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William Robert Stephenson (August 30, 1912 – October 9, 2007) was an American architect and dance instructor. He is best known for designing the homes of several celebrities from Hollywood Golden Age.

Early life and education

Stephenson was born on August 30, 1912, in Portsmouth, Virginia, as the third child and second son of the four children of Cecil Eugene Stephenson (1877–1963) and Eva May Robertson (1876–1965). He had two brothers, Eugene C. (1905–2006) and George David Stephenson (1914–2005), and a sister, Lucy Amelia Stephenson (1908–1988). Stephenson was raised in Norfolk and went to University of Virginia, graduating in 1934 with a degree in architecture. He then moved to New York and became a dance instructor for Arthur Murray, and teached dance in Hawaii and Los Angeles at the Ambassador Hotel and The Beverly Hills Hotel from late 1930s until early 1940s. During World War II, Stephenson worked as a structural engineer at Douglas Aircraft and earned his architecture license in 1946. He worked for Frank Lloyd Wright and Burton Schutt until the early 1950s, when he went into practice on his own. He retired in 1997.

Personal life

Stephenson married Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson, the daughter of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. and Billie Burke, in 1939. They had a son, William Robert Stephenson Jr. (born 1947), and three daughters, Cecilia Duncan (born 1942), Florenz Crossley and Susan Plemons (1950–2001). Their marriage lasted until Stephenson's death in October 2007.

Career

Stephenson worked as an architect for five decade in Southern California. He designed homes for Hollywood celebrities in the 1950s, such as King Vidor, Laraine Day, Cyd Charisse, Tony Martin, Jo Stafford, and Paul Weston.

In 1956, Stephenson designed a home for Ronald Reagan when he was still a television actor. Reagan then took his television audience to tour around their house as the example of a new utility industry campaign. In 1968, Stephenson drew preliminary architecture plans for a governor mansion after Reagan was elected California's governor. The plans were not enacted as Reagan went on to live in a Tudor house in Sacramento, which was bought by his supporters.

In 1972, Stephenson was awarded a $5,000 state contract to work on a new governor mansion in Sacramento but the plan got cancelled.

Death

Stephenson died at his residence in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on October 9, 2007, due to a kidney failure at the age of 95.

References

1. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2007-10-26). "William Stephenson, 95; designed homes for Reagan, other celebrities". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
2. Wm Robert Stephenson, "Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913"
3. "PATRICIA ZIEGFELD TO WED; Late Producer's Daughter to Be Bride of William Stephenson". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

• 1912 births
• 2007 deaths
• 20th-century American architects
• American dance teachers
• University of Virginia School of Architecture alumni