Originally posted by CNN
Films such as A Shot in the Dark, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Pink Panther Strikes Again assured Edwards?s place as a maker of cult films and allowed him the financial freedom to undertake later projects such as 10 and S.O.B, both of which he wrote. But despite his many successes, he was not immune to box office disasters. The musical spy thriller Darling Lili, which starred Edwards?s wife, Julie Andrews, cost almost $20 million to make and failed dramatically at the box office; his later, ill-advised decision to release another two Pink Panther films (after Sellers?s death) exposed him to acrimonious, and expensive, court cases brought by the actor?s widow.
Blake Edwards was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 26 1922, the stepson of the successful film production manager Jack McEdwards. Blake?s step-grandfather had also been involved in the film industry, working for William Fox and directing more than 50 silent films, including the notorious Cleopatra which starred Theda Bara.
When he was three years old Blake?s family moved to California, and he was brought up in Los Angeles and educated at Beverly Hills High School. While there he worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous B-pictures, but claimed that he ?never wanted to act seriously enough to make a career of it?. He left school in 1940 and continued to accept small roles ? often as a soldier ? in films such as Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942), Marine Raiders (1944) and A Wing and a Prayer (1944).
During the war he served in the US Coast Guard and was badly injured in a diving accident. After a lengthy recuperation he decided to try to re-enter the film industry, writing a low-budget Western with his friend John Champion and approaching Monogram for backing. When the company turned down the project, Edwards and Champion raised the money themselves, making their debuts as producers with Panhandle in 1948.
Blake Edwards was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 26 1922, the stepson of the successful film production manager Jack McEdwards. Blake?s step-grandfather had also been involved in the film industry, working for William Fox and directing more than 50 silent films, including the notorious Cleopatra which starred Theda Bara.
When he was three years old Blake?s family moved to California, and he was brought up in Los Angeles and educated at Beverly Hills High School. While there he worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous B-pictures, but claimed that he ?never wanted to act seriously enough to make a career of it?. He left school in 1940 and continued to accept small roles ? often as a soldier ? in films such as Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942), Marine Raiders (1944) and A Wing and a Prayer (1944).
During the war he served in the US Coast Guard and was badly injured in a diving accident. After a lengthy recuperation he decided to try to re-enter the film industry, writing a low-budget Western with his friend John Champion and approaching Monogram for backing. When the company turned down the project, Edwards and Champion raised the money themselves, making their debuts as producers with Panhandle in 1948.
