Paul Snider
Paul Leslie Snider (April 15, 1951 to August 14, 1980) was a Canadian nightclub promoter and pimp who murdered his estranged wife, Playboy model and actress Dorothy Stratten, before killing himself. The murder-suicide in Los Angeles shocked the entertainment world and ended the life of Stratten, a rising star who was born and raised in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Snider's crime is remembered as a brutal case of intimate partner violence stemming from jealousy and financial dependence as Stratten's career eclipsed his own. The case remains a dark chapter in Canadian true crime history and has been the subject of multiple film and television dramatizations.
Early life and meeting Dorothy Stratten
Paul Snider was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, into a Jewish family. By the mid-1970s, he was working as a nightclub promoter in the Vancouver area and was also involved in prostitution as a pimp. In 1977, he met Dorothy Ruth Hoogstraten, then a teenager working part time at a Dairy Queen while attending high school. Snider saw potential in the young woman and began managing her early modelling career. He orchestrated her entry into the Playboy world by sending professionally taken nude photographs of her to the magazine in 1979. This led to Stratten being chosen as the Playmate of the Month for August 1979, launching her national fame.
Move to Los Angeles and marriage
Following Stratten's success with Playboy, Snider and Stratten moved to Los Angeles to further her career. The couple married in Las Vegas on June 1, 1979. In Los Angeles, Stratten worked as a bunny at the Century City Playboy Club and began to secure small television and film roles. Snider, however, struggled to find legitimate success, engaging in various unsuccessful get rich quick schemes such as building and selling exercise benches. Throughout their short marriage, Stratten was the primary financial supporter for the couple, a dynamic that reportedly created tension as her star continued to rise while his prospects diminished.
Stratten's rising career and separation
In 1980, Dorothy Stratten's career reached new heights when she was named Playboy's Playmate of the Year. She also secured a role in the film They All Laughed, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich. During the production, Stratten began a romantic relationship with Bogdanovich. This led Stratten to separate from Snider, moving out of the West Los Angeles home they shared. Snider, increasingly desperate and jealous, hired a private investigator to follow Stratten and monitor her activities. The separation negotiations involved discussions of a financial settlement, which Stratten intended to offer Snider personally in hopes of an amicable resolution.
The murder-suicide
On August 13, 1980, Snider purchased a used 12 gauge pump action shotgun from a private seller found through a classified advertisement. That evening, he made ominous remarks to friends about the gun and spoke morbidly about the deaths of other Playmates. On August 14, Stratten arrived at Snider's rented house around noon to discuss their separation. She had brought $1,100 in cash as a proposed down payment on a settlement. According to police and forensic evidence, within approximately an hour of her arrival, Snider shot and killed Stratten with the shotgun. He then waited about an hour before turning the gun on himself. The couple's bodies, both nude, were discovered by Snider's roommates shortly after 11:00 p.m. that night after the private investigator expressed concern over not hearing from Snider.
Aftermath and burial
The murder suicide sent shockwaves through Hollywood and the Playboy organization. Dorothy Stratten was just 20 years old at the time of her death. Her funeral was attended by many celebrities, and her career was widely seen as having been cut tragically short. Paul Snider's remains were returned to British Columbia for burial. He is interred at the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery in New Westminster. The crime was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the timeline of events was established through forensic evidence and witness statements from Snider's roommates and the private investigator.
Cultural depictions
The tragic story of Dorothy Stratten and Paul Snider has been adapted for the screen multiple times, ensuring the case remains in public memory. The first depiction was the 1981 television film Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story, starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Stratten and Bruce Weitz as Snider. Director Bob Fosse's 1983 film Star 80 provided a more detailed and critically acclaimed dramatization, with Mariel Hemingway as Stratten and Eric Roberts portraying Snider. These portrayals often highlight Snider's controlling nature and the fatal escalation of his jealousy.
Analysis and profile
Criminal profilers and true crime commentators have analyzed Snider's actions as a classic case of a possessive partner who could not accept rejection or loss of control. Retired FBI agent Candice DeLong explored the case on her podcast Killer Psyche, examining the psychological dynamics. Snider's background as a pimp and promoter suggested a pattern of exploiting others, particularly women, for financial gain. His inability to succeed independently after Stratten became his primary source of income and status is seen as a key factor in his downward spiral. The premeditation is evident in his purchase of the shotgun the day before the murder and his morbid conversations preceding the crime.
Questions about Paul Snider
How did Paul Snider meet Dorothy Stratten?
Paul Snider met Dorothy Stratten in 1977 at a Dairy Queen in the Vancouver area. She was working there part-time while still attending high school. Snider was a nightclub promoter and pimp at the time. In 1979, he sent professionally taken nude photographs of Stratten to Playboy magazine, which led to her being chosen as a Playmate.
Why did Paul Snider kill Dorothy Stratten?
Paul Snider murdered Dorothy Stratten primarily out of jealousy and a perceived loss of control. After Stratten separated from him, began a relationship with director Peter Bogdanovich, and her career soared while his floundered, Snider became desperate. The crime is widely viewed as an act of intimate partner violence, where a possessive individual who feels entitled chooses to destroy what he can no longer control. The murder was premeditated, as evidenced by his purchase of a shotgun the day before.
Where is Paul Snider buried?
Paul Snider is buried in British Columbia, Canada. His remains are interred at the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery in New Westminster. This is a Jewish cemetery, reflecting Snider's family background. His burial location is separate from that of Dorothy Stratten, who was buried in California.
What was Paul Snider's occupation?
Paul Snider was a nightclub promoter and pimp. He was involved in various get rich quick schemes, including building and selling exercise benches. Throughout his short marriage to Dorothy Stratten, she was the one who supported him financially. His criminal activities culminated in the murder of his estranged wife in 1980.
Where was Paul Snider born?
Paul Snider was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on April 15, 1951. He was born into a Jewish family. His criminal life and eventual murder suicide occurred after he and his wife moved to Los Angeles. His remains were later returned to British Columbia for burial.
When did Paul Snider and Dorothy Stratten get married?
Paul Snider and Dorothy Stratten were married on June 1, 1979. They got married in Las Vegas after moving to Los Angeles together. Their marriage was short, as Stratten was murdered by Snider in August 1980. The couple had separated shortly before the murder.
Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.
