Blake Edwards, the man who created The Pink Panther and directed Audrey Hepburn classic Breakfast at Tiffany's, has died at the age of 88.
Edwards got his big break writing the radio adaptation of HG Wells' War Of The Worlds, read by Orson Welles, which famously caused widespread panic when thousands of Americans believed Martians really were invading Earth. Later in his career he directed a number of popular films, including Operation Petticoat, Days Of Wine And Roses and Victor Victoria, writing still more, but it was with comedy that he really made his mark. With Peter Sellers as the bungling French detective Inspector Clouseau he created a series of comic masterpieces much loved to this day.
Edwards had fought a long battle with chronic fatigue syndrome. He succumbed to complications of pneumonia in a Santa Monica health centre, in the company of his wife, actress Julie Andrews, and other family members. He is survived by Andrews and his five children, four of whom have starred in his films.
