Our generation’s favorite actor died today in Manhattan, New York, while in hospice care.
Renauld White, Actor and Fashion Model, Dies at 80
Renauld White, known for his roles in Guiding Light and as a pioneering fashion model, passed away at 80 after being in hospice care. Fashion designer Jeffrey Banks announced White’s death, stating he died last week in Manhattan, New York. Jeffrey called White “the perfect gentleman.”
Renauld White rose to fame in the 1970s and became the first Black model on the cover of GQ in 1957, and the second in 1979. He worked with major fashion brands like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Bill Blass and appeared on the cover of Playboy in 1982. White began his acting career in 1986, playing William Reynolds in Guiding Light and appearing in other TV shows and movies, including the 2017 horror film Central Park.
Jeffrey Banks paid tribute to White, saying, “He was the perfect gentleman and a great ambassador for my brand.” Fans expressed their condolences on social media, calling him “a beautiful person inside and out” and “the world’s supermodel.”
Beyond modeling and acting, Renauld White was an activist advocating for diversity in the fashion industry. He urged agencies to hire more people of color and confronted the industry about the lack of Black male models. His efforts helped increase diversity on the runways. White continued modeling into his later years, appearing in a Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign in 2023.
