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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 29 June 2019

Steamy romance novelist Judith Krantz dies at 91

By STEFANIE DAZIO set a record for her dorm
SANDY COHEN by once dating 13 differ-
Associated Press ent men on 13 consecutive
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Writer evenings.
Judith Krantz, whose million- “I got only one A-plus, and
selling novels such as “Scru- that was in English 101,” she
ples” and “Princess Daisy” told The Boston Globe in
engrossed readers world- 1982. “I had a B-minus av-
wide with their steamy tales erage in English, my major,
of the rich and beautiful, and made C’s and C-mi-
died Saturday at her Bel-Air nuses in everything else. But
home. She was 91. I didn’t come here to get
Krantz’s son Tony Krantz, a good marks.”
TV executive, confirmed her When she could earn no
death by natural causes on better than a B in a short
Sunday afternoon. He said story class, she decided
he’d hoped to re-create she wasn’t good enough
the “Scruples” miniseries to write fiction.
before her she died but it is “Just in time for my 50th
still in the works. birthday, I discovered that
“She had this rare combi- I could write fiction. My hus-
nation of commercial and band had urged me to try
creative,” he said. fiction for 15 years before I
Krantz wrote for Cosmo- did,” she was quoted in a
politan and Ladies Home Judith Krantz, poses in an undated file photo during an interview at her home in the Bel Air section profile on Wellesley’s web-
Journal magazines before of Los Angeles, Ca. site in 2001. “I believed that
discovering, at age 50, the Associated Press if I couldn’t write ‘literature,’
talent for fiction that made “That is the test.” While know what’s happening.” The eldest of three children, I shouldn’t write at all.”
her rich and famous like the her work was decidedly So appealing were her sen- Krantz was born Judith Blu- “Now, I would say to young
characters she created. less than highbrow, Krantz sational stories of high-pow- ma Tarcher in 1928 in New women, do something you
Her first novel — “Scruples” made no apologies for the ered heroines that each York City. Her father owned have a true feeling for, no
in 1978 — became a best- steamy novels with titles like novel was reimagined for an advertising agency, matter how little talent you
seller, as did the nine that “Princess Daisy,” ‘’Mistral’s television as an episodic and her mother worked as may believe you have,”
followed. Krantz’s books Daughter,” ‘’Lovers,” ‘’I’ll miniseries. Steve Krantz, a an attorney. Her brother, she added.
have been translated into Take Manhattan” and “The millionaire in his own right publisher Jeremy Tarcher, “Let no masterwork be your
52 languages and sold Jewels of Tessa Kent.” through such productions married the late ventrilo- goal — a modest goal may
more than 85 million copies She filled her stories with as the animated film “Fritz quist Shari Lewis. lead you further than you
worldwide. They inspired a delicious details about her the Cat,” helped translate Growing up, Krantz was a dream.”
series of hit miniseries with characters’ lavish lifestyles his wife’s work for TV. precocious student at New Krantz had met her hus-
the help of her husband, — designer clothes, luxuri- The author was also famous York’s exclusive Birch Wa- band through her high
film and television produc- ous estates — and enviable for living a glamorous life then school, once describ- school friend Barbara Wal-
er Steve Krantz. romances. And she spared that paralleled that of her ing herself as the youngest, ters, who introduced the
“I always ask myself if what no specifics when it came characters. Her home in smartest and shortest girl two in 1953. They married
I’m writing will satisfy a to sex. Los Angeles’ exclusive Bel in her class. After skipping the following year.
reader who’s in a plane “If you’re going to write Air community featured a two grades, she enrolled at “I fell in love with him the
that can’t land because a good erotic scene, you soundproof writing room Wellesley College at age minute I saw him,” she
of fog, or who’s recover- have to go into details,” flanked by an immaculate- 16. She was also by her own once said.
ing from an operation in Krantz told the Los Angeles ly kept garden. In her clos- account an indifferent col- Her husband died in 2007
a hospital or who has to Times in 1990. “I don’t be- et were many of the same lege student. She said she at age 83. The couple had
escape to a more delight- lieve in thunder and light- designer-label clothes the only enrolled at Wellesley two sons, Tony and Nick,
ful world for whatever rea- ning and fireworks explod- characters in her books “to date, read and gradu- a stockbroker, and two
son,” Krantz said in 1990. ing. I think people want to wore. ate” and claimed to have grandchildren. q

‘One Day At a Time’ rescued from cancellation by Pop TV

Associated Press was reimagined with a La- watched the show to justify
LOS ANGELES (AP) — tino family at its center, a renewing it.
There are more days TV rarity. Famed producer Norman
ahead for “One Day at a Justina Machado stars as Lear, who co-created the
Time.” Penelope Alvarez, a Cu- original series and is execu-
The CBS Corp.-owned ca- ban American parent and tive producer on the re-
ble channel Pop TV says military veteran, with Rita make, said he was “heart-
Thursday it’s greenlighted Moreno playing her moth- broken” when it was can-
a new season of the re- er, Lydia. celed.
boot canceled by Netflix. “One Day at a Time” was “Today, I’m overwhelmed
In a statement, Pop TV Pres- dropped by Netflix earlier with joy to know the Alva-
ident Brad Schwartz called this year after three sea- rez family will live on,” Lear
the series both “culturally sons, prompting an outcry said in a statement.
significant” and funny. from fans. Pop TV says the new 13-epi-
The original 1975-84 sitcom This image released by Netflix shows Rita Moreno in a scene The streaming service sode season is planned for
from “One Day At A Time.”
about a single white mom Associated Press said not enough people 2020.q