Why Drew Barrymore wants her friends to steal her body from the morgue when she dies

Drew Barrymore has offered some unexpected commentary about what she would like to happen once she has died.

The star who is weeks away from launching her own talkshow after Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet (a show very much about death) and has now confirmed a unique rumour about her family during an interview on Hot Ones.

Her grandfather John Barrymore died in 1942 and soon after his passing his body was stolen from a morgue by his friends, comedian WC Fields, actor Errol Flynn, and poet Sadakichi Hartmann for one last epic night on the town.

They are said to have temporarily took his dead body and propped it up at a poker table.

Confirming the rumour, she said:

Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of that.

There have been rumours that the 1989 dark comedy Weekend at Bernie's also took cues from John Barrymore's posthumous partying.

She was also referring to 1981’s S.O.B, but more interestingly Barrymore hopes that her friends will keep the tradition up and borrow her corpse when the time comes.

Barrymore said:

I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few last rounds.

I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.

Barrymore's grandfather died in 1942 at the age of 60.

So who do you think would be part of Drew's corpse-stealing party? We nominate Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore and Lucy Lui.

The star is currently promoting her upcoming talk show The Drew Barrymore Show that premieres 14 September.