Laura Branigan
American singer and actress (1952–2004) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Laura Ann Branigan (July 3, 1952[1] – August 26, 2004[2][3]) was an American singer, songwriter and actress.
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Overview
Branigan was best known for her 1982 platinum hit Gloria. She also starred on several television shows. Branigan's songs were featured in soundtracks for the movies Flashdance and Ghostbusters.[4]
Early life
Branigan was born on July 3, 1952 in Mount Kisco, New York, United States.[5] Her father was an account executive[clarification needed] and mutual funds broker.[6] In 1970, she graduated from high school and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City (NYC).[6][7]
Career
Branigan toured Europe as a backup singer with Leonard Cohen.[5] She started her solo career in 1982. Her first album, Branigan, was released in 1982.[8] A song Gloria from that album stayed on top of the pop charts for 36 weeks.[9] It reached number six on the British pop charts. It was a remake of an Italian song from the 1970s.[10] The song got her a nomination for a Grammy for best female pop singer.[9] She was nominated for three more during her career.[9]
She released seven more albums.[2] She co-wrote the song How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? with a then unknown Michael Bolton.[10] In 1981, Branigan appeared on German television in An American Girl in Berlin.[7] She was a guest on the American TV show CHiPS.[8]
She starred in the movie Mugsy's Girls in 1984.[7] She also appeared in the 1988 movie Backstage.[8] In 2002, she starred in the Off-Broadway[clarification needed] production of Love, Janis, playing Janis Joplin.[8] She received rave (very good) reviews for her performance.[9]
Personal
In 1981, Branigan met Larry Kruteck, an attorney, at a party in Manhattan.[11] They married that same year, when she was 29 years old and he was 44.[11] In 1994 her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. She quit singing to take care of him full time. Kruteck died in 1996.[11]
Health decline
In 2001, as she was just returning to singing again, she fell from a ladder at her home and broke both her legs.[11] Branigan was in physical therapy for six months.[11]
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Death
On August 26, 2004, Branigan died of a brain aneurysm. She died in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, New York.[10] She was 52 years old.[1][12][13]
References
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