Mel Ferrer Death

• Author: admin
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 4,2008

Mel Ferrer, the tall, darkly handsome star of such classic films as “Lili,” “War and Peace” and “The Sun Also Rises,” as well as producer and director of movies starring his then-wife, Audrey Hepburn, has died at age 90.
Ferrer died Monday at a Santa Barbara convalescent home, his son Mark Ferrer told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He had been in failing health for the past six months and had recently moved to the home from his nearby ranch in Carpinteria, his son said.

Ferrer’s most impressive film role came in 1953 in “Lili.” He played a crippled carnival puppeteer with whom a French orphan (played by Leslie Caron) falls in love.
Ferrer and Hepburn costarred in a television version of “Mayerling,” and Ferrer directed Hepburn in the 1959 film “Green Mansions.”
In later years, Ferrer increasingly turned to directing and producing films for television.

“Acting, at times, depresses Mel,” Hepburn once said.

“Directing lifts him. He’s so relaxed at it that I just know it is the job he loves.”

He also produced the actress in the 1967 thriller Wait Until Dark.
Ferrer was married and divorced three times before Hepburn: to Frances Pilchard (one daughter), to Barbara Tripp (a daughter and son) and again to Pilchard.

He is survived by his wife; his sons, Mark, Peter, Sean and Christopher; daughters Pepa and Mela; and several grandchildren.

Technorati Tags: mel ferrer death, audrey hepburn, jose ferrer, miguel ferrer, sean hepburn ferrer, elizabeth soukhotine