Soap Opera Star, Model Renauld White Dead at 80

Renuald White — a cleaning soap opera star who broke down boundaries for Black individuals in modeling — has died … based on one in every of his longtime associates.

Designer Jeffrey Banks revealed the information to Women’s Wear Daily — a well-liked vogue journal — Friday sharing that White died final week whereas below hospice care in Manhattan. He didn’t present a explanation for demise.

White rose to prominence through modeling within the Seventies … changing into simply the second Black mannequin to seem on the quilt of GQ in 1979 — two years after Urs Althaus.

He modeled for a number of the greatest designers and publications over time … together with working with Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Invoice Blass whereas showing on the quilt of Playboy in 1982.

White made the leap to appearing in 1986 … showing in a number of episodes of “Guiding Light” as William Reynolds. He made a number of different appearances in TV and films over time — most lately starring within the 2017 horror film “Central Park.”

Banks remembers Renauld in an Instagram submit as “the perfect gentleman and a great ambassador for my brand. When first introduced to my Mother she claimed instantly that he was my ‘older brother.’ I only wished that was so.”

White’s funeral shall be held subsequent month in Newark, New Jersey … his hometown. He was 80.