John Barrymore died at 72

John Drew Barrymore, part of an extensive family of actors, died Monday in Los Angeles at the age of 72. There is no information about the cause of his death.

"He was a cool cat. Please smile when you think of him," Drew Barrymore said in a statement released by her publicist's office about her father.

Barrymore was born into a family of actors. First appearing as John Barrymore Jr. when he was young, he followed his father, John Barrymore, into the business and didn't mind being compared to him. His father's siblings, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore were actors as well along with his mother, actress Dolores Costello.

Later in his career he dropped the junior part of his name and went by John Drew Barrymore. In the 1950s he appeared in many movies such as "Thunderbirds" and "While the City Sleeps." But he soon left Hollywood for Europe to make films in Italy during the 1960s.

Barrymore had problems with drugs, drunk driving and violence. While living in Italy he was unapologetic for street brawls he was involved in. In Drew Barrymore's book, "Little Girl Lost," she depicted her father as abusive. Drew, herself has battled alcohol and drug abuse at a very young age.

Barrymore was married three times and had two children. His first child was with his first wife, Cara Williams. He had no children with his second wife, Italian actress, Gabriella Palazollo. His third wife, Ildiko Jade Barrymore, is the mother of daughter Drew.