Blake Edwards was one of the most versatile directors of his generation. He was best known for directing the Pink Panther films, but he was equally adept at grim dramas (Days of Wine and Roses), poignant literary adaptations (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) and even racy musicals (Victor/Victoria). Edwards maintained this versatility from the 1960s to the 1990s. His last directorial effort was Son of the Pink Panther in 1993. Blake Edwards’ life, work, and his marriage to the legendary Dame Julie Andrews are the focus of a fascinating episode of the long-running PBS series American Masters, which came out this week (August 2024) — check it out here!
That being said, he didn’t pass away until 2010. The gap between his last film and his death has some fans puzzled, and we’re here to provide the missing pieces. Here’s what you need to know about Blake Edwards’ cause of death.
Blake Edwards suffered from chronic illness
Blake Edwards continued to direct theater after he left the silver screen behind. Unfortunately, his artistic pursuits became increasingly difficult as he got older. He suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which is a chronic illness that manifests in intense fatigue.
Edwards, who generally kept out of the public eye, discussed his struggles with ME/CFS in the 2000 documentary I Remember Me. He went into detail about the ways in which his illness inhibited him. CBS reported that the director also struggled with his mobility after undergoing two unsuccessful knee operations.
Gene Schwam, Edwards’ publicist, told the outlet that he was “pretty much confined to a wheelchair for the last year-and-a-half or two” of his life.
Edwards died from pneumonia complications
Blake Edwards’ failing health made him susceptible to other illnesses. When the director died on December 15, 2010, at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, the cause of death was complications from pneumonia. He had been hospitalized for two weeks prior to his passing, per The Hollywood Reporter. He was 88.
Edwards’ wife, Oscar winner Julie Andrews, was by his side during those two weeks. Andrews reflected on the director’s passing during a 2023 interview with Good Morning Britain.
“I’m still dealing with it,” Andrews explained. “[It’ll] sock you in the middle of your gut and you think, ‘Ah God I wish he were here.’ But he is in a way.”