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Vale: Blake Edwards

The famous Pink Panther director also worked in Television, including creating the series Peter Gunn.

Film director and writer Blake Edwards, best known for his work on the Pink Panther films, died last week aged 88.

Edwards died of complications of pneumonia in Santa Monica. His wife, Julie Andrews, and members of the immediate family were at his bedside.

“He was the most unique man I have ever known — and he was my mate,” said Andrews, who collaborated with Edwards in 1982’s Victor/Victoria and other films.

“He will be missed beyond words and will forever be in my heart.”

Ewards’ key films included Operation Petticoat, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Great Race, What Did You Do in the War Daddy?, The Party, Darling Lili, S.O.B., and 10 -but he made many more.

He suffered from what he called “monstrous” depression throughout his life and at one point contemplated suicide, but found release in making movies.

Despite being known predominantly for his film career, Edwards created the TV series Peter Gunn and Mr. Lucky.

He also wrote for The Mickey Rooney Show, Richard Diamond Private Detective, The Pink Panther Show and several TV movies.

Source: LA Times

2 Responses

  1. Oh goodness 🙁

    Blake made The Party, one of the funniest and most nuanced comedies ever made, and streets ahead of the already-brilliant Pink Panther films. He had some epic failures, especially in the 1980s, but when I had the rare pleasure of interviewing him in the early ’90s he was the first to call himself out on those 🙂 (He was also incredibly patient and generous as an interview subject when the interviewer was a totally green nobody writing for street press).

    A true gentleman and a true legend.

  2. A major 20th Century talent, and provider of so much joy for audiences. As a boy, one of my favourite experiences was a Pink Panther movie on tv or The Party or his later works 10, S.O.B and Victor Victoria. Also a great serious director on top of that. Another classic filmmaker gone.

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