Paul Morrissey

Paul Morrissey
Morrissey in 1967
Born
Paul Joseph Morrissey

(1938-02-23)February 23, 1938
DiedOctober 28, 2024(2024-10-28) (aged 86)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materFordham University
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active1961–2010
Known forWarhol superstar

Paul Joseph Morrissey (February 23, 1938 – October 28, 2024) was an American film director, known for his early association with Andy Warhol.[1] His most famous films include Flesh (1968), Trash (1970), Heat (1972), Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), and Blood for Dracula (1974), all starring Joe Dallesandro, 1971's Women in Revolt and the 1980's New York trilogy Forty Deuce (1982), Mixed Blood (1985), and Spike of Bensonhurst (1988).[2]

From 1965 to 1973, Morrissey ran the publicity and filmmaking activity for Warhol at The Factory (first at 231 E. 47th St. and then at 33 Union Square West in New York City).[3] Additionally, between 1966 and 1967, he managed the Velvet Underground and Nico and co-conceived and named Warhol's traveling multi-media Happening the Exploding Plastic Inevitable.[4][5] In 1969, alongside Warhol and publisher John Wilcock, Morrissey launched the print magazine Interview hiring its longtime editor Bob Colacello in autumn 1970.[6]

In 1971, Warhol and Morrissey purchased Eothen in Montauk, New York, a 12-hectare oceanfront estate on the Long Island shore for $225,000.[7] Morrissey would sell the estate in 2006 to J. Crew CEO Millard Drexler.[8]

In 1998, Morrissey was given the Jack Smith Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.[9]

  1. ^ Grimes, William (December 26, 1995). "A Warhol Director On What Is Sordid, Then and on MTV (Published 1995)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. ^ King-Clements, Eloise (February 22, 2024). "Brontez Purnell on Paul Morrissey, the OG Edgelord". Interview Magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "Paul Morrissey Day – DC's". April 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Bockris, Victor and Gerard Malanga. Up-Tight: The Velvet Underground Story. Omnibus Press. 1983. pp 30
  5. ^ "Velvet Underground, Expanded Cinema and Cafe Bizarre".
  6. ^ "Andy Warhol's Interview magazine".
  7. ^ "The Humble Fishing Town that Became a Hideaway for Warhol's Gang". February 27, 2018.
  8. ^ ""Bonuses bump up eastern Long Island sales" - by: Rachel Deahl , the Real Deal | the Corcoran Group".
  9. ^ "UNDERGROUND FILM FEST A MIX OF THE TASTELESS AND THE ARTFUL". Chicago Tribune. August 7, 1998. Retrieved May 18, 2024.