Director Robert Wise, 91
Posted: Thursday, September 15th, 2005 3:27 pm   |
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Robert Wise, who directed and produced two of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, “West Side Story” and “The Sound of Music,” and was honored with four Oscars for his efforts, has died of heart failure at age 91.
Wise, who was also nominated for an Oscar for editing the Orson Welles classic “Citizen Kane,” died Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, said family friend and longtime Los Angeles entertainment agent Lawrence Mirisch.
Wise was rushed to the hospital after he was stricken at his Century City home, Mirisch told The Associated Press late Wednesday. The director had appeared to be in good health Saturday when he celebrated his 91st birthday with friends.
Wise’s wife, Millicent Wise, learned of her husband’s death while she was in Spain to attend the inauguration ceremony of the San Sebastian film festival. A retrospective of Wise’s work is to run throughout the nine-day event that starts Thursday. …
[Julie] Andrews praised Wise in a statement Thursday.
“He was a dear friend, a true mentor and the epitome of a gentle man,” Andrews said. “His body of work set thresholds rarely achieved in the film industry and he certainly influenced this (then) young actress from England who was learning her craft on film.
“He will be forever missed.” … Read full obituary
