The legendary Hollywood costume designer Ursula Boschet, whose store draped stars and citizens for more than 50 years, has passed away. She was 90.
A home representative for Boschet confirmed that she passed away on Monday evening at her Chatsworth house from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by her family.
Ursula’s Masks became a neighborhood staple in a job that defied the regular churn and obnoxiousness of the entertainment business. She estimated that she produced more than 100 000 masks for television, movies, plays, and secret clients over the course of five years.
Boschet gained never to stir over artists, but rather for her well-crafted, imaginative threads.
She was unique. She was a significant member of my mother’s history. She will be missed, according to Jamie Lee Curtis, who founded Ursula’s Masks over 30 years ago in an appointment with The Times.
A movie who worked with Boschet for more than 20 times, Kathleen Uris described the experience as a “master school with a talent costume.”
Boschet was the go-to developer for a number of costume parties in Los Angeles, including the monthly Labyrinth Masquerade Ball, held at the Biltmore Hotel, as well as her pleasure work, such as for the roughly seven-season length of the 1980s television present” Cagney &, Lacey.”
People have gathered around the block for years during the month of October, when the store was opened seven days a week to keep up with Halloween users.
Some of her clients came to be like expanded family. The artwork on the windows of her business, which includes autographed photos of numerous actors, including Bruce Willis and Curtis, is addressed to her.
She created outfits for Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s kids. After starring in” Batman,” Michael Keaton and his young dog came to Boschet’s store to make a Caped Crusader costume for the pooch.
Steve Martin, who she met while creating the hidden suit pockets for one of his magic tricks, approached her after working on the 1984 film” All of Me.” He portrayed the Great Flydini, who retrieved items like a phone from the journey in his trousers in the early 1990s.
Curtis recalls going to the store each year as early as April to start speaking with Boschet about her mother’s Halloween outfits.
We discussed for a while what the outfits for this year’s event would be like and what the accommodations would become, according to Curtis. She was able to create something out of nothing with like depth of knowledge.
Boschet eventually became a valuable ally when Curtis ‘ youngest daughter started playing games and cosplaying.
Ursula is one of the people who, according to Curtis, “is in my mind when I think of educators and those who saw and appreciated my children’s products and made a change.” She is a person who, through her work with our child, has had an affect on our home life. She was unique.
The minuscule centenarian worked eight to ten hours per day at the Santa Monica shop and workshop that bear her name up until recently despite a number of health issues.
But, Boschet announced last summer that she would finally shut down after a string of problems in the sector, including the labor strikes and the crisis. She also cited her age, health, and the fact that she had no one to take over the company ( her children were uninterested ).
She told The Times,” There was no income coming in.” I was unable to pay the rent any longer. And I have to pay expenses.
Her loyal customers were left devastated by the media. Kate Beckinsale said,” I’m heartbroken,” in a statement released last July, adding that” Ursula is one of my longest relationships in L.A., including my wedding.”
Beckinsale rented costumes and outfits for herself, companions, and relatives about once per month.
Boschet, a barber and wife, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1934. She started studying tailoring and dressmaking when she was 14 years old. She marries her hair husband in 1952 at the age of 18.
They found it difficult to make a living because postwar Germany was also generally littered, so they immigrated to Canada in 1957.
Before the pair moved to Los Angeles, Boschet worked at a huge sock factory for almost five years in Toronto, where she began to work on different theater productions. She enrolled in the Theatrical Wardrobe Union, which sent her to the productions.
She arrived at Disney in 1973, where she leased a area in what is now known as the Culver Studios, where she generally made costumes for Disney on Parade. When the festival work was finished, she decided to start her own clothing and costume company three years later.
Boschet began selling off her products, which included every period, style of costume, and device, after announcing Ursula’s Costumes ‘ closure last summer. Some of her long-standing customers made the trip to the store to bid her farewell and purchase a piece of costume history.
This Saturday, the store does end completely.
Ela Steere, her child, Richard Boschet, her brother Richard, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren remain.
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Los Angeles Times 2025
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