Inside Eddie Deezen’s Troubling Past and Current Controversy
Eddie Deezen is best known for his role in Grease. It’s been decades since he was heavily involved in Hollywood, but the 69-year-old actor is back in the headlines this month after admitting he asked a 16-year-old girl out on a date. He followed that with more controversial posts before things died down. A look back shows Deezen has had a series of troubling moments in recent years.
Eddie Deezen sparked controversy with a Facebook post
Eddie Deezen may not be a household name today, but he once appeared in one of Hollywood’s biggest hits, and he apparently still believes that can help him land a date. In a Facebook post, he explained that he approached a young woman at Starbucks to tell her she was beautiful, mention his role in Grease, and ask her out. She declined, explaining that she was underage. She was 16.
Screenshots spread quickly to Reddit and other platforms, and the backlash was swift. Many users questioned why he thought sharing the story was appropriate. Deezen returned to Facebook with a follow-up explanation, and it didn’t go as planned. He said he had believed she was in college when he approached her. Followers were equally icked out by that, noting that at nearly 70, a woman in her early 20s isn’t an appropriate target for his affections either. He then compared the criticism to the hostility gay and transgender people face.
Deezen also said he had blocked several critics and initially vowed not to remove the post, but the original has since been deleted.
A troubling recent history
Deezen’s latest controversy may seem to have come out of nowhere, but the actor has had several strange and troubling run-ins in recent years. In June 2021, a waitress in his Maryland hometown accused him of harassment after he wrote a Facebook rant mocking her appearance. She said he visited her workplace regularly and asked her coworkers about her schedule. Deezen accused her of cyberbullying.
That September, Deezen was arrested at a restaurant in Maryland. Police said he refused repeated demands to leave, tried to hide, and threw plates and food at officers. He was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.
In April 2022, Maryland State Police arrested him again. This time, they were called when he pushed his way into a residential care facility. He had been told to leave the property earlier that day. He was charged, but the case took an unusual turn. According to the Los Angeles Times, a court found Deezen incompetent to stand trial. He was committed to a mental health facility for treatment. Deezen spent months in treatment before he was released sometime in 2023.
