Dennis A. Parr; Costumer
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Dennis A. Parr, a former professional ice skater who designed costumes for 20 years, has died at his North Hollywood home. He was 55.
Parr died Saturday of complications of AIDS, said a friend, Donald Sands.
Born in Lansing, Mich., Parr came to California in the mid-1950s. As a professional ice skater, he skated with Sonja Henie and performed in nightclub acts and traveling shows until a knee injury forced him to quit. Parr then went into dancing and choreography and, in the mid-1970s, opened a Hollywood costume shop called Dapper Duds. He later moved the operation to his home, where he made costumes mainly for Las Vegas acts and television commercials.
In the early 1980s, he worked as a puppeteer with Rene & His Artists Productions at Knotts Berry Farm.
Parr is survived by his parents, Doris Ratell of Riverview, Fla., and Kenneth Parr of Lansing, Mich.; brothers, Kevin Bunn, Kyle Bunn and Kirk Bunn, all of Michigan, and sister, Collette Bunn of Hawaii.
No services are planned. His ashes will be scattered in Hawaii. Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary in North Hollywood is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Parr’s name to AIDS Project Los Angeles.
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