Jeffrey Alan Woodley obit

Jeffrey Alan Woodley, Hairstylist to the Stars, Dies at 71

The Philadelphia native's clients included Diahann Carroll, Anita Baker, Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Halle Berry and Pam Grier. 

He was not on the list.

Jeffrey Alan Woodley, a hairstylist with clients that included Diahann Carroll, Halle Berry, Whitney Houston, Pam Grier, Aretha Franklin, Angela Bassett, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy, has died. He was 71.

Woodley died Dec. 10 at Mount Sinai West hospital in New York of complications from acute respiratory distress syndrome, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Philadelphia and based in New York, Woodley also collaborated with makeup artists Reggie Wells — Oprah Winfrey’s personal makeup artist for nearly three decades — and Eric Spearman (Barbershop 2: Back in Business) and was represented for much of his career by Zoli Illusions.

Wells once described him as “real … with a heart like velvet stretched over steel,” and his work appeared in such publications as GQ, Ebony, Jet, Essence, Vibe and Italian Vogue and  in campaigns for L’Oréal.

Born on May 30, 1954, Woodley was raised in West Philadelphia and attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and Abington High School. He competed in track and field and cross-country in school and for the famed Philadelphia Pioneers club under his father, Alex Woodley, who coached such Olympic stars as John Carlos, Hasely Crawford and Steve Riddick.

After training at the Wilfred Beauty Academy, Woodley landed a job at the Glemby Salon in Wanamaker’s Department Store, where he was noticed by Walter Fontaine, the influential African American hairstylist who worked on films including Super Fly (1972).

Mentored by Fontaine, Woodley moved to New York in the 1970s, where his career flourished. He would also style the likes of Anita Baker, Tyra Banks, Jasmine Guy, Lynn Whitfield, Melba Moore, Jody Watley, Karyn White and many others.

Despite suffering vision loss caused by glaucoma, Woodley earned his GED, pursued studies at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and deepened his engagement with literature, Black history and spiritual writing. He was a longtime member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem as well.

Survivors include his mother, Anna, stepmother Jean and siblings Alexander, Aminta and Alicia.

A viewing followed by a celebration of life service is set for 5 p.m. on Monday at  Dare to Imagine Church in Philadelphia. Donations in his memory can be made to Abyssinian Baptist or to Bowie State University’s Anna E. Woodley Music Appreciation Fund.