Nicholas John De Noia Jr. (May 14, 1941 – April 7, 1987) was an American choreographer, director, and screenwriter.
Nicholas John De Noia Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 14, 1941 |
| Died | April 7, 1987 (aged 45) |
| Cause of death | Murder |
| Occupation(s) | Choreographer, director, screenwriter |
| Spouse | Jennifer O'Neill |
He is known for his work as choreographer of the Chippendales dance troupe; and for his 1977–1978 Unicorn Tales, eight television musical short films for young audiences, for which he won two Emmy Awards.
Personal life
editDe Noia was married to actress Jennifer O'Neill from 1975 to 1976, although he was a closeted homosexual.[1][2]
Murder
editOn April 7, 1987, at 3:40 p.m., De Noia was shot in the face with a large caliber pistol while sitting at his 15th-floor office desk at 264 West 40th Street, Manhattan, located near the garment district.[3] De Noia was 45 years old at the time of his murder.
He was shot by Gilberto Rivera Lopez,[4] recruited by Ray Colon, an accomplice of Somen ("Steve") Banerjee who originally hired Colon to murder De Noia.
At the time, De Noia no longer worked for Banerjee, and was on a national tour with his associate producer, Candace Mayeron.
De Noia had a licensing arrangement through a company called Chippendales Universal to use the name Chippendales for that tour engagements. Banerjee was dissatisfied with the business arrangement which was memorialized on a cocktail napkin. Banerjee tried unsuccessfully to break the contract in New York courts.
The murder of Nick De Noia was orchestrated by Banerjee along with the burning of a competitor's Red Onion nightclub.
Banerjee pleaded guilty to murder, arson and RICO charges in July 1994.[5][6] Under a plea bargain, Banerjee pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 26 years in prison.[7]
He died by suicide in prison while awaiting final sentencing.
Chippendales was inherited by Banerjee's wife.
Legacy
editActor Murray Bartlett portrays Nick De Noia in the 2022–2023 Hulu miniseries Welcome to Chippendales.
References
edit- ^ Novak, Audra Vy (October 20, 2017). "The real Chippendale's Murder Mystery: P.S. Anybody Know What the Hell Happened to Will Mott?". Medium. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Avery, Dan (April 3, 2014). "Ben Stiller in Talks to Play Gay Choreographer in Movie About Chippendales Dancers". Logo. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Purdum, Todd (April 8, 1987). "Emmy-Winning Producer Shot to Death in Office". The New York Times. No. Section B, Page 3. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ Whipp, Emily; Halaban, Boaz; Taudte, Jeca; Ruppel, Glenn; Effron, Lauren (October 8, 2021). "Behind Chippendales' glam was a founder who orchestrated murder-for-hire plots". ABC News. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Boyer, Edward (July 30, 1994). "Chippendale's Owner Admits Murder : Courts: Man who began male stripper revue pleads guilty to homicide, racketeering charges. He will get 26 years in prison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Weinstein, Henry (October 25, 1994). "Chippendale Club Owner Kills Himself : Crime: Somen Banerjee, founder of the male-stripper nightspot, is found dead in his cell. He was to be sentenced in the murder-for-hire of his former business partner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Chippendale's Owner Admits Murder : Courts: Man who began male stripper revue pleads guilty to homicide, racketeering charges. He will get 26 years in prison". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 1994. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
External links
edit- Nick De Noia at IMDb
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