Lawrence L. Simeone

Lawrence Leonard Simeone
Born: April 30, 1953
Died: February 3, 2002
Married: Sharron Shayne, February 26, 1994

Lawrence Leonard Simeone was born on April 30, 1953, in Southern California, one of three children of the late Leonard Lawrence Simeone, retired LAPD Detective Sgt., and the late Mary Burkett Hechtlinger.

Contracting polio as an infant and initially being misdiagnosed, he was the 1954-55 March of Dimes Poster Child. While valiantly battling ill health for most of his life, he nevertheless completed numerous projects as a filmmaker and musician and had a promising future despite his physical limitations.

Graduating from LaMirada High School in 1971 with Honors, he excelled in Electronics and Science, and his innovative mind led to many unique inventions.

He was also a talented guitarist and keyboardist. He entered Riverside City College as a Theatre major, where he performed to accolades and brought down the house as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. He also composed, performed, and wrote music for his rock bands, East Pulliam and Magna, as well as Numbers, which played the Troubador and Pantages Theatres.

He then gravitated to the screen, where he found his niche and had an ability to cut through to the essence of whatever project he attempted.

Considered sweet, gentle, thoughtful, and an inspiring mentor, he had numerous friends, and was beloved by everyone with whom he came into contact.

Making his debut as writer and director of The Final Hour, he wrote and/or directed six other motion pictures, including Blindfold: Acts of Obsession, Cop Out, Presumed Guilty, Eyes of the Beholder, Go Fish – (Temecula Film Festival and The Method Fest), produced and edited when I was a child, and The Gifted, which he wrote, directed, edited, and also co-produced with his wife, Sharron Shayne. The Gifted won the Malibu Film Festival Audience Choice Award.

In addition to directing Legitimate Theatre, he was also a member of the Writers-Directors Unit of the Actor’s Studio.

Lawrence leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Sharron Shayne-Simeone; his sister, Catherine LaChance and husband Paul LaChance; his brother, Paul Simeone and wife Valentina Simeone; his stepmother, retired LAPD Detective Sgt. Marie Simeone; his dearly beloved pets, Fellini, Truffaut, and Alfred, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lawrence’s Estate was left with debts incurred by his long illness, and contributions to help relieve this debt, as well as a Memorial Fund would be most welcome and appreciated. Checks can be made payable to Sharron Shayne, 1236 Hi-Point Street, Los Angeles, California, 90035.

A Celebration of Life, In Loving Memory of Lawrence Leonard Simeone, was held on Saturday, April 13, 2002, at 11am, at the Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Boulevard. A reception followed in the theatre.