Steve Lawrence, the singer who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s singing with his wife in the duo Steve and Eydie, has died.
“My father was an inspiration to so many people. But to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his incredibly talented wife,” his son, composer and performer David Lawrence, said in a statement to Deadline.
“I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son,” he continued. “I hope his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come.”
Lawrence died Thursday from complications related to Alzheimer's disease. He was 88 years old.
Representatives for Lawrence did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.
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Lawrence performed with his wife, Eydie Gormé, around the world until 2009. She retired due to health issues, according to the Washington Post. She died at the age of 84 in 2013.
Lawrence, meanwhile, continued touring until 2019, when he received his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
The actor, comedian and singer rose to fame with Eydie, whom he married in 1957, after they met on “The Tonight Show,” which starred Steve Allen.
Just a year after walking down the aisle, the happy couple created their own variety show, “The Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé Show,” which lasted for one season in 1958.
They went on to win a Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Duo or Group and an Emmy for their special “Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin” in 1979.
“I'm very grateful that Eydie and I not only have a great love, (but) a great friendship,” Lawrence said of their relationship, by variety.
“I think whether a relationship works or it doesn't… I also think you have to work at it… We're married people, you know? We fight, and one of the best shows we ever had was right after an argument in the locker room.
Lawrence also had an impressive solo career, scoring Top 10 hits with 1959's “Pretty Blue Eyes,” 1960's “Footsteps,” 1961's “Portrait Of My Love” and the 1962 No. 1 hit, “Go Away Little Girl.”
He has also booked several television appearances, including “The Ed Sullivan Show”, “The Carol Burnett Show”, “The Judy Garland Show”, “The Julie Andrews Hour” and several others.
Lawrence also showed his talent on the big screen, notably playing talent manager Maury Sline in 1980's “Blues Brothers” and its two sequels.
Additionally, he earned a Tony Award nomination for playing Sammy Glick in Broadway's “What Makes Sammy Run” in 1964.
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Lawrence always knew he would be an artist and was greatly inspired by Frank Sinatra.
“When I was a very young boy, I was an altar boy and I just graduated, I think, the first time I heard my first Frank Sinatra record,” he told Gary James from classicbands.com.
“I must have been fifteen when I heard it. I think I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my musical life,” he further recalls.
“I think his influence, not only on me, but on everyone who followed him, was so indelible, so powerful. It opened a whole new window for all of us who followed it.
Lawrence is survived by his son, daughter-in-law Faye, granddaughter Mabel and brother Bernie. He was predeceased by his son, Michael.