Paul Giovanni (June 2, 1933 – June 17, 1990) was an American playwright, actor, director, singer and musician. Giovanni wrote the music for the 1973 British horror film The Wicker Man.
Early life
Giovanni was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and grew up there. He attended St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia before earning a master's degree in drama at The Catholic University of America. His graduate studies were under Rev. Gilbert V. Hartke, OP.
Career
Before Giovanni became an actor, he wrote songs for, and performed with, the Side Show rock group. which was later filmed for TV. Giovanni also composed a musical entitled Shot Thru The Heart, which has only performed at Detroit's Birmingham Theatre before closing.
Personal life
In the early 1970s, Giovanni was in a relationship with Peter Shaffer, playwright and brother of Anthony Shaffer, whom Giovanni later collaborated with on The Wicker Man.
Death
Giovanni died of pneumonia from HIV/AIDS related complications on June 17, 1990.
<!--
Robin Hardy incorrectly gives Giovanni's year of death as 1996 in The Guardian interview; this interview is otherwise the only readily available source to substantiate Giovanni's death by AIDS-related pneumonia.
-->
Discography
- 1970: Side Show - SD-8261 - LP with Greg Kreutz.
- 1973: The Wicker Man soundtrack with Magnet.
Plays
- 1978: The Crucifer of Blood
- 1981: Kingdoms