Julian West(1904-1981)
- Actor
- Producer
The French-born scion to a wealthy Russian-Jewish family, Nicolas, the
5th Baron de Gunzburg was known in Paris for his lavish costume balls
and was popular with the artistic and social elite of the 20s and 30s.
He yearned to become an actor and financed Dreyer's now-classic Vampyr
in exchange for landing the lead role, using the screen name "Julian
West."
Not long after the film was released, though, Nicolas' father passed
away, and Nicolas himself was left with little money. He threw one last
lavish costume party, then took off for America to seek his fortune in
the summer of 1934.
Attempts at reviving his screen career didn't pan out, and he never
made any more movies. He moved to New York in the 1940s and eventually
became editor-in-chief of Town & Country magazine, and became a friend
of such luminaries as Noel Coward, Lauren Bacall, Cole Porter, Coco
Chanel, and Cecil Beaton.
He later became the senior fashion editor of Vogue, remaining there
during the 50s and 60s, then becoming fashion editor of Harper's
Bazaar. By the 1970s his personal style became a legend and he was
universally regarded as one of the best-dressed men in America. While
openly gay, his romantic life was discreet.
He also mentored three up-and-coming fashion designers: Bill Blass,
Oscar de la Renta, and Calvin Klein, all of whom became legends. De
Gunzberg, though, remained known only to the literary and social set of
New York, London, and Paris. He died at the age of 76, mourned by his
many friends and proteges. Ironically, although he is remembered today
for his one film role, his influence on the fashion world has continued
long after his death.
5th Baron de Gunzburg was known in Paris for his lavish costume balls
and was popular with the artistic and social elite of the 20s and 30s.
He yearned to become an actor and financed Dreyer's now-classic Vampyr
in exchange for landing the lead role, using the screen name "Julian
West."
Not long after the film was released, though, Nicolas' father passed
away, and Nicolas himself was left with little money. He threw one last
lavish costume party, then took off for America to seek his fortune in
the summer of 1934.
Attempts at reviving his screen career didn't pan out, and he never
made any more movies. He moved to New York in the 1940s and eventually
became editor-in-chief of Town & Country magazine, and became a friend
of such luminaries as Noel Coward, Lauren Bacall, Cole Porter, Coco
Chanel, and Cecil Beaton.
He later became the senior fashion editor of Vogue, remaining there
during the 50s and 60s, then becoming fashion editor of Harper's
Bazaar. By the 1970s his personal style became a legend and he was
universally regarded as one of the best-dressed men in America. While
openly gay, his romantic life was discreet.
He also mentored three up-and-coming fashion designers: Bill Blass,
Oscar de la Renta, and Calvin Klein, all of whom became legends. De
Gunzberg, though, remained known only to the literary and social set of
New York, London, and Paris. He died at the age of 76, mourned by his
many friends and proteges. Ironically, although he is remembered today
for his one film role, his influence on the fashion world has continued
long after his death.