Bruce Paltrow

Bruce Weigert Paltrow (November 26, 1943 – October 3, 2002) was an American television and film director and producer.[1]

Bruce Paltrow
Born
Bruce Weigert Paltrow

(1943-11-26)November 26, 1943
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 3, 2002(2002-10-03) (aged 58)
Rome, Italy
OccupationFilm director, producer
Spouse(s)
Blythe Danner (m. 1969)
ChildrenGwyneth Paltrow
Jake Paltrow

He was the husband of actress Blythe Danner, and the father of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and screenwriter/director Jake Paltrow.

Life and career

Paltrow was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Dorothy (née Weigert) and Arnold Paltrow (né Paltrowitz).[2] He was a first cousin of Spencer J. Giffords, father of Gabrielle Giffords, who became an American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives. His family was of Eastern European Jewish descent[3][4][5] with roots in Minsk. His paternal great-grandfather, whose surname was "Paltrowicz", was a rabbi in Nowogród, Poland.[6] His father and mother owned Paltrow Steel Company and a home in Palm Beach, Florida. His brother is Robert Paltrow.

Paltrow studied painting at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the late 1960s, he began directing stage productions in New York City, where he met actress Blythe Danner. They married December 14, 1969 and were married until his death.

He was the producer of the television series The White Shadow and St. Elsewhere. His last production was the film Duets, which starred his daughter, Gwyneth.[7]

He also owned a restaurant in Aspen called Gordon's.

Paltrow was a Democrat. He reportedly refused to cast Dwight Schultz for a role on St. Elsewhere because the actor, a political conservative, supported Ronald Reagan.[8]

Death and legacy

Paltrow died on October 3, 2002, while vacationing in Rome, Italy, to celebrate his daughter's 30th birthday. He was 58 years old. Paltrow had suffered from oral cancer for several years; his death was due to complications from oral cancer and pneumonia.

In 2007, his widow, in cooperation with The Oral Cancer Foundation, set up a fund in his name to address oral cancer issues in the United States.[9] The foundation works primarily in the areas of public awareness, early detection, patient support functions and research.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin married Paltrow's daughter, Gwyneth, in 2003. The 2005 Coldplay album X&Y carried a dedication to Bruce Paltrow. According to Blythe Danner, the famous Coldplay song "Fix You" was written for Gwyneth, as Martin wanted to "fix her" after the death of her father.[10]

References
  1. Fredeen, Charles (December 13, 1987). "St. Name Change".
  2. "Birth Notice 2—No Title". The New York Times. October 12, 1947. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  3. Baylen, Ashley (January 4, 2011). "Gwyneth Paltrow's long lineage of rabbis". Ynetnews. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  4. Brown, Jonathan (April 10, 2006). "Second child for Chris and Gwyneth is the baby Moses". The Independent. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  5. Stated on Who Do You Think You Are?, April 1, 2011
  6. Davis, Ivor (December 30, 1999). "Gwyneth Paltrow, Movies, Stardom and Judaism". Jewish Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  7. Wood, Gaby (November 19, 2000). "Bruce Paltrow: Gwyneth is good for you".
  8. "TV Executives Admit in Taped Interviews That Hollywood Pushes a Liberal Agenda (Exclusive Video)".
  9. "The Oral Cancer Foundation website". Oralcancer.org. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  10. "Gwyneth Paltrow Says Chris Martin's Music Helped Her Cope With Her Dad's Death".
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