However, it has been a long time coming as Doyle died in 1930 but had created Holmes much earlier. The image rights can make long-dead film stars a valuable asset and rake in fortunes for those lucky relatives or someone named in their wills. Marilyn died young which helps create a legend and of course in somewhat strange circumstances allows the conspiracy theorists a field day. The thing all three stars had in common was that they endured sad and young deaths. I envy not the money they generated but the skill in creating a character that captures the public imagination and stand the test of time.