Wow! One of the greatest celebrity portrait photographers (along with Avedon and Leibovitz).
Wow! I’m in shock. I saw one of his exhibits a couple of years ago. It included shots of Michelle Pfeiffer in drag (with slicked-back hair and a Clark Gable mustache), incredilby sexy. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, this is one of his famous shots of Jack Nicholson.
He also directed the steamy Chris Isaak “Wicked Game” video.
He had an incredible eye for texture and expression.
I still remember the first time I became aware of Ritts was when he released Duo, the photo album of the openly gay professional bodybuilder couple of Bob Paris and Rod Jackson. I’m sorry to hear about his death.
A friend of mine used to house sit and watch the dogs when Herb Ritts went on a shoot out of town. Although I never met him, from what my friend told me, he not only was a great talent, but a genuinely nice guy as well.
Sorry to hear the news.