[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      IN MEMORY OF RICHARD SYLBERT

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to reflect on the rich life 
and memory of Richard Sylbert, an admired and talented production 
designer, whose work made a tremendous impact on the entertainment 
industry and on the lives of so many.
  At the age of 73, Richard Sylbert died on March 23, 2002 of cancer in 
Woodland Hills, CA. Richard, through his remarkable creativity and 
imagination, helped bring more than 40 stories to the screen, including 
``Chinatown,'' ``Dick Tracy,'' ``The Graduate'' and ``Who's Afraid of 
Virginia Woolf.'' He was a true visionary.
  Born in Brooklyn in 1928, Sylbert served our country in Korea and 
attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple University before returning 
to his home state of New York. In 1954, he got a job painting scenery 
at NBC. He started working on films 2 years later, and collaborated 
with his twin brother Paul as an art director for ``Baby Doll.'' In 
1975, he became the vice president in charge of production at 
Paramount, marking the first and only time a production designer headed 
production at a major motion picture studio. After he left Paramount, 
the two-time Academy Award winner continued to work in film and 
television, making each piece of work compelling and moving.
  I extend my deepest condolences to Richard's family, friends, and all 
those touched by his work. His career spanned four decades, and was 
extremely versatile and varied in scope. Although Richard is no longer 
with us, his lasting contributions to entertainment are forever 
documented in works we will enjoy for generations to come.

                          ____________________