Genevieve Waite (born Genevieve Joyce Weight,[3] 13 February 1948 – 18 May 2019) was a South African actress, singer and model.[3][4] Her best known acting role was the title character in the 1968 film Joanna.[5] She was a muse to photographer Richard Avedon, who photographed her several times for Vogue in the early 1970s.[3][5] In 1974, she recorded her only album as a singer, which was produced and written by her husband, John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas.[3][5] Her singing voice has been described as "Betty Boop crossed with Billie Holiday".[3] That same year, she starred in a short-lived Broadway musical, Man on the Moon, which she co-wrote with John Phillips; it was produced by Andy Warhol.[3]

Genevieve Waite
Waite in 1969
Born
Genevieve Joyce Weight

(1948-02-13)13 February 1948
Cape Town, South Africa
Died18 May 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 71)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, model
Spouse(s)Matthew Reich
(m. 1968; div. 19??)
(m. 1972; div. 1985)

Norman Buntaine
(separated)
Children
[2]

Personal life

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Waite married Matthew Reich, who appeared in Andy Warhol’s film ‘Bad’ and was known latterly by the nickname ‘Crazy Matty’ in the ‘Andy Warhol Diaries’, on 10 December 1968;[6] They later divorced. Waite then married John Phillips, on 31 January 1972, at a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles' Chinatown by a one-legged Buddhist priest.[3] They had two children: Tamerlane Phillips (b. 1971) and actress Bijou Phillips (b. 1980).[3][5] They divorced in 1985. She then married Norman Buntaine; they later separated.[6][7]

Filmography

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Music

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Waite's 1974 album Romance Is on the Rise, released on John Phillips label Paramour, featured a cover image of Waite as a Vargas girl shot by Richard Avedon. A 2011 release of the album on CD includes her cover version of the Velvet Underground song "Femme Fatale" as a bonus track.[8]

Death

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On 18 May 2019, Waite died in her sleep in Los Angeles, California.[1] Her daughter, Bijou, announced her mother's death several days later.[1] She is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, near Palm Springs, along with her ex-husband John Phillips.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Barnes, Mike (21 May 2019). "Geneviève Waïte, Singer, Songwriter and 'Joanna' Actress, Dies at 71". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019.
  2. ^ Fernandez, Alexia (20 May 2019). "Actress Geneviève Waïte, Former Wife of Musician John Phillips, Dead at 71". People. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Campion, Chris (24 May 2019). "Genevieve Waite, who made the '60s scene with John Phillips and Mick Jagger, dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Geneviève Waïte". allmovie.com. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e Sandomir, Richard (24 May 2019). "Geneviève Waïte, 71, Star of the Swinging-'60s Film 'Joanna,' Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Geneviève Waïte". MyHeritage. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  7. ^ "American Female Singer / Song Writers". Air Structures. August 2004. Archived from the original (Genevieve Waite: Romance Is on the Rise (Released in 1974, Rating 3+) on 4 October 2009.
  8. ^ "Genevieve Waite". Amazon Music. Amazon (company). Retrieved 19 September 2020.
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