Greg Bautzer

Gregson Edward Bautzer (April 3, 1911 – October 26, 1987) was an American attorney who represented such individuals as Ginger Rogers, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Crawford, Kirk Kerkorian, Howard Hughes and William Wilkerson.

Early life Bautzer was born in the Los Angeles community of San Pedro, California to Edward H. Bautzer, a descendant of German immigrants, and his wife Blanche Buckhout. The elder Bautzer was active in the San Pedro community, a civic leader, political activist and attorney. Bautzer's mother, before her marriage, had been a school teacher. Bautzer's father died when he was ten years old. From a young age, Bautzer stated his intent to follow in his father's footsteps by practicing law. After his father's death, Bautzer's widowed mother returned to teaching. Bautzer contributed financially by taking after school jobs, selling newspapers, performing janitorial work on yachts harbored in San Pedro, and waiting on tables in local eateries. After becoming established in Hollywood, Bautzer was engaged to actresses Barbara Payton, Dorothy Lamour and Lana Turner. Turner was only 16 when she and Bautzer started to date.

Bautzer's best known romance was with actress Joan Crawford. Their four-year relationship was reportedly on and off, as well as publicly heated at times, with Bautzer seen by many as Crawford's "escort".

On June 10, 1956, Bautzer married actress Dana Wynter. They had one son, Mark Ragan Bautzer. The couple divorced in 1981.

The last of Bautzer's four wives, and his surviving widow, was Nicola Schenck Dantine, the daughter of film mogul Nicholas Schenck and an actress also known as Niki Dantine.

Death Bautzer died of heart failure at his Beverly Hills home on October 26, 1987, at the age of 76. He is interred at Westwood Memorial Park.