Trinidadian-born Geoffrey Holder (1930-2014) was a Tony Award-winning director and costume designer, and a renowned dancer, choreographer, painter and writer with a flair for fashion. WWD began chronicling Holder’s career in 1954, when he performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts, noting his accomplishments until his death in 2014.
Holder became known for his Broadway and film contributions, receiving two Tony Awards for his theater work as a director and costume designer for the Broadway production of “The Wiz.” His baritone voice was recognizable in the 1970s and 1980s promoting 7Up soft drink commercials. Holder, along with his wife, dancer Carmen de Lavallade—whom he met and married in 1955—became a fixture on the New York social scene. The two were an inseparable pair known for stepping out in style.
Here is a look back Holder and de Lavallade from the pages of WWD and the Fairchild Archive through the years.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Peter Simins Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder attend a farewell party for outgoing New York City Mayor John Lindsay at Gallagher’s in Manhattan on December 26, 1973.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Lynn Karlin Geoffrey Holder on the dance floor at the Friends of Cesar Chavez and United Farm Workers organization fundraiser at the El Corso nightclub in New York City on May 1, 1975.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Frank Diernhammer (L-R): Leo Holder, Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade attend the preview performane of “The Wiz” at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on June 14, 1976.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Geoffrey Holder attends the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s Broadway opening at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City on Jan. 18, 1977.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Darleen Rubin Geoffrey Holder attends the opening night party for the broadway play “Timbuktu” at Gallagher’s in New York City on March 1, 1978.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Guy DeLort Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade at the Ford Theater’s 10th Anniversary party in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 1978.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: John Bright Geoffrey Holder attends the Black Designers Tribute event at the Fashion Institute of Technology on Nov. 11, 1981.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Tony Palmieri Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder attend the Valentino retrospective and party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Sept. 20, 1982.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade attend an event, celebrating the launch of Pierre Cardin’s fragrance Maxim’s at the flagship Macy’s store in New York City on April 9, 1985.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Guy DeLort Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder attend the 8th annual Kennedy Center honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8, 1985.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Guy DeLort Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder attend an event at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 1987.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Guy DeLort Dancers Harold Nicholas, Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder attend the 1992 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 1992.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Geoffrey Holder attends the film premiere of “Annie” in New York on May 17, 1982.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Kyle Ericksen Trinidadian actor, choreographer, dancer, painter, costume designer, singer and voice-over artist Geoffrey Holder at his SoHo loft, New York City on Feb. 4, 2004.
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Geoffrey Holder Trinidadian-American Artist and Man of Style
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade attend the French Institute Alliance France benefit at Daniel on March 10, 2005.