Peter Bogdanovich Is Dead. Long Live the Bandana.

Peter Bogdanovich, iconic filmmaker and Hollywood icon, dead at 82.

Eric Twardzik – MSN News
Photo: ©2005 KATHY HUTCHINS /HUTCHINS PHOTO

Peter Bogdanovich passed away last week at the age of 82, but Hollywood had written his obituary decades ago. The director surged to national prominence with his 1971 hit The Last Picture Show, only to suffer a string of commercial and critical failures that left his career crippled by the end of the decade.

Considering how long Bogdanovich outlived his prime, it’s likely that those under 40 knew him only from his recurring role as Dr. Melfi’s therapist on The Sopranos. Unfortunately, his TV tenure as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg was one of the few instances in which he didn’t sport his signature style accessory: a jauntily tied bandana spilling out from the gap between his unbuttoned shirt collar.

As a New Hollywood enfant terrible, Bogdanovich’s sartorial past was rife with self-indulgent flourishes: oversized glasses, gonzo shirt collars and Western hats abounded. But none felt so central to his identity than the bandana, which he continued wearing until the end of his life. Read More….