Dick Button lived a full life on earth which is why his demise now is a celebration of the life he lived. Button was a talented men’s figure skater and was one of the sport’s innovators and promoters.
Button was a talented athlete but he was also an actor, broadcaster, and entrepreneur. “Dick was one of the most important figures in our sport,” said Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic champion. “There wasn’t a skater after Dick who wasn’t helped by him in some way.”
What Was Dick Button’s Cause of Death?
Dick Button, the winner of two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships, passed away on Thursday in North Salem, New York, at age 95. His death was confirmed by his son, Edward, and while a cause of death was not provided, it was well known that Button had been in declining health.
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“The two-time Olympic champion’s pioneering style and award-winning television commentary revolutionized figure skating,” U.S. Figure Skating said. “His legacy will live on forever. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
His death shook a tight-knit figure skating community because nobody saw it coming, and the timing could not have been worse. The community was already reeling from Wednesday night’s crash of an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter outside Washington, D.C., that led to the fatality of everyone on board.
Two teenagers, their mothers, and two former world champions who were coaching at the Skating Club of Boston — where Button also skated and had close ties for the rest of his life — were among the 14 people who lost their lives in the skating community.
Dick Button’s Career
Dick Button was a talented figure skater who parlayed his achievements and talents into other careers. Button’s impact on figure skating can be traced back to after World War II. He was the first U.S. men’s champion when the competition returned in 1946.
Two years later, he won gold at the St. Moritz Olympics. He performed the first double axel in any competition. He became the first American to win the men’s event, clearing the path for future champions such as Brian Boitano and Nathan Chen.
His first Olympic title was just the start of his dominance in the sport. He was the first figure skater to win the prestigious Sullivan Award in 1949, a feat no other figure skater won until Michelle Kwan in 2001.
In 1952, as a student at Harvard, Button won a second gold at the Oslo Games. A fifth world title quickly followed, after which he gave up his eligibility as an amateur to perform in shows.
“I had achieved everything I could have dreamed of doing as a skater,” said Button, who had earned a law degree from Harvard in 1956. “I was able to enjoy the Ice Capades and keep my hand in skating, and that was very important to me.”
Dick Button’s Exploits In Showbiz
Thanks to his frank and often brutally honest style, Button became an Emmy Award-winning TV analyst. His style helped viewers learn not only the basics but also the nuances of the sport. He joined ABC Sports as a commentator after the 1961 plane crash that killed the entire U.S. figure skating team on the way to the world championships, which were then canceled.
Button was the one who persuaded ABC Sports executive Roone Arledge to televise the 1962 event on “Wide World.” After that, he joined the network as a commentator and brought figure skating to a mainstream television audience.
Button later ran professional events that allowed skaters to profit from their ability once their competitive careers were over. He also tried his hand at acting, performing in productions like “The Young Doctors” and “The Bad New Bears Go to Japan.”
His studio, Candid Productions, helped to produce made-for-TV programs such as “Battle of the Network Stars.”
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Who Was Dick Button’s Partner?
Dick Button is survived by his longtime partner, Dennis Grimaldi, and his two children, Edward and Emily. Grimaldi is a highly accomplished theater, movie, and TV producer with a Tony Award.
Was Dick Button Gay?
Yes, Dick Button was gay. He was in a long-term relationship with Dennis Grimaldi, who was his partner at the time of his death. Button was previously married to Slavka Kohout, with whom he shared his two children, Edward and Emily.
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