History has a funny way of flattening people into just one thing. If you Google Colleen Farrington today, you'll mostly see her described as Diane Lane’s mother or the "Miss October" who graced the pages of Playboy back in 1957. But there’s a lot more to the story than a vintage centerfold and a famous daughter. When news finally broke that she had passed away, it wasn’t some scandalous Hollywood ending.
It was quiet.
Honestly, the Colleen Farrington cause of death isn't a mystery wrapped in a conspiracy, though the internet loves to treat every celebrity passing like a true crime podcast. She died on October 12, 2015, in Jupiter, Florida. She was 79 years old. While some fans were looking for a dramatic headline, the reality was much more human.
The Quiet Passing in Jupiter
Colleen Farrington spent her final years far from the New York City spotlights where she once modeled for Oleg Cassini. By the time 2015 rolled around, she was living a relatively private life in Florida under her married name, Colleen Farrington Price.
So, what actually happened?
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Official records and family notices confirm she died peacefully while in hospice care. For anyone who’s dealt with the medical world, you know "hospice" is the key detail here. It implies a period of declining health, likely due to natural causes or a long-term illness associated with age. She wasn't a victim of a sudden accident. She was a woman in her late 70s whose body was simply ready to rest.
It’s kinda interesting how we expect these larger-than-life figures from the "Golden Age" to go out with a bang. But for Colleen, the end was about family and comfort. She had moved past the cabaret stages and the modeling runways decades prior.
More Than Just a Playmate
To understand why people still search for her, you have to look at the life she lived before the quiet years in Florida. Colleen was a powerhouse in the mid-century New York scene. She was a favorite of Oleg Cassini, the man who basically defined the look of Jackie Kennedy. Think about that for a second. She wasn't just "pretty"; she was the muse for one of the most influential designers in American history.
Then there was the Playboy thing.
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In 1957, being a Playmate wasn't just about the photos; it was a launchpad. But Colleen didn't just want to be a face. She was a nightclub singer with a voice that could hold a room. She married acting coach Burton Eugene Lane, and that’s where the Hollywood royalty connection begins. Their daughter, Diane Lane, would go on to become one of the most respected actresses of her generation.
The Complicated Relationship with Diane Lane
You can't talk about Colleen's life or death without mentioning her daughter. Their relationship was famously... let's call it "complex."
After Colleen and Burton divorced when Diane was just a toddler, a messy custody battle ensued. Diane actually lived with her father in New York residential hotels while Colleen moved back to Georgia. There was a period where Diane was essentially "kidnapped" by her mother and taken to Georgia, leading to a legal standoff that sounds like something out of a 1970s noir film.
Years later, they reconciled.
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By the time Colleen was in her final years in Florida, the hatchet had been buried. Diane has spoken in interviews about the peace they found. Knowing this makes the fact that Colleen died in hospice care—a place usually reserved for those surrounded by family support—feel a bit more poignant.
Clearing Up the Misconceptions
Whenever a name like Colleen Farrington trends, the "death hoax" or "tragic accident" rumors start flying. Let’s set the record straight:
- Was it a car accident? No.
- Was it sudden? No, the mention of hospice in her obituary indicates a known health decline.
- Was she still in the industry? Not really. She had transitioned into a private life long before her passing.
Some people confuse her with other individuals of the same name who passed more recently in Michigan or Utah (like Colleen Farrington Oliver), but the Diane Lane connection strictly belongs to the Colleen Farrington who passed in Jupiter, Florida, in 2015.
What We Can Learn from Her Story
Colleen Farrington's life is a reminder that the "glamour" of the 1950s was often followed by very real, very grounded lives. She was a model, a singer, a mother, and eventually, a woman living out her sunset years in the Florida sun.
If you're looking for actionable ways to honor her memory or simply learn more about that era, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Watch Diane Lane's earlier work: You can see flashes of Colleen's poise in Diane’s performances in films like A Little Romance or The Outsiders.
- Look up Oleg Cassini’s 1950s collections: Seeing the clothes Colleen modeled gives you a real sense of the "New Look" era she helped define.
- Check out her Playboy pictorial (if you're a historian): It’s a snapshot of 1957 aesthetics, photographed by the legendary Peter Basch.
Ultimately, the Colleen Farrington cause of death tells us she lived a full, long life that spanned from the high-fashion runways of Manhattan to the quiet hospice rooms of Jupiter. She wasn't just a footnote in a celebrity biography; she was a woman who navigated fame, family turmoil, and old age on her own terms.