Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee – star crossed lovers

A Broadway tribute to singer Bobby Darin – in the 1960s a world-wise success with “Splish Splash“, “Dream Lover“, “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea” – throws a spotlight on his short, tragedy-tinged life.

 He was born 14 May 1936 5.28 am Manhattan, New York and brought up by his grandmother, ‘an effervescent ex-showgirl with a morphine addiction’, though he only discovered in his thirties that his sister was actually his mother which sent him into a long period of seclusion. His childhood was further blighted by bouts of rheumatic fever which weakened his heart. He started out as a songwriter for Connie Francis before branching out on his own, along the way contracting a marriage with the blonde, former child model and teenage star Sandra Dee. It did not last and as her career failed she sank into alcoholism.

   He became politically active supporting Robert F Kennedy and being present in the hotel when he was assassinated. Darin’s career sagged latterly and he became a nightclub nostalgia act, with a late successful comeback (in television) in the early 1970s, before he died in 1973 at the age of 37 after open heart surgery.

  He had an upfront Taurus Sun on his Ascendant sextile Pluto (conjunct his IC) both inconjunct a yod focal point Jupiter in the 8^th. His Pluto in the 4^th hints at unsettling undercurrents in his childhood which would make him overly controlling in his adult domestic life. Jupiter in the 8^th points to a supportive grandmother and luck coming from beyond. Though with his Jupiter also emphasized being square Saturn opposition Neptune there may have been more Jupiterian highs than could be sustained over time.

 His 10th house Aquarius Moon was sextile his Jupiter inconjunct his Pluto which would tend to make him manipulative or overly forceful in his emotional life in particular. Plus Venus conjunct Uranus which would give him a need for freedom as well as control.

 His musical Neptune in his performing 5^th house was well placed and in a creative opposition to Saturn square Mercury Chiron.

 Sandra Dee, 23 April 1942 5.35am Bayonne, New Jersey, had an obsessively controlling mother and a stepfather who abused her sexually from a young age so had her own childhood trauma to bear.

She was also a Sun Mercury Taurus in her case square a controlling Pluto and a late Cancer Moon. Neither parent did her much good.

  Her Saturn Uranus in the latter end of Taurus were conjunct Bobby’s Sun and square his Moon for a scratchy, cool, high-tension interface – her under-contract career got in the way of togetherness so Saturn’s dutiful streak would damp their bond, never mind their damaged childhoods getting in the way. His Saturn was square her Jupiter so he would squelch her confidence at times. And his controlling Pluto was conjunct her Moon – a complicated mix for the IT couple of their generation. Their relationship chart had a composite New Moon conjunct Uranus – which is a contradictory indication of meant-to-be-together and needs-space. Kindred spirits through damage but it was the damage which drove them apart.

 Their wedding chart of 1 December 1960 3 am Camden, New Jersey, was hardly a good omen with a destructive, angry Mars opposition Saturn Venus; a controlling Sun square Pluto; and Moon opposition Mercury square Uranus.

When he died on 20 December 1973 tr Uranus moving through his 6^th house was square his Midheaven and his 4^th house Pluto as well as being opposition his SA Saturn.

 Sandra Dee’s chart has more indications of health problems with a 6^th house Neptune than his does – but his difficult emotional start in life seems to have taken its toll.