Flamboyant film director, best known for Death Wish, and later an outspoken restaurant critic and bon vivant
Michael Winner, who has died aged 77, supplied interviewers with a list of more than 30 films he had directed, not always including the early travelogue This Is Belgium (1956), mostly shot in East Grinstead. But his enduring work was himself – a bravura creation of movies, television, journalism, the law courts and a catchphrase, ''Calm down, dear", from an exasperating series of television commercials.
He was born in London, the only child of George and Helen Winner, who were of Russian and Polish extraction respectively. His builder father made enough money propping up blitzed houses to invest in London property. The profits funded his wife's gambling, which, her son complained, so distracted "Mumsie" that he was never paid due attention. She left him in the bedroom with the mink coats of guests who came to his...
Michael Winner, who has died aged 77, supplied interviewers with a list of more than 30 films he had directed, not always including the early travelogue This Is Belgium (1956), mostly shot in East Grinstead. But his enduring work was himself – a bravura creation of movies, television, journalism, the law courts and a catchphrase, ''Calm down, dear", from an exasperating series of television commercials.
He was born in London, the only child of George and Helen Winner, who were of Russian and Polish extraction respectively. His builder father made enough money propping up blitzed houses to invest in London property. The profits funded his wife's gambling, which, her son complained, so distracted "Mumsie" that he was never paid due attention. She left him in the bedroom with the mink coats of guests who came to his...
- 1/22/2013
- by Veronica Horwell
- The Guardian - Film News
Michael Winner has died. The film director, producer and food critic has passed away aged 77 after a long battle with liver disease. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, who he married in 2011 - 55 years after first dating her. Paying tribute to her husband, Geraldine, a former dancer, said: 'Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous. A light has gone out in my life.' The director made over 30 films between 1960 and 1999 and is best known for 1974s 'Death Wish', which featured Charles Bronson as a vigilante and proved to be one of the most controversial and highest grossing films in its year of release. Winner also directed Marlon...
- 1/21/2013
- Monsters and Critics
Michael Winner has died. The film director, producer and food critic has passed away aged 77 after a long battle with liver disease. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, who he married in 2011 - 55 years after first dating her. Paying tribute to her husband, Geraldine, a former dancer, said: ''Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous. A light has gone out in my life.'' The director made over 30 films between 1960 and 1999 and is best known for 1974s 'Death Wish', which featured Charles Bronson as a vigilante and proved to be one of the...
- 1/21/2013
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Michael Winner, director of the Death Wish movie series and A Chorus of Disapproval, who later found fame as a restaurant critic, has died at the age of 77.
Michael Winner, bon viveur, restaurant critic and arguably one of the best known British film-makers of the 20th century has died at the age of 77. "A light has gone out of my life," his wife Geraldine Lynton-Edwards said. "Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous."
Winner had been in ill health for a number of years and almost died after contracting a bacterial infection while holidaying on Barbados in January 2007.
Born to a wealthy family in north London, Winner cut his teeth at the BBC before making his debut as a writer-director with the 1960 crime thriller Shoot to Kill. His freewheeling 1964 sex comedy The System established him as a key chronicler of swinging 60s London and gave rise to a...
Michael Winner, bon viveur, restaurant critic and arguably one of the best known British film-makers of the 20th century has died at the age of 77. "A light has gone out of my life," his wife Geraldine Lynton-Edwards said. "Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous."
Winner had been in ill health for a number of years and almost died after contracting a bacterial infection while holidaying on Barbados in January 2007.
Born to a wealthy family in north London, Winner cut his teeth at the BBC before making his debut as a writer-director with the 1960 crime thriller Shoot to Kill. His freewheeling 1964 sex comedy The System established him as a key chronicler of swinging 60s London and gave rise to a...
- 1/21/2013
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
Sir Michael Caine was delighted to see Michael Winner walk down the aisle earlier this month, because it took the actor nine years to persuade his friend to finally get married.
The 75-year-old Death Wish director exchanged vows with Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, 70, in London after an on/off relationship lasting 53 years.
Caine and his wife Shakira acted as witnesses at the ceremony, and the Hollywood veteran reveals they had been urging Winner to marry his lover ever since the couple reunited in 2002 following a brief split.
Caine tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "Ever since Geraldine came back into Michael's life nine years ago, Shakira and I have been urging him to get married. We thought it was time - and he finally gave in."...
The 75-year-old Death Wish director exchanged vows with Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, 70, in London after an on/off relationship lasting 53 years.
Caine and his wife Shakira acted as witnesses at the ceremony, and the Hollywood veteran reveals they had been urging Winner to marry his lover ever since the couple reunited in 2002 following a brief split.
Caine tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "Ever since Geraldine came back into Michael's life nine years ago, Shakira and I have been urging him to get married. We thought it was time - and he finally gave in."...
- 9/27/2011
- WENN
Moviemaker Michael Winner has married his longtime partner in London after a courtship of more than 50 years.
The 75-year-old Death Wish director exchanged vows with his fiancee Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, 70, at Chelsea Old Town Hall in the British capital on Monday following four years of engagement.
Winner, who first met Lynton-Edwards when he was 21 years old, had threatened to wear his pyjama bottoms to the ceremony to make sure he was comfortable on his big day, but instead he turned out in a smart suit.
Guests at the small wedding included Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira, who also acted as witnesses to the nuptials.
Following the ceremony, Winner told reporters it felt "terrifying but wonderful" to be married.
The newlyweds will honeymoon in Portofino, Italy.
The 75-year-old Death Wish director exchanged vows with his fiancee Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, 70, at Chelsea Old Town Hall in the British capital on Monday following four years of engagement.
Winner, who first met Lynton-Edwards when he was 21 years old, had threatened to wear his pyjama bottoms to the ceremony to make sure he was comfortable on his big day, but instead he turned out in a smart suit.
Guests at the small wedding included Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira, who also acted as witnesses to the nuptials.
Following the ceremony, Winner told reporters it felt "terrifying but wonderful" to be married.
The newlyweds will honeymoon in Portofino, Italy.
- 9/19/2011
- WENN
Filmmaker Michael Winner will be wearing his night clothes when he weds his longterm partner on Monday as he is determined to keep the ceremony casual.
The Death Wish director will marry for the first time at the age of 75 when he exchanges vows with girlfriend Geraldine Lynton-Edwards at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London.
Winner wants to keep the ceremony a low-key affair and has opted to cut the exchange of vows to just four minutes and have his friend Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira as the sole witnesses to the nuptials.
The director will also dress down for the occasion, in a pair of tartan pyjamas.
He tells Britain's The Independent, "It's still on, 1.30pm at the Chelsea Registry Office. I shall be wearing pyjama bottoms. They are handmade pyjama bottoms by Turnbull & Asser and they are very comfortable. They do actually look like nice tartan trousers.
"It's true that not many people get married in pyjama bottoms but then not many wait 50 years to get married. As Michael (Caine) told me, the important thing at our age is to wear whatever feels comfortable.
"There won't be dancing or speeches. We've chosen the shortest possible wedding version. I think we can cut it down to four minutes. Michael (Caine) wants to get home to Surrey. I want it to pass charmingly and sweetly.
"I don't have any nerves. I don't want my life to change in the slightest. I've known her for so many years. I'm a Scorpio and we hate change. I'm a recluse but Geraldine's more adventurous."
But Winner did hold a star-studded pre-wedding luncheon on Sunday in celebration of the impending nuptials, inviting "the people that really matter in my life - David Frost, Lord Lloyd-Webber, the photographer Terry O'Neill and the singer Chris Rea".
The Death Wish director will marry for the first time at the age of 75 when he exchanges vows with girlfriend Geraldine Lynton-Edwards at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London.
Winner wants to keep the ceremony a low-key affair and has opted to cut the exchange of vows to just four minutes and have his friend Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira as the sole witnesses to the nuptials.
The director will also dress down for the occasion, in a pair of tartan pyjamas.
He tells Britain's The Independent, "It's still on, 1.30pm at the Chelsea Registry Office. I shall be wearing pyjama bottoms. They are handmade pyjama bottoms by Turnbull & Asser and they are very comfortable. They do actually look like nice tartan trousers.
"It's true that not many people get married in pyjama bottoms but then not many wait 50 years to get married. As Michael (Caine) told me, the important thing at our age is to wear whatever feels comfortable.
"There won't be dancing or speeches. We've chosen the shortest possible wedding version. I think we can cut it down to four minutes. Michael (Caine) wants to get home to Surrey. I want it to pass charmingly and sweetly.
"I don't have any nerves. I don't want my life to change in the slightest. I've known her for so many years. I'm a Scorpio and we hate change. I'm a recluse but Geraldine's more adventurous."
But Winner did hold a star-studded pre-wedding luncheon on Sunday in celebration of the impending nuptials, inviting "the people that really matter in my life - David Frost, Lord Lloyd-Webber, the photographer Terry O'Neill and the singer Chris Rea".
- 9/19/2011
- WENN
Sir Michael Caine and his wife Shakira will be the only two guests at director Michael Winner's wedding later this month.
The Death Wish moviemaker is to marry his longterm partner Geraldine Lynton-Edwards at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London at the age of 75.
But he is keeping the nuptials a low-key affair, according to his pal Sir Roger Moore, by only inviting two guests to witness the vows.
Former Bond star Moore reveals he has not been invited to the ceremony, writing on his website, "Winner is only having two guests at his wedding on the 19th. Michael and Shakira Caine, his witnesses. He's keeping it intimate!"...
The Death Wish moviemaker is to marry his longterm partner Geraldine Lynton-Edwards at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London at the age of 75.
But he is keeping the nuptials a low-key affair, according to his pal Sir Roger Moore, by only inviting two guests to witness the vows.
Former Bond star Moore reveals he has not been invited to the ceremony, writing on his website, "Winner is only having two guests at his wedding on the 19th. Michael and Shakira Caine, his witnesses. He's keeping it intimate!"...
- 9/6/2011
- WENN
British filmmaker Michael Winner has put his childhood home up for sale for $96 million (£60 million).
The Death Wish director had hoped to leave the lavish mansion in Holland Park, west London "to the nation", but he admits he can't afford the upkeep and he wants a "simpler life".
And he's hoping to offload the property before he to weds fiancee Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, reports Britain's The Sunday Times.
The 75 year old, who has lived in the house since 1946, says, "It's a very big job. It's like running a museum. There are 46 rooms, nine lavatories, seven bathrooms and a swimming pool. We have 168 light bulbs outside the house to beat off the thieves... We also have 3,400 bulbs inside the house and they are all different. It costs me a fortune to have a man in to change them. We paid £1,000 the other day.
"I want a simpler life. Geraldine wants me to sell the house. It's a new start. It's a new life. The upkeep, the pure hard work in keeping the house going, is a nightmare for two people."
Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page lives next door to the sprawling property, which has been visited by movie greats including Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren over the years.
The Death Wish director had hoped to leave the lavish mansion in Holland Park, west London "to the nation", but he admits he can't afford the upkeep and he wants a "simpler life".
And he's hoping to offload the property before he to weds fiancee Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, reports Britain's The Sunday Times.
The 75 year old, who has lived in the house since 1946, says, "It's a very big job. It's like running a museum. There are 46 rooms, nine lavatories, seven bathrooms and a swimming pool. We have 168 light bulbs outside the house to beat off the thieves... We also have 3,400 bulbs inside the house and they are all different. It costs me a fortune to have a man in to change them. We paid £1,000 the other day.
"I want a simpler life. Geraldine wants me to sell the house. It's a new start. It's a new life. The upkeep, the pure hard work in keeping the house going, is a nightmare for two people."
Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page lives next door to the sprawling property, which has been visited by movie greats including Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren over the years.
- 8/21/2011
- WENN
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