Document Type
Article
Abstract
Lillian Roth (1910–1980) is remembered primarily for her bestselling autobiography I’ll Cry Tomorrow and its successful film adaptation, yet her broader significance as a social hero has received little scholarly attention. This article examines Roth’s transformation from celebrated entertainer and alcoholic to influential public advocate whose confessional storytelling helped reshape public attitudes toward alcoholism during the mid-twentieth century. Drawing on Roth’s autobiographies, contemporary media coverage, and historical sources, the article argues that her willingness to publicly disclose trauma, addiction, and recovery represented an act of social courage that challenged prevailing stigma. By leveraging celebrity to promote compassion, recovery, and public understanding, Roth exemplifies social heroism while illustrating the intersections of heroism, gender, advocacy, resilience, and cultural change. Her story expands contemporary conceptions of heroic action and celebrity activism.
DOI
10.26736/hs.2026.01.05
Recommended Citation
Gritter, Elizabeth Dr.
(2026)
"“I’ll Cry Tomorrow”: The Heroism of Anti-Alcoholism Advocate Lillian Roth,"
Heroism Science: Vol. 11:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.26736/hs.2026.01.05
Available at:
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol11/iss1/5