Bruce Weigert Paltrow

 11.26.1943 - Bruce Weigert Paltrow, television and film director and producer, husband of actress Blythe Danner, and father of actress Gwyneth and Jake Paltrow, was born in Brooklyn. His family were Jewish immigrants from Eastern/Central Europe (Poland, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania. Paltrow graduated from at Tulane University in New Orleans in 1965; his roommate was Paul Michael Glaser.

In the late 1960s, he began directing stage productions in NYC, where he met Blythe Danner; they married 12.14.1969. Paltrow produced the TV series "The White Shadow" and "St. Elsewhere". His last production was the film "Duets" (starring Gwyneth and Huey Lewis).

Paltrow died on 10.3.2002, while vacationing in Rome, Italy, to celebrate Gwyneth's 30th birthday. Paltrow had suffered from oral cancer for several years; his death was due to complications from cancer and pneumonia.

In 2007, Blythe, in cooperation with The Oral Cancer Foundation, set up a fund in his name to address oral cancer issues in the U.S. The foundation works primarily in the areas of public awareness, early detection, patient support functions and research.