Biography for
Rupert Holmes More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

Birth Name

Mini Biography

Rupert Holmes was born on February 24, 1947, in Cheshire, England. Soon after, he ventured forth to America (New York) with his British mum and Air Force dad. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Holmes delved into the art of melodious sound. A successful piano player for both the Cuff Links and the Buoys, with whom he had his first international hit, 'Timothy' in 1971, Rupert also wrote and arranged songs for Gene Pitney, the Platters, the Drifters and the Partridge Family. Deciding to become an independent artist, Holmes released his first album Widescreen in 1974. Following that, he produced albums for Sparks, the Sailors, and the infamous Barbra Streisand. A succession of albums followed, including Rupert Holmes, The Singles, and Pursuit of Happiness. The eighties began with the world-wide success of his two songs Escape and Him, found on the album Partners in Crime. After Adventure and Full Circle were released, Rupert Holmes turned to Broadway and achieved stardom with his 1986 Broadway musical hit The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Rupert Holmes made history, having been the only person on the Great White Way to receive Tony awards for book, music AND lyrics of the same play. Continuing to write, Mr. Holmes then won the coveted Edgar Award for his mysterious play Accomplice. Following that came the Stacey Keach one-man show, Solitary Confinement. Returning to the venue of popular music, Rupert improved the scene with both The Epoch Collection and Scenario in the mid-nineties. Having conquered musical and theatrical venues, Holmes then decided to claim television as his own with the small screen masterpiece "Remember WENN". Along with forming 'The Actors' Authors' and Composers' Rep.' with his associates, Holmes also wrote and directed the acclaimed theatrical production Goosebumps. Rupert also wrote the one-man play Say Goodnight Gracie that opened in Florida.

Spouse

Trivia

Wrote and performed the hit song, "Escape/ The Pina Coloda Song."

In addition to the #1 US hit "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", he also had top 40 hits as an artist in his own right with "Him" (US #6) and "Answering Machine" (US # 32).

In 1986, won two Tony Awards for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood:" as Best Book (Musical) and Best Score. In 2003, he was nominated as author of Best Play nominee "Say Goodnight Gracie," a one-man show starring Frank Gorshin as George Burns, and about Burns' relationship with wife Gracie Allen.

His daughter, Wendy, died of cancer in 1986 at age 10.

Personal Quotes

"I think writing for a world one has invented can be infinitely more interesting than writing for the world we've all inherited."

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