Renauld White, the Newark-born model and actor whose 1979 GQ cover made him the first Black male model on the magazine’s cover, died June 26, 2024, at age 80. He later played William Reynolds on the daytime drama Guiding Light.
Who was Renauld White?
White was born in Newark, New Jersey, on February 1, 1944. His modeling career lasted more than 50 years, according to The Guardian’s 2024 obituary. He appeared in magazines including Essence, Ebony and Jet, worked with designers such as Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan, and endorsed products including Vitalis Hair Tonic.
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The Guardian traces his route into modeling to his high-school football coach, Tom Higgins, and describes White as a mentor to younger Black models. He urged them to save money because success in the industry could be brief. His advertising work also included Arrow shirts and Black Tie cologne.
What did his 1979 GQ cover mean?
White was the first Black male model featured on a GQ cover—not the first Black man to appear on one. Sammy Davis Jr. had appeared on the magazine’s cover in 1967, and The Guardian notes that model Urs Althaus had also appeared before White. The distinction matters: White’s milestone was specifically as a Black male model.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Los Angeles Times obituary reported the 1979 milestone and corrected its earlier wording that had described White as the first Black man on a GQ cover.
What role did Renauld White play on Guiding Light?
White played William Reynolds on Guiding Light. His soap-opera work was part of a broader acting career that also included appearances on One Life to Live and General Hospital, as well as off-Broadway productions. Whigham Funeral Home’s obituary identifies his Guiding Light character as William Reynolds.
Contemporary accounts differ in how they describe the length of his Guiding Light tenure, and the reports do not reconcile that duration with the Los Angeles Times’ episode count. An exact total is therefore not established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did Renauld White die, and what was the cause?
White died June 26, 2024, at age 80. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was in hospice care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The cause of death was not made public in contemporaneous reporting; TheWrap’s report said it was not immediately available. No cause should be inferred from those accounts.
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In a statement reported by the Los Angeles Times, Bella Agency founder Ray Volant said the agency was honored to have represented White over the previous 10 years and that he would be missed in the fashion world. Designer and longtime friend Jeffrey Banks also remembered White as a gentleman and an ambassador for his brand.
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