Richard Perry dead at 82: Jane Fonda’s record producer ex behind You’re So Vain dies from cardiac arrest
Famous music producer Richard Perry, who shared an 8-year romance with Jane Fonda, has passed away at 82.
The visionary behind Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain and Rod Stewart’s The Great American Songbook died of cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his friend Daphna Kastner to AP.
‘He maximized his time here,’ Kastner said, describing Perry as a ‘father friend’ and the godfather to her son. ‘He was generous, fun, sweet, and made the world a better place. The world is a little less sweeter without him here. But it’s a little bit sweeter in heaven.’
Ben McCarthy, Perry’s personal assistant for nearly 30 years, shared with TMZ that the producer had battled Parkinson’s disease.
McCarthy recounted visiting Perry about a month ago, noting that while Perry could no longer verbally communicate, he remained in good spirits.
During the 1970s, Perry worked with an array of legendary artists, including Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Diana Ross, and Ringo Starr, cementing his legacy as one of the most sought-after producers of his time.
Famous music producer Richard Perry, who shared an 8-year romance with Jane Fonda , has passed away at 82; (Fonda/Perry in 2015)
The visionary behind Carly Simon ’s You’re So Vain and Rod Stewart ’s The Great American Songbook died of cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his friend Daphna Kastner to AP; (seen in 1982)
In 2017, Perry and Fonda amicably split, with Perry saying in a statement, ‘We continue to maintain a close friendship and care deeply about each other.’
He added at the time, ‘Jane has rededicated herself to activism and I am finishing my memoirs. So all is well with the Fonda-Perry relationship. We’re just starting a new chapter.’
Perry, a versatile musician turned legendary producer, mastered a variety of genres and achieved number-one hits across pop, R&B, dance, and country charts.
Widely regarded as a musician’s producer, Perry collaborated with artists like Harry Nilsson on Without You, The Pointer Sisters on I’m So Excited, and Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias on To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.
He was known for helping Barbra Streisand modernize her sound, reviving careers like Fats Domino’s, and elevating rising stars like Leo Sayer.
A New York native born to musical parents who co-founded Peripole Music, Perry was a skilled drummer and oboist.
Early in his career, he joined the doo-wop group Escorts and later studied music and theater at the University of Michigan before shifting to production.
Teaming up with Gary Katz, who later worked with Steely Dan, Perry began producing in the 1960s and quickly rose to prominence with projects like Captain Beefheart’s Safe As Milk and Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella, which featured covers of songs by the Beatles and Smokey Robinson.
By the 1970s, Perry had established his legacy with million-selling albums such as Barbra Streisand’s Stoney End, guiding her transition into contemporary pop and rock.
During the 1970s, Perry worked with an array of legendary artists, including Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand , Art Garfunkel, Diana Ross , and Ringo Starr , cementing his legacy as one of the most sought-after producers of his time; (seen in 2016)
In 2017, Perry and Fonda amicably split, with Perry saying in a statement, ‘We continue to maintain a close friendship and care deeply about each other’
Streisand recalled their collaboration as creative and musically liberating, noting his enthusiasm and vision.
Beyond music, Perry’s life was filled with connections to cultural milestones and iconic figures.
He dated Elizabeth Taylor and Fonda, attended landmark events like Otis Redding’s Monterey Pop Festival performance, and mingled with music legends like Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger.
Rod Stewart described Perry’s West Hollywood home as a hub for late-night revelry.
Although Perry initially dreamed of a Broadway career, his decision to focus on production transformed him into an industry giant whose influence spanned decades and genres.
