Hollywood Pays Tribute to André Leon Talley: ‘A Beacon of Grace and Aspiration’

The world of fashion and entertainment is paying tribute to André Leon Talley. The former editor-at-large of U.S. Vogue died on Tuesday at the age of 73.

Talley’s career in fashion journalism spanned six decades. He worked at Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily, but became an iconic force at Vogue where he was creative director from 1988 to 1995 before becoming the magazine’s editor-at-large.

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Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief paid tribute to Talley via the magazine’s obituary to him.

“The loss of Andre is felt by so many of us today: the designers he enthusiastically cheered on every season, and who loved him for it; the generations he inspired to work in the industry, seeing a figure who broke boundaries while never forgetting where he started from; those who knew fashion, and Vogue, simply because of him; and, not forgetting, the multitude of colleagues over the years who were consistently buoyed by every new discovery of Andre’s, which he would discuss loudly, and volubly—no one could make people more excited about the most seemingly insignificant fashion details than him. Even his stream of colorful faxes and emails were a highly anticipated event, something we all looked forward to,” said Anna Wintour. “Yet it’s the loss of Andre as my colleague and friend that I think of now; it’s immeasurable. He was magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny—mercurial, too. Like many decades-long relationships, there were complicated moments, but all I want to remember today, all I care about, is the brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend to me and to my family for many, many years, and who we will all miss so much.”

Octavia Spencer also mourned the loss of Talley, writing “My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”

Viola Davis shared a photo of herself and Talley together, writing “Rest well King.”

Tony Award and Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips called Talley a trailblazer. Phillips, who has worked with Madonna, Lenny Kravitz and Quentin Tarantino, described Talley as a “dapper gentleman, fashion editor, writer, journalist with a singular voice [and a] larger than life icon.”

“Always so kind and funny, his contribution to fashion and culture is one for the history books,” Phillips wrote. “Such sad news to hear of his passing.”

Actor Harvey Fierstein hailed Talley as a “truly original heart, spirit and mind.”

Diane von Furstenberg paid tribute to Talley writing, “Goodbye darling André. No one saw the world in a more glamorous way than you did. No one was grander and more soulful than you were. The world will be less joyful. I have loved you and laughed with you for 45 years… I miss your loud screams… I love you soooo much.”

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of André Leon Talley,” wrote designer Bob Mackie. “Thank you for your knowledge and passion for fashion and glamour. You will be missed.”

“Slave Play” playwright Jeremy O’Harris also paid tribute. “For a little black gay boy who reached for the stars from the south there were few people I could look up to up there amongst the stars who looked like me just more fab except for you André,” O’Harris wrote. “For a generation of boys André Leon Talley was a beacon of grace and aspiration.”

“Heaven is not ready for you darling!!!!!!” Wrote Kerry Washington in her tribute. “The whole afterlife is going to be just too fabulous now.”

“The Masked Singer” costume designer Marina Toybina posted “Rest in glory.”

Screenwriter Emily V. Gordon called Talley an inspiration and reminded her followers to watch his documentary, “The Gospel According to Andre.”

The Bravo show “Watch What Happens Live” honored Talley as “a force in fashion, a legendary storyteller.”

See more tributes below:

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