Gina Gershon Reflects on Meeting Paul Snyder in New Memoir

Gina Gershon is opening up about her unsettling encounter with Paul Snyder, a small-time hustler infamous for the murder of his wife, Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten, before taking his own life.

In her new memoir, AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs, Gershon recounts her rise to fame in Hollywood and the celebrities she encountered along the way. Despite the years that have passed, her experience with Snyder still troubles her.

“Why did that stick with me? Well, because it was creepy to begin with,” the actress, now 63, said. “I was just dancing outside with a friend, and right after, I heard about the horrific murder he committed of his wife, Dorothy Stratten. Honestly, I was horrified.”

The memory is haunting for Gershon. “I was scared because I thought, ‘Oh my god, I was just talking to this guy a few weeks ago.’ What if I said, ‘Sure?’” Trusting her instincts helped her avoid a potentially dangerous situation. “He was a real weirdo,” she added candidly.

Gershon met Snyder in 1980 while out dancing with Jodie Foster. Though they were a bit younger than the club’s age requirement, Foster’s fame seemingly opened doors for them. Gershon recalls a “strange man with a mustache” approaching her, asking if she had ever considered posing for Playboy. He claimed to know Hugh Hefner and suggested he could introduce her.

Despite the man’s insistence that she was “perfect” for the magazine, Gershon turned him down, stating, “I don’t think that’s a good idea because I want to be an actress.” His persistence only added to the awkwardness of the encounter. Eventually, Snyder handed her his business card before staggering away, leaving her unsettled.

Just weeks later, Gershon would read in the news of Stratten’s tragic death at the hands of Snyder. “It was creepy,” she reflected on finding out who he was. “I threw it away and we were out of there.”

Snyder’s violent relationship with Stratten is a chilling backdrop to her story. She was only 20 years old when he killed her and then himself at 29. Gershon articulated, “There was something vile and disgusting about him.” While he may have presented himself as charming, Snyder’s true nature was far more sinister, reflecting a classic case of control and abuse, as pointed out by experts who analyze such behaviors.

As Stratten’s career started to blossom, Snyder’s jealousy grew, creating a toxic environment that ultimately led to her tragic end. In retrospect, Gershon is relieved to have escaped what could have been a dangerous situation, particularly as she describes Snyder’s interactions as bizarre and unsettling.

Gershon’s memoir serves not only as a reflection of her own life in Hollywood but as a stark reminder of the darker aspects of fame and the potential dangers lurking behind the scenes.