2007 Photograph by Nicolas Guerin.

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I was saddened when Irving Penn passed away last October, but I am even more saddened to hear about the passing of his brother Arthur last night - day after his 88th birthday. A legendary film, tv, and stage director who I had the honor of meeting for the first time in 2008 at my friend Priscilla’s Oscar night dinner party. Priscilla was Arthur’s long time agent, friend, and neighbor. The small group of us sat in front of Priscilla’s small television set in her bedroom, eating dinner from our laps…so casually among the extraordinary. I was seated next to Arthur, and by his side, his lovely wife Peggy. 

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I remember being so nervous as we sat there watching the red carpet arrivals. Celebrities walked by on the tv screen, and when an A-list actor appeared, someone in the group would ask Arthur if he had worked with them. He’d nod humbly with a soft “yes…yes..” I tried to think of something wise and elegant to say to him to break my nervous silence, until finally he turned to me with this sweet smile and said, “isn’t the Oscars just too long?”

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I smiled and nodded like a little kid - as if Santa had just asked me, “have you been a good girl this year?” His eyes and smile melted my heart every time since. Over Priscilla’s dinner parties to benefits, Arthur never failed to give me the same genuine smile. 

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The last time I saw Arthur was on August 3rd, at Michael Batterberry’s funeral. I hadn’t seem him in a while but there was that smile again when I said hello. I helped him into a car after the service - his arm so fragile in mine…but I felt the weight of such incredible greatness of being at that moment. I will deeply miss him, his smiles, and his gentle voice.

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Thank you, Arthur. I am forever grateful to have met you.

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Arthur, Dustin & Faye.  ”Little Big Man” 1969.  Photograph by Ernst Haas.