An Atlanta hairstylist to the stars has lost his battle with the coronavirus this week, leading many celebrities to share their condolences online. Tyler Perry was among them.
Charles Gregory confirmed he was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Instagram last month. He was an Emmy-award winning hairstylist who worked with many high-profile stars on hit shows including several of Perry's series.
“Today it’s with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our crew members,” Perry wrote in part on Instagram Wednesday. “Mr. Charles Gregory was a hairstylist that had worked with us for many years. The man was warm, loving and hilarious. We all loved to see him coming and hear his laughter. Charles lost his battle with COVID-19 today. It saddens me to think of him dying this way. My sincerest prayers are with his family.”
Perry was not alone in remembering Gregory, who launched his own salon team at Charles Gregory Blow Dry and Beauty Bar in Atlanta.
In addition to working on numerous titles for Perry, including stage plays, films and the series “House of Pain” and “Meet the Browns,” Gregory previously worked on several films shot in Atlanta, including “Remember the Titans” and “Drumline,” as well as OutKast’s “Idlewild.”
In recent years, Gregory was part of the Oscar-winning team on 2018's film "Vice," in which Perry portrayed former Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also worked on the pilot for HBO Max's "DMZ," which Ava DuVernay directed, Deadline reported.
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DuVernay also shared her condolences for Gregory online.
“God bless you and keep you in His Kingdom forever,” Deadline reported the director said of the late hairstylist. “You lit up every room you entered and every path you crossed. Thank you for your warmth and your wisdom and your wonderful spirit. Please watch over us and keep loving us. We will keep loving you and will never forget you. Your memory will be our blessing.”
“How to Get Away with Murder” star Viola Davis took to social media to share her condolences for Gregory. He styled the actress’s hair on the films “Lila and Eve” and “Madea Goes to Jail.”
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“Rest well. May God’s peace be with your family. You were a jewel,” she said in part.
Lee Daniels, who filmed his former show, “Star,” in Georgia, also remembered Gregory on Instagram. Gregory styled hair for Daniels’ upcoming film, “The United States of America vs Billie Holiday.”
“Whenever l complained about anyone’s hair he’d say ‘lemme just slap some grease on it.. it’ll be ok’! .. and it was!!! .. the virus took him today,” Daniels said.
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