LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Howard Hughes: Jean Peters
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By the late 1950s, if not earlier, Hughes had developed debilitating symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Once one of the most visible men in America, he ultimately vanished from public view altogether, although the tabloids continued to follow rumors regarding his behavior and whereabouts. On January 12, 1957, Hughes married Jean Peters whom he had known for several years. This, his second marriage, suffered due to his reclusive tendencies, as much of his contact with his wife was by phone. At various times, the media reported him to be terminally ill, mentally unstable or possibly dead.
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Hughes frequently exhibited compulsive behavior, using sheets of paper tissues on doorknobs and telephones to avoid contamination. By the late 1950s, he was diagnosed with neurosyphilis, a venereal disease affecting the brain. His symptoms included irritability, delusions, and carelessness about personal hygiene and grooming, which plagued his later years. His fear of contamination led to his insistence on living in a "germ-free zone." Hughes became reclusive in the early 1960s when he moved with Peters into a highly guarded mansion in the wealthy Bel Air section of Los Angeles.
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On 12 January 1957, Hughes married actress Jean Peters, whom he had known in Hollywood for several years. His second marriage was troubled... with much of the contact between husband and wife conducted by phone.
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Jean Peters