Age | 73 (age at death) |
Birthday | 11 March, 1938 |
Birthplace | New York City, New York, USA |
Died | 22 May, 2011 |
Place of Death | New York City, New York, USA |
Eye Color | Brown - Dark |
Hair Color | Salt and Pepper |
Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Songwriter |
Claim to Fame | You Light Up My Life |
Joseph Brooks was born on March 11, 1938 in New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Susan Paul. He died on May 22, 2011 in Manhattan, New York City.
Spouse (1) Susan Paul (? - present) (2 children) Amanda (born 1981) and Nicholas (born 1986)
Trivia (2) 1. Songwriter. 2. His musician son, Nicholas Brooks, 24, was charged with murdering his fashion designer girlfriend, Sylvie Cachay, in December 2010 in So-Ho in New York City.
Joseph Brooks, born Joseph Kaplan (March 11, 1938 – May 22, 2011), was an American composer, director, producer, and screenwriter. He was a prolific writer of advertising jingles and wrote the hit songs "My Ship Is Comin' In", "If Ever I See You Again", and "You Light Up My Life", the latter for the hit film of the same name that he also wrote, directed, and produced. In his later years he became the subject of an investigation after being accused of a series of casting-couch rapes. He was indicted in 2009, but committed suicide on May 22, 2011, before his trial.
Personal life Brooks was the older brother of Gilbert Kaplan, the founder of Institutional Investor magazine, aficionado of Gustav Mahler, and amateur conductor.
In 2008, Brooks suffered a stroke, which left him unable to play the piano and thus negatively affected his ability to compose. It was reported that he may have had a second stroke shortly before his death.
Brooks was married four times, but was single at the time of his death. A 1978 news article noted that he was married with 7-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. In the late 1970's, Brooks married Susan Paul, an English model and actress who appeared in the films All That Jazz (1979) and Invitation to the Wedding (1983). They had two children during the 1980s and were divorced in the early 1990's. Brooks later married Christina Bone.
In 1975, Brooks had a relationship with actress Cindy Williams, who was, at the time, starring in the movie, The First Nudie Musical, written and co-directed by her friend Bruce Kimmel - Brooks became an investor in the film. Brooks originally planned for her to star in You Light Up My Life, but he and Williams were already having relationship issues and he asked Kimmel to direct You Light Up My Life, stating he couldn't control Williams. He broke up with Williams before the film was made, and the role went to Didi Conn. In 2009, Brooks sued a 22-year-old ex-fiancée, claiming that he had spent $2 million on her before learning she was already married.
Brooks had four children: Amanda (born 1981) and Nicholas (born 1986) (both from his marriage to Susan Paul), Gabrielle, and Jeffrey. Brooks' daughter Amanda has said that Brooks abused her as a child and that she and Nicholas had a difficult relationship with their father. At the time of Brooks' death, Nicholas, a former student at the University of Colorado, was awaiting trial in New York City, charged with the murder of his girlfriend, swimwear designer Sylvie Cachay, in a Soho House hotel room on December 9, 2010. On July 11, 2013, Nicholas was convicted of Cachay's murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in September of that year.
Death Police reported that on May 22, 2011, Brooks was found dead in his Upper East Side condominium apartment. Brooks was found with a plastic bag over his head near a hose attached to a helium tank, with a suicide note found nearby. According to a law enforcement source, in the note Brooks claimed he would be exonerated of the charges pending against him, but complained about his failing health and a woman who he claimed had abused him and taken his money.
Shortly before Brooks' death, a former friend had also filed suit to seize his condominium to pay off an outstanding $3.2 million debt, alleging that Brooks had put up his longtime home as collateral for a $2.4 million loan in 2006.
On May 23, 2011, the medical examiner ruled that Brooks had committed suicide, citing asphyxia by helium.