Actor and director Mel Ferrer died 2 June 2008; he had been in failing health for several months. Born Melchor Gaston Ferrer on 25 August 1917 in Elberon, New Jersey, he starred in War and Peace, The Sun Also Rises, and The Longest Day; and produced and directed several movies starring his third wife, Audrey Hepburn, including Wait Until Dark.
His genre appearances as an actor include films such as: Incubo sulla città contaminata (City of the Walking Dead, 1980), Mangiati vivi! (Doomed to Die, 1980), Il Fiume del grande caimano (Alligators, 1979), The Visitor (1979), L’Isola degli uomini pesce (Something Waits in the Dark, 1979), The Return of Captain Nemo (1978), Eaten Alive (1977), L’Anticristo (Blasphemy, 1974), The Hands of Orlac (1960), Et mourir de plaisir (Blood and Roses, 1960), and The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959). He also appeared in some genre television programs: Fantasy Island (1982), Logan’s Run (1977), Wonder Woman (1977), and The Fantastic Journey (1977).
As a producer, he was responsible for: The Night Visitor (1971) and Wait Until Dark (1967).
He went to Princeton planning a life as a writer. After winning a playwright’s award in his sophomore year, he left school and went to Mexico to write a novel, but intead wrote the children’s book Tito’s Hats, which was published by Doubleday. He was also an editor for one year before starting his acting career as a dancer on Broadway. His first major film role was in 1949’s Lost Boundaries; he went on to appear in more than 100 movies, directed nine, and produced nine more.
Unrelated to Miguel or José Ferrer, Mel Ferrer was married and divorced four times: to Frances Gunby Pilchard (1937-39), Barbara C. Tripp (1940-44), Pilchard again (1944-1950s), and Audrey Hepburn (1954-68). He then married Elizabeth Soukutine in 1971, and they remained together until his death. He is also survived by his sons Mark, Peter, Sean, and Christopher; daughters Pepa and Mela; and several grandchildren