Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 6,060
|
Sam Smith not first openly gay Oscar Winner
First Openly gay oscar winner is Howard Ashman for Best Original Song, Belle from Beauty and the Beast. He unfortunately couldn't attend due to the fact he died of AIDS before the ceremony
Quote:
As everyone said their goodbyes, producer Don Hahn leaned over to Howard and said, "Beauty and the Beast is going to be a great success. Who'd have thought it?", to which Ashman replied with "I would have." Four days later, on March 14, Ashman, age 40, died from complications from AIDS, in New York City.[5] Beauty and the Beast is dedicated to him: "To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950–1991." Ashman was survived by his partner Bill Lauch, his sister Sarah Ashman-Gillespie, and his mother Shirley Thelma Glass.[5] In a commentary for the film, it was revealed that Ashman did get to see an unfinished version of Beauty before his death. According to producer Don Hahn, Ashman had mentioned that he was very fond of the film and was proud of the work he and Menken had done. Regardless, he completed lyrical work on Beauty and the Beast before succumbing to AIDS. The film was released mere months after his death and is dedicated to him.
Along with Menken, Ashman was the co-recipient of two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards. Upon receiving his second Academy Award posthumously, William P. "Bill" Lauch, his partner, accepted the award in his stead.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Ashman
|
.
|
|
|