Blake Edwards, director of “The Pink Panther” films, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “10” and many other iconic titles, has died. He was 88.
Edwards passed away at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., late Wednesday night from complications of pneumonia. Julie Andrews, Edwards' wife of 41 years, and the couple's five children were with the Honorary Oscar winner.
Born in Tulsa, Okla., in 1922, Edwards got his first leap into the big time in 1958 when he created "Peter Gunn." The success of the series would lead to Edwards moving into feature films, most notably with the 1961 screen adaption of Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's," starring Audrey Hepburn.
The film was nominated for five Oscars the next year, winning Best Original Score and Best Song for Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
Edwards followed that with a move into comedy that would link him with Peter Sellers and the "Pink Panter" series, starting with the self-titled first movie in 1963.
The director, who scored with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek in 1979's "10," teamed with his wife in 1982 with the cross-dressing "Victor Victoria."
In recent years, Edwards' returned to the "Pink Panther" series, directing "Son of the Pink Panther" in 1993 and writing 2009's "The Pink Panther 2."
In 2004 Edwards was awarded a Honorary Oscar for his career achievements.
