Way Bandy was born Ronald Duane Wright in Birmingham, Alabama, the second of three sons of a middle-class family.
17 Facts About Way Bandy
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Way Bandy later enrolled in Tennessee Technological University where he earned a degree in education.
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Way Bandy then became the school's "dermaspecialist" and was later assigned to teach makeup application techniques to students.
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Way Bandy underwent a nose job and face lift and capped his teeth.
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In 1969, Way Bandy was hired as the makeup director at Charles of the Ritz where he met photographer Francesco Scavullo.
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Scavullo was impressed by Way Bandy's "face designing" techniques and the two became frequent collaborators.
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Way Bandy's work was featured in editorials for Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar and Rolling Stone.
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Way Bandy worked with several noted photographers including Scavullo, Richard Avedon, Hiro, Horst P Horst, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Victor Skrebneski.
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Way Bandy separated from his wife in 1965, but the two never divorced.
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Way Bandy began a long-term relationship with writer and antiques dealer Michael Gardine in 1973.
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Way Bandy was already a well known devotee to naturopathy, iridology, and vegetarianism after he contracted pneumonia and pleurisy in 1962.
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In June 1986, Way Bandy developed a persistent cough and sore throat but refused to see a doctor because he did not trust them.
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Way Bandy instead opted to treat his ailments with natural remedies which did not help.
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Way Bandy relented and checked into New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center the following day.
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Way Bandy was cremated and a memorial service was later held in Manhattan.
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Way Bandy has been cited as one of the first well known makeup artists.
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Hairstylist and friend Maury Hobson noted that before Way Bandy began his career, models applied their own makeup for photo shoots.