Introduction
Bruce Weigert Paltrow (November 26, 1943 – October 3, 2002) was an American television and film director and producer.
He was the husband of the actress Blythe Danner, and the father of the actress Gwyneth Paltrow and the screenwriter/director Jake Paltrow.
Life and career
Paltrow was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Dorothy (née Weigert) and Arnold Paltrow (né Paltrowitz). He was a first cousin of Spencer J. Giffords, father of Gabrielle Giffords, who became an American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives. His family was of Eastern European Jewish descent with roots in Minsk. His paternal great-grandfather, whose surname was Paltrowicz, was a rabbi in Nowogród, Poland. His father and mother owned Paltrow Steel Company and a home in Palm Beach, Florida. His brother is Robert Paltrow.
Paltrow studied painting at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the late 1960s, he began directing stage productions in New York City, where he met the actress Blythe Danner. They married on December 14, 1969, and were married until his death.
He was the producer of the television series The White Shadow and St. Elsewhere. His last production was the film Duets, which starred his daughter, Gwyneth.
He also owned a restaurant in Aspen called Gordon's.
Paltrow was a Democrat. He reportedly refused to cast Dwight Schultz for a role on St. Elsewhere because the actor, a political conservative, supported Ronald Reagan.
Death and legacy
Paltrow died on October 3, 2002, at the age of 58, while vacationing in Rome, Italy, to celebrate his daughter's 30th birthday. Paltrow had suffered from oral cancer for several years; his death was due to complications from oral cancer and pneumonia.
In 2007, his widow, in co-operation with The Oral Cancer Foundation, set up a fund in his name to address oral cancer issues in the United States. The foundation works primarily in the areas of public awareness, early detection, patient support functions and research.
The Coldplay singer, Chris Martin, married Paltrow's daughter, Gwyneth, in 2003. The 2005 Coldplay album X&Y carried a dedication to Bruce Paltrow. According to Blythe Danner, the famous Coldplay song "Fix You" was written for Gwyneth, as Martin wanted to "fix her" after the death of her father.