Blake Edwards (born July 26, 1922) is an Academy Award-winning American film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Born William Blake Crump in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Edwards was the son of a stage director. He began his career as an actor and script-writer, including seven screenplays for Richard Quine. Edwards created a character named "Quine" for an episode of the 1950s television anthology Four-Star Playhouse called "The Bomb" that he wrote and directed.
His early career as a script-writer was for radio. His hard-boiled private detective scripts for Richard Diamond, Private Detective became NBC's answer to Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, reflecting Edwards' unique humor. Edwards also created, wrote and directed the 1959 TV series Peter Gunn, with music by Henry Mancini. Mancini's association with Edwards continued in his film work, significantly contributing to their success.
Edwards' most popular films have been comedies, the alcoholism-themed melodrama Days of Wine and Roses being a notable exception. His most fruitful collaboration has been with Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies. Efforts to revive the Panther franchise after the death of Sellers in 1980 met with little critical or commercial success, with the exception of the 2006 film (which Edwards did not direct), which has spawned a 2008 sequel.
In 2004 Edwards received an Academy Honorary Award for cumulative achievements over the course of his film career. He was portrayed by John Lithgow in the film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, documenting comic actor Sellers' life and his friendship with Edwards.
Edwards' second wife (from 1969) is Julie Andrews, who has appeared in a number of his films including Darling Lili, 10, Victor/Victoria and the autobiographical satire S.O.B., in which Andrews played a character who was a caricature of herself. In 1995, he wrote the book for the stage musical adaptation of Victor/Victoria, also starring Andrews.
Edwards and Andrews have five children together, including two daughters: Joanna and Amy. Edwards also has two children from a previous marriage: actress Jennifer Edwards.
Bring Your Smile Along (1955)
He Laughed Last (1956)
Mister Cory (1957)
This Happy Feeling (1958)
Operation Petticoat (1959)
High Time (1960)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Experiment in Terror (1962)
The Grip Of Fear (1962)
Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
The Pink Panther (1963)
A Shot in the Dark (1964)
The Great Race (1965)
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
Gunn (1967)
The Party (1968)
Darling Lili (1969)
Wild Rovers (1971)
The Carey Treatment (1972)
The Tamarind Seed (1974)
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
10 (1979)
S.O.B. (1981)
Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
Victor/Victoria (1982)
Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)
The Man Who Loved Women (1983)
Micki and Maude (1984)
A Fine Mess (1986)
That's Life (1986)
Blind Date (1987)
Sunset (1988)
Skin Deep (1989)
Switch (1991)
Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
References
^ Julie Andrews Collection.com
External links
Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database
Blake Edwards at the Internet Movie Database
Blake Edwards at the TCM Movie Database
Awards
Preceded by
Peter O'Toole
Academy Honorary Award
2004
Succeeded by
Sidney Lumet
v • d • e
Blake Edwards
The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (1963) - A Shot in the Dark (1964) - Return of the Pink Panther (1975) - The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) - Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) - Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) - Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) - Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
1950s
Bring Your Smile Along - He Laughed Last - Mister Cory - This Happy Feeling - The Perfect Furlough - Operation Petticoat
1960s
High Time - Breakfast at Tiffany's - Experiment in Terror - Days of Wine and Roses - The Great Race - What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? - Gunn - The Party
1970s
Darling Lili - Wild Rovers - The Carey Treatment - The Tamarind Seed - 10
1980s
S.O.B. - Victor/Victoria - The Man Who Loved Women - Micki + Maude - A Fine Mess - That's Life! - Blind Date - Sunset - Skin Deep
1990s
Switch
Productions
Panhandle (1948) - Soldier in the Rain (1963)
Television
Four Star Playhouse (1952–1956) - Peter Gunn (1958–1961) - Mr. Lucky (1959–1960) - The Dick Powell Show (1961–1963) - Justin Case (1988) - Peter Gunn (1989) - Julie (1992) - Victor/Victoria (1995)
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Edwards"
Categories: American film directors | American screenwriters | Academy Honorary Award recipients | César Award winners | Edgar Award winners | People from Tulsa, Oklahoma | 1922 births | Living peopleHidden category: Articles needing additional references from August 2007
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