Songwriter Joseph Brooks Commits Suicide

The 73-year-old writer was awaiting trial on charges of molesting women who were lured to his apartment for supposed acting auditions. He had pleaded not guilty to rape and other charges. In addition, Brooks’ son, Nicholas Brooks, was charged with murder last year in the death of his girlfriend, Peruvian-American swimsuit designer Sylvie Cachay, and is also awaiting trial.

Brooks is best known for writing the song “You Light Up My Life,” for which he won the Oscar and the Grammy Award, and directing the film of the same name.

In My Life, which featured a book, score, and direction by Brooks, opened in October 2005 to terrible reviews, and ran 33 previews and 61 regular performances.