First in a series
Film documentarian Ross Hawkins, who tirelessly devoted decades to unearthing and publicizing Culver City’s forgotten prominence in the early years of the Hollywood motion picture industry, died at his Culver City home on Wednesday morning. He was 77 years old.
Funeral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Hawkins eventually will be buried by the side of his beloved wife Jackie in her hometown of Butler, PA.
A frequent contributor of arts and entertainment stories to this newspaper, his prolific writing was curtailed earlier than expected.
Some friends said that Mr. Hawkins was so shocked by his wife’s sudden death six years ago last spring that the well-known fire and passion that marked all of his film endeavors dimmed.
He spent the entirety of his working years in motion pictures, mostly behind the scenes, but occasionally in front of the cameras.
Culver City was a heavyweight in the early days of filmmaking – home to numerous studios, gave a start to star actors and executives, and provided the backdrop for early-day films.
Accidentally or otherwise, Culver City’s prominence had been kept in the shadows until Mr. Hawkins, with his enormous vigor, unquenchable determination and clear writing corrected the record.
Probably more than anyone else, Mr. Hawkins, a proud native, was singularly focused on acquainting later generations with the eminence of Culver City’s glaring profile.
Numerous film pioneers made their homes in Culver City, and Mr. Hawkins repeatedly shined a light on these important contributors.
Mr. Hawkins’s own last years somewhat paralleled the path of men and women he had written about – from light to shadows.
Alone since 2011 following his wife’s unexpected death, his private life became more complicated.
He suffered from congestive heart failure, Tyler St. Mark, Mr. Hawkins’s longtime friend and co-producer, noted, and that was followed by two personal disasters.
About a year ago, Mr. Hawkins broke his back in a fall at his home.
In the midst of recovering months later, he suffered a broken hip when he fell for a second time.
(To be continued)