Tragic Impact Of Aids Is Felt Locally, Nationally

A list of some of those in the arts community who have died from AIDS or related illnesses conveys the devastation the disease is bringing upon not only those immediately touched by the loss, but on a culture that would have benefited from the works these people might have done.

As Time magazine theater critic William A. Henry III said, quoted by Michael LaSalle in The Advocate: " . . . you have the loss of people who were in mid-career and already established. You also have the loss of a whole generation that should have come up to replace them . . . "

Locally, among those claimed by the AIDS crisis were:

Robert "Ned" Behnke, artist who helped found the arts program for the deaf at Cornish College of the Arts.

Guy Beuttler, costume designer.

Frank Boushay, graphic designer.

Christopher! Caldwell, singer for the Heartsong Ensemble.

Daniel Chick, dancer-choreographer and co-founder of Dance Centre Seattle.

Edward Elliott, architect and public arts advocate.

Chuck Gregory Gerra, a lead singer of The Fags.

Robby Huffstetler, dancer-choreographer.

John Kauffman, local actor who later was the artistic director of the Honolulu Theater for Youth.

Randall Jay McCarty, organist and music teacher.

Kevin Nicolay, botanical painter.

Gordon Peone, Evergreen Theatre Conservatory's general manager.

Rex Rabold, actor who frequently performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

Jose Ariel Rambaldi, a composer, concert pianist and a professor at Whitman College.

Joe Riley Jr., dancer.

Cadi Timberlake, a fashion designer.

Roger Ward, actor.

And around the nation:

Howard Ashman, Oscar-winning lyricist ("The Little Mermaid," "Little Shop of Horrors").

Way Bandy, makeup artist (clients included Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Lauren Hutton, Farrah Fawcett).

Michael Bennett, producer-director-choreographer ("A Chorus Line," "Dreamgirls").

William Carter, choreographer-dancer (with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and Martha Graham).

Warren Casey, composer-lyricist (co-author of "Grease").

Ian Charleson, actor ("Chariots of Fire," "Gandhi").

Nicholas Dante, writer ("A Chorus Line").

Brad Davis, actor ("Midnight Express," "Chariots of Fire," CBS miniseries "Chiefs").

Peter Evans, actor (on Broadway and television).

Tom Eyen, writer ("Dreamgirls").

Leonard Frey, actor (Oscar-nominated for his supporting role in "Fiddler on the Roof").

Halston, fashion designer.

Keith Haring, artist.

Colin Higgins, screenwriter ("Harold and Maude," "9 to 5," "Silver Streak").

Fritz Holt, producer ("La Cage aux Folles").

Rock Hudson, movie star.

Clifford Jahr, author ("Detour: A Hollywood Story," the story of Cheryl Crane and her mother Lana Turner, among other books).

Robert Joffrey, founder of Joffrey Ballet.

Keith Keen, actor (Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof").

Larry Kert, actor (originated the Broadway role of Tony in "West Side Story").

Wilfred Leach, director ("The Pirates of Penzance," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood").

Liberace, entertainer.

Charles Ludlam, actor ("The Big Easy," "Miami Vice"), director, writer, producer, Obie-award winner. His play, "Irma Vep," was produced at Empty Space; he appeared in "Camille" at Empty Space in 1980.

Curt McDowell, filmmaker ("Thundercrack").

David Mankaba, guitarist (Bhundu Boys).

Robert Mapplethorpe, photographer.

Court Miller, actor ("Torch Song Trilogy" on Broadway).

Meghan Robinson, actress ("Red Scare Over Sunset").

Craig Russell, actor and female impersonator.

Paul Russell, dancer (Dance Theater of Harlem and San Francisco Ballet).

Vito Russo, film historian ("The Celluloid Closet").

Nicholas Schaffner, author (books about the Beatles and Pink Floyd).

Bill Sherwood, writer-director (acclaimed 1986 AIDS drama, "Parting Glances").

Willi Smith, fashion designer.

Stephen Steinberg, author, historian, documentary filmmaker (wrote for PBS' "Dance in America" and eight books).

Edward Stierle, choreographer and dancer (Joffrey Ballet).

Christopher Stryker, actor ("Torch Song Trilogy").

Burton Taylor, dancer (Joffrey Ballet).

Peter Tramm, dancer-choreographer ("Footloose").

PATTY HOOGSTEDE TIMES RESEARCHER