Blake Edwards' stepfather's father, J. Gordon Edwards, was a renowned silent screen director, and his stepfather, Jack McEdward, was a stage director and movie production manager. Blake Edwards, an actor and writer, began his acting career in films, starting with "Ten Gentlemen from West Point" in 1942.
Edwards wrote several films, commencing with "Panhandle" in 1948, and went on to pen six scripts for director Richard Quine. He also created several popular television series, including "Peter Gunn" in 1958, "Mr. Lucky" in 1959, and "Dante" in 1960.
Edwards' directorial career spanned a wide range of genres, from comedies to dramas to war films to westerns. Some of his notable films include "Operation Petticoat" in 1959, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961, "Experiment in Terror" in 1962, "Days of Wine and Roses" in 1962, "The Pink Panther" in 1963, and "A Shot in the Dark" in 1964.
After the success of "The Great Race" in 1965, Edwards began to experience creative differences with studios, leading to a period of hiatus. He later resurfaced in England, where he directed "The Return of the Pink Panther" in 1975. Edwards then returned to Hollywood and scored a major hit with "10" in 1979.
Edwards' crowning achievement came with "Victor/Victoria" in 1982, which won him numerous awards, including French and Italian awards for Best Foreign Film.
