John M. Crowther ’61

John died of cancer April 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, at age 79. He was born March 28, 1939, in New York City, to Bosley Crowther ’28 and Florence M. Crowther. He graduated in 1957 from the George School of Bucks County, Pa., where he lettered in soccer. At Princeton he played freshman and JV lacrosse, was active with WPRB, and was president of the Triangle Club. He roomed with Peter Vanderwicken and took his meals at Cloister.

After college, John had roles in two successful Broadway plays and then moved to Rome, Italy, where he directed a film, The Martlet’s Tale, and married the leading lady, Carla Romanelli. He also directed the Two Worlds Festival at Spoleto for three years, and wrote his own play, Affected Memories, about the Russian directors Stanislavsky and Meyerhold. John wrote nine movies and television series; a half-dozen books, including a novel, Firebase, about the Vietnam War; and a humorous book of his own cartoons, Out of Order. He also wrote and performed a one-man show, Einstein. In Hollywood, he had careers as a theatrical agent, high school lacrosse coach, and artist.

John is survived by Carla and his two brothers, Bosley III ’56 and Jefferson.