Philip A. Shipley; Did Landscape Design for Presidents, Celebrities

Philip A. Shipley, 88, a landscape architect for such clients as Clark Gable, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg, died July 5 in Tahoe City, Calif.

Born in Santa Paula, Calif., Shipley earned a degree in landscape architecture from UC Berkeley in 1933 and set up his practice in Southern California, designing grounds for the wealthy and famous from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Known for his simple but unusual designs, Shipley worked for hotels including Las Vegas’ Tropicana and Los Angeles’ Sheraton Universal Studios, clubs such as Palm Springs’ Eldorado Country Club, Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, and entertainment figures including Lew Wasserman, Jules Stein, Frank Sinatra, King Vidor, Kirk and Michael Douglas, Aaron Spelling and Norton Simon.

Shipley’s other commissions included commercial and research complexes such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, TRW headquarters in El Segundo and Universal Studios.