Covered excesses and ‘Godfather’ honoured for fiction gaudy style of 1980s
ROBIN LEACH
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host
THE voice of Robin Leach crystallised the opulent 1980s in TV’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
His son, Steven Leach, said he died last month in Las Vegas, where he made his home, aged
76.
Leach had a stroke in November that led to a monthslong recovery. His son said he had had another stroke.
‘‘Champagne wishes and caviar dreams’’ was Leach’s signoff at the end of every episode of his syndicated show’s decadelong run that began in 1984.
Leach covered the excesses and gaudy style of the 1980s, a time before oil billionaires, titans of industry and Wall Street traders gave way to sneaker-wearing tech execs as the world’s richest people.
He sometimes appeared on the show, but he and his unmistakable English accent narrated throughout, taking viewers on tours of mansions with diamondencrusted chandeliers, yachts with jacuzzis, and fourfigure Champagne.
He said in later years someone still shouted ‘‘Champagne wishes and caviar dreams’’ at him almost daily.
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was the core of Leach’s career that spanned six decades and included stints with CNN, People magazine, Entertainment Tonight and Britain’s Daily Mail, where he began at 18. — AP
PETER CORRIS
Crime writer
AUSTRALIAN crime author Peter Corris was dubbed the ‘‘godfather’’ of crime fiction.
Corris, who published his first novel in 1980, died in his sleep on August 30, aged
76.
He was best known for his bestselling series featuring private investigator Cliff Hardy, which led to him being regarded as the ‘‘godfather’’ of Australian crime writing.
He was born in Stawell, Victoria, and, after completing a master’s degree at Monash University and a PhD at the Australian National University, he became an academic.
Corris moved to Sydney later in life, turned to journalism as literary editor of The National
Times and wrote the regular ‘‘Godfather’’ column for independent book review site Newtown Review of Books.
‘‘With great sadness we announce that Peter Corris died in his sleep last night. A great loss to all who knew him and his many readers. Vale Peter,’’ Newtown Review of Books posted on Facebook.
Corris was married to writer Jean Bedford and together they had three daughters and have seven grandchildren.
Australia’s prestigious crime writing awards — The Ned Kelly Awards — honoured Corris with a lifetime achievement for his contribution to the genre in 1999.
His publisher Allen & Unwin described Corris as a ‘‘muchloved’’ author with a ‘‘distinguished career’’.
‘‘Peter has rightfully been described as the godfather of Australian crime fiction,’’
Allen & Unwin said in a statement on Thursday.
‘‘He will be missed by all at Allen & Unwin, and by everyone who worked with him over his long and distinguished career.’’ — AAP