Blake Edwards

American film director, screenwriter and producer (1922-2010)

Blake Edwards (July 26, 1922 – December 15, 2010) was an American director, producer, screenwriter and actor.

Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards in 1966
Born
William Blake Crump

(1922-07-26)July 26, 1922
DiedDecember 15, 2010(2010-12-15) (aged 88)
Cause of deathPneumonia
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • actor
Years active1942 – 1995
Known forThe Pink Panther
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Patricia Walker
(1953–1967; divorced),
Julie Andrews, (1969–2010; his death)
Children3 daughters, 1 son

Early life

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Born William Blake Crump in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His grandfather was J. Gordon Edwards, a director of silent movies, and his stepfather, Jack McEdwards,[1] became a film production manager after moving his family to Los Angeles in 1925.[2] He was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Career

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Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures. He would later begin to write or direct movie such as; Experiment in Terror, The Great Race, and the hugely successful The Pink Panther movie series with the British comedian Peter Sellers. Often thought of as primarily a director of comedies, he also directed drama movies such as; Breakfast at Tiffany's and Days of Wine and Roses. His greatest successes, however, were his comedies, and most of his movies were either musicals, dramas, comedies, or horror.

Personal life

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Edwards was married to Patricia Walker from 1953 unti they divorced in 1967. Lastly he married Julie Andrews from 1969 until his death in 2010. He had 3 daughters and 1 son. He lived in Los Angeles, California.

Edwards died on December 15, 2010 from pneumonia in a hospital in Santa Monica, California, he was 88 years old.[3]

Honors

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In 2004, he received an Honorary Academy Award.[4]

References

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  1. Telegraph obituary
  2. Wakeman, John (Ed.) World Film Directors Vol. 2. H.W. Wilson Co. (1988) pp. 302–310
  3. Harmetz, Aljean (December 16, 2010). "Blake Edwards, Prolific Comedy Director, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  4. Receiving Honorary Oscar in 2004

Other websites

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