Remembering Mr. Paul Huntley, Hair & Wig Extraordinaire

Paul Huntley passed away on July 9th, 2021 in his hometown of London, England a few days after his 88th birthday. Once referring to wig making as an "intimate collaboration,"  Paul's work spans decades and his wigs have been featured in numerous Broadway Shows including Cats, A Bronx Tale, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Tootsie, and Rodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella.  

He made his Broadway debut as a hair and wig designer in 1973 for the show, Uncle Vanya. Mr. Huntley developed a love for the glamour world at a tender age when he'd indulge in his mother's magazines after seeing the creativity of others on display. In an interview with Play Bill, he spoke about an instance where he was captivated by a makeup look that was done on Agnes Moorehead.  

"My mother was an avid movie buff. She always had magazines, and she would let me look at them. I must have been six or seven, and I saw an article about the make-up people in the studios. It showed the actress Agnes Moorehead being aged from a youngish woman to a 100-year-old lady. And I thought, ‘I want to do something like that.’”

He would later study acting at the Central School of Dramatic Art and it was there that he became fascinated by wigs and less focused on makeup.

During his time as an apprentice with Stanley's Wig Creations, he helped to create  hairpieces for Elizabeth Taylor when she starred as Cleopatra.

Paul Huntley created mesmerizing looks for various shows and performances throughout the decades.

                      Elizabeth Taylor's beaded braids as seen in Cleopatra (!963)

Patty Lupone always had great things to say about Paul Huntley.  "He put wigs on my head for every show except ‘Les Miz’ in London. He was the master,” she said. “When I put on a Paul Huntley wig, I never felt anything but my character.”

Paul Huntley with Glen Close for the show Sunset Boulevard

 

Sheryl Lee Ralph in a wig by Huntley for the show Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)

Mr. Huntley loved elegance but he also loved the bizarre. His most favorite was worn by Anne Nathan (above) who played Miss Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002). The cone shaped, off to the side wig looked like a short mountain of curls.

     Paul Huntley is seen here in 2003 with cast-members from the show Hairspray            (2001), who are wearing his wigs. 

Paul won a special Tony Award in 2003 for all around Excellence in Theater; a testimony of Mr. Huntley's work ethic, tenacity and prized hair creations.  His work was also featured in films such as 101 Dalmations (1996) and The Addams Family (1991). Huntley became enmeshed in controversy when he provided the hairpiece for the blackface version of the film Othello (1965). 

Surely, a moment he would have grown to regret as there is no reason why a black male actor could not have been chosen for the role.

Mr Huntley announced his retirement from show business in July due to an accident that he had while working on a piece for the show, Diana: The Musical. It was the last show that he planned to work on. 

One fact the public can be sure of is that Mr. Huntley took pride in his work and it was a form of art. He received a great amount of joy in helping others transform into enhanced versions of themselves.  When reflecting on his role as a hair and wig designer he said, "The most important thing is to give comfort to people and make them feel secure. Generally people are enhanced, made more beautiful.''

To conclude, we're celebrating the life and work of a fellow wig designer and the accomplishments that he has made during his 50 year career.  May he Rest in Peace. Keep the creative juices churning up there, Mr. Huntley. We're keeping the torch ablaze!

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