- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRichard C. Avedon
- Richard Avedon was born on May 15, 1923 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a director, known for Funny Face (1957), Chanel No. 5: Tomorrow's Woman (1966) and Gilda Live (1980). He was married to Evelyn Franklin and Doe Avedon. He died on October 1, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
- SpousesEvelyn Franklin(January 29, 1951 - ?) (divorced, 1 child)Doe Avedon(1944 - 1949) (divorced)
- The character played by Fred Astaire in Funny Face (1957) is based on him. In fact, it is Avedon who set up most of the photography for the film, including the famous face portrait of Audrey Hepburn unveiled during the dark room sequence. The ditsy role of Marion was played by Dovima, one of the top fashion models of the day, who often worked with Avedon.
- Redefined fashion photography as an art form while achieving critical acclaim through his stark black-and-white portraits of the powerful and celebrated.
- Famous photographer.
- In 1942 he joined the US Navy Auxiliary (Merchant Marines) where he became a photographer's mate second class and was stationed at the Sheepshead Bay Maritime Service Station where he photographed identification photos for the sailors in America's Victory Fleet.
- Attended DeWitt Clinton High School with James Baldwin.
- If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up. I know that the accident of my being a photographer has made my life possible.
- All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth.
- My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.
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