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Obituaries

Howard Zieff | Film director, 81

Howard Zieff, 81, a film and television-commercial director whose works included Private Benjamin and My Girl , died Sunday of Parkinson's disease in Los Angeles.

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Howard Zieff, 81, a film and television-commercial director whose works included

Private Benjamin

and

My Girl

, died Sunday of Parkinson's disease in Los Angeles.

Goldie Hawn, who received an Oscar nomination for best actress for her role in Private Benjamin in 1980, said Mr. Zieff "had a special talent for directing comedies, always a rare gift."

He is also credited with helping to change the face of commercials in the 1960s with slice-of-life vignettes, such as his "Spicy Meatball" spot for Alka-Seltzer. - AP

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