971, the Suffolk County Health Department entered the home and cited several code violations. They had a 5-foot pile of food cans stacked up in the dining room, and there was human waste in one of the bedrooms. Jackie Kennedy felt so guilty and embarrassed that she sent her cousins $32,000 to help them survive and fix up the house as much as they could.
This story circulated the newspapers in the 1970’s, but The Edies became world-famous after the documentary called Grey Gardens premiered in 1975. Despite everything she had been through, Little Edie still played it up for the cameras by singing and dancing. It became a huge cult classic, especially among people who loved musical theater. Years later, in 2009, a movie also called Grey Gardens premiered, starring Drew Barrymore. In the movie version, we see the backstory of these women’s lives before they became hoarders. A series of traumatic experiences were to blame for them becoming reclusive. After her mother passed away, Little Edie sold the house and moved around. She even had the opportunity to be a paid performer in New York City, and made friends with her new fanbase.