In Memory

Paul Navarre Matlovsky - Class Of 1969

Paul Navarre Matlovsky

Paul Navarre Matlovsky, who performed on the Tony awarded Broadway musical "Barnum" and the classic film "Pete's Dragon" passed away December 12, 2014 of an ischemic stroke at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. He was 63.

Best known as Navarre, his credits also included the films "Treasure of Matacumbe" in 1976 and "Movie, Movie" in 1978. On television, he guest starred on scores of shows like "Julie" the Julie Andrews show, and "Webster". He also performed on the 42nd Academy Awards show during the "Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head" dance number and at the Kennedy Center's Honors honoring Cary Grant, with the cast of Barnum and alongside Audrey Hepburn and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Besides his role in "Barnum" he was later the assistant to the director/choreographer of the "Barnum" national tours. He also performed on Broadway in "The King of Hearts" and on musical shows with Debbie Reynolds, Glenn Close, Lucy Arnaz, Tony Orlando, and Agnes Moorehead, among others. A long-time member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and AGVA, he was involved in Screen Actors Guild's (SAG) activities along with his wife Miluka Rivera. He was also a photojournalist and Hollywood Correspondent for Puerto Rico, Miami, and New York. His photograph of actor Ricardo Montalban made history by being the first "Screen Actor" national magazine cover featuring a Latino. 

Navarre was a long-time ballroom dance professor at Pasadena City College. In addition he was the co-owner and dance instructor with his wife and dance partner Miluka of the Kumaras Center for the Arts, Dance, and Etiquette in Burbank for over 10 years. He began his classical dancing training at the age of 14. He toured worldwide as a dancer with the Burch Mann's "American Folk Ballet."

Navarre was a sweet and helpful man who was always in the service of assisting and helping others. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Miluka Rivera; his son Elan Matlovsky; his daughter Miluette Matlovsky; his sister, Noelle North Norris (SPHS '67); and two nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Lloyd Serge Matlovsky (SPHS '63)