Designer Ruben Panis Found Slain : Flamboyant Clothier Is Strangled in His Wilshire-Area Home
Ruben Panis, a high-priced fashion designer who outfitted the likes of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Mayor Tom Bradley’s wife, Ethel, in his signature beadwork evening gowns, was found strangled in his two-story Wilshire District home Friday morning, Los Angeles police said.
Family members discovered Panis, 57, in the master bedroom shortly after 9 a.m. There was no evidence of forced entry into the Spanish-style house on South Tremaine Avenue, according to Wilshire Division Detective Dan Andrews.
Panis’ cars, a 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL and a 1988 Honda Civic, were missing from his garage and Andrews said the cars represented the only leads in the case. Detectives were trying to determine whether other items were stolen from Panis’ residence.
“The house is a very nice residence with a lot of antique furniture and artwork,” Andrews said. “We really haven’t had an opportunity to inventory it . . . but the house didn’t look disturbed.”
Panis’ friends on Friday were shocked by news of his death. The flamboyant designer was described as a jovial and generous man who enjoyed traveling to Mexico and socializing with the Hollywood stars and society matrons who patronized his exclusive evening wear shops.
“Everybody loved him,” said Bill Sarris, a fellow designer and longtime friend. “He was a joy to be around. . . . I can’t imagine anyone not liking him or wanting to harm him.”
At the same time however, those close to Panis said it was common knowledge in fashion circles that he was experiencing financial difficulties. His Melrose Avenue dress shop was seized by the Internal Revenue Service last week for delinquent taxes. An IRS spokeswoman said that Panis owed about $50,000 in employment taxes dating back to early 1988.
Employees at his other shop in downtown Los Angeles refused to discuss the designer on Friday. But a Melrose merchant said Panis’ employees were unaware of the closure until they showed up for work and found the doors locked and IRS seizure notices posted on the building.
One friend, who asked not to be identified, said Panis had lost interest in the business he spent 20 years building and had spent most of his time traveling during the last two years.
“He went from being a workaholic to simply not caring,” the friend said. “And there was no reason for it, because his business had been very successful. His dresses were expensive.”
Panis, who was born in Manila, got his start designing costumes in Las Vegas. Friends said he moved to Los Angeles about 20 years ago, where he established himself as a top-flight local designer able to command $900 to $5,000 for his original creations.
His clothes could be found at exclusive stores such as I. Magnin in the past, but he sold mostly out of his design shops. Commenting on his typical clients, Panis once said they were “at least age 50 and rich.”
Panis’ clients included both Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor, as well as actress Rhonda Fleming.
Sidoione, owner of Sidoione, a vintage clothing shop next door to Panis’ Melrose studio, said: “I’ve seen Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Rolls-Royce parked in front of here many times.”
One of Panis’ most loyal customers was Ethel Bradley, who named him her dress designer for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Panis had recently served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission.
“This is a shocking thing,” said Mayor Bradley, who had appointed him to the commission. “Ruben Panis was a gentle, kind man.”
