Laurie Bird
Encyclopedia
Laurie Bird was an American
actress and photographer.
and worked long hours. Although she had two brothers, she more or less raised herself.
Described by Hollywood columnist Dick Kleiner
as "look[ing] like an innocent Hayley Mills
", Bird appeared in just three films: Two-Lane Blacktop
(1971), Cockfighter
(1974), and a small role in Annie Hall
(1977). Bird was the still photographer on Cockfighter, and shot the cover photo for Art Garfunkel
's 1977 album Watermark
. She was romantically involved with her Blacktop and Cockfighter director Monte Hellman
, and later with Garfunkel for several years.
In 1979, Bird committed suicide
in the apartment she shared with Garfunkel in New York. At Bird's funeral, her father revealed that her mother's death, which was thought to be from ovarian cancer
, was also a suicide. Garfunkel referred to his relationship to Bird in the liner notes of his 1988 album Lefty
.
She was briefly featured in the 2006 documentary film Wanderlust.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and photographer.
Biography
Bird's mother died when she was three. Her father, an electrical engineer, was ex-United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and worked long hours. Although she had two brothers, she more or less raised herself.
Described by Hollywood columnist Dick Kleiner
Dick Kleiner
Richard Arthur "Dick" Kleiner was a Hollywood columnist whose breezy question-and-answer column, "Ask Dick Kleiner," about Hollywood celebrities appeared in hundreds of newspapers across the country...
as "look[ing] like an innocent Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
", Bird appeared in just three films: Two-Lane Blacktop
Two-Lane Blacktop
Two-Lane Blacktop is a 1971 road movie directed by Monte Hellman, starring singer-songwriter James Taylor, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, Warren Oates, and Laurie Bird. Esquire magazine declared the film its movie of the year for 1971, and even published the entire screenplay in its April, 1971...
(1971), Cockfighter
Cockfighter
Cockfighter is a 1974 film by director Monte Hellman, starring Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton and featuring Laurie Bird and Ed Begley, Jr. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Willeford...
(1974), and a small role in Annie Hall
Annie Hall
Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay co-written with Marshall Brickman and co-starring Diane Keaton. One of Allen's most popular and most honored films, it won four Academy Awards including Best Picture...
(1977). Bird was the still photographer on Cockfighter, and shot the cover photo for Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
's 1977 album Watermark
Watermark (Art Garfunkel album)
Watermark is the third solo album by Art Garfunkel, originally released in October 1977 on Columbia Records. When the first single, "Crying in My Sleep", failed to chart in the United States, the album was immediately withdrawn and a version of " Wonderful World" was added to the...
. She was romantically involved with her Blacktop and Cockfighter director Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman is an American film director, producer, and film editor.Hellman is among a group of directing talent mentored by Roger Corman, who produced several of the director's early films...
, and later with Garfunkel for several years.
In 1979, Bird committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in the apartment she shared with Garfunkel in New York. At Bird's funeral, her father revealed that her mother's death, which was thought to be from ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
, was also a suicide. Garfunkel referred to his relationship to Bird in the liner notes of his 1988 album Lefty
Lefty (album)
Lefty is the seventh solo album by Art Garfunkel, released in 1988.The album's cover photo shows a pre-teen Art Garfunkel holding a baseball bat in the front yard of his childhood home in the Forest Hills section of Queens, New York City. The picture was taken by his brother Jules...
.
She was briefly featured in the 2006 documentary film Wanderlust.