African American soap actor and model Renauld White, who became famous for his work in the 1952 drama Guiding Light, passed away on June 26, 2024, at the age of 88.
Renowned model Renauld White was born on February 1, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey, to parents with black ethnicity. His horoscope sign is Aquarius.
Despite his popularity, he never revealed the identity of his parents and siblings.
However, in one interview, he mentioned that his father was a truck driver and that his father inspired his fashion career.
He stated, “Actually, I got a feeling for clothes from my Dad — he always was an elegant man and a grand dresser. He’s a truck driver with a taste for the finer things in life.“
After having a deep interest in and love for fashion, White began his modeling career in the 1960s with Zoli Modeling Agency.
After earning success as a black model, Renauld White encouraged agencies to ‘Hire people of color’
Renauld White earned massive success as a black model working with world-famous fashion designers Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Donna Karan.
Further, he worked with Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Versace, Armani, and Cerutti.
In 1979, Renauld White became the second black model to appear on the cover of GQ magazine.
After earning considerable popularity, White sat down for an interview to discuss his experience as a black man in the American fashion industry.
In the video, he discusses his view on bringing more people of color into the modeling industry as per the WWD.
He said, “I wanted to bring about change. I really confronted the establishment about why there were not more Black male images.”
Further, Renauld called on the agency Wilhelmina Models to allow more black people into the fashion industry.
Later, after his statement, he revealed being scared, as he said, “I thought I was going to get thrown in jail and beaten up because of my approach.“
However, the agencies realized they were behind the society and time and opened opportunities for people of color.
Apart from being a model, he is also known as a soap actor, having worked in Guiding Light from 1986 to 1992.
He also worked in the movies such as the 2014 Gun Hill and the 2017 Central Park.
After over 60 years of a successful career in the acting and modeling industry, Renauld White passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
His dearest and long-term friend, Jeffrey Banks, 68, a fashion designer, announced his loss on June 27, 2024, through his official Instagram page.
Additional Information
- Renauld White worked as a brand ambassador for Jeffrey Banks’s fashion brands. However, their relationship was greater than that, as Renauld called him his younger brother, and he was also close to his mother.
- He professionally started pursuing a modeling career during his education at Rutgers University.
- Despite his popularity in the media, Renauld White never disclosed whether he had a wife or children. It is possible that he never married a woman.
- Renauld White passed away at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. However, the reason for his death is not available yet.
