Harold Clayton Lloyd, Jr. (January 25, 1931 – June 9, 1971) was an American actor and singer.

Biographie

Lloyd (known as 'Dukey' to his family) found it very difficult to live in the shadow of his very famous father, and was alcoholic from his twenties onward. He was also gay at a time when it was considered socially unacceptable. Harold Lloyd jr. was engaged to Parisian socialite Irene Barrelet deRicou, daughter of famed French tennis player, Paul Barrelet deRicou and socialite Louise Barrelet deRicou. Irene was warned by many, including Bing Crosby, not to marry Lloyd jr,, but it wasn't until she caught him with another man that the wedding was called off. Dardis notes that Lloyd Sr. was understanding about his son's sexuality, all the more so given Lloyd's tendency to acquaint with violent lovers. Consequentially the younger Lloyd often returned to Greenacres, the family estate, battered and bruised after his encounters. His father's tolerance had its limits however, and (in not an uncommon view at the time) Lloyd Sr. blamed his own absences during his son's childhood for his sexuality. In 1953 he was briefly engaged to the Chilean actress Marina Cisternas. He had a home in Palm Springs, California, and was friends with Tab Hunter.

Lloyd suffered a massive stroke in 1965 from which he never fully recovered. He died on June 9, 1971 at the age of 40, three months after the death of his father. He was interred with his parents in a crypt in the Great Mausoleum's Begonia Corridor at Glendale Forest Lawn Cemetery.