Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Donna Berwick, ‘Da 5 Bloods’ and ‘Hemlock Grove’ Costume Designer, Dies at 66
Donna Berwick, renowned for her work as a costume designer on acclaimed projects such as Da 5 Bloods, Hemlock Grove, and Game of Thrones, has passed away at the age of 66. Her passing was announced by her brother, Stephan Berwick, who revealed that Donna had succumbed to a recurring battle with breast cancer.
“Today, we lost the coolest, most magnetic, joy of life woman I’ve known, my incomparable older sister, Donna Berwick, to a return of breast cancer. She met the battle with an unrivaled tough cheer that was so ‘Donna’. Those who knew her will understand,” Stephan wrote on Facebook. “Being around her was a lesson in joy. Being close to her was a feeling of acceptance and embrace without judgment. She lived with a fearless celebration of life without boundaries.”
Donna’s illustrious career was built on a solid educational foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and an associate’s degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her career began in New York City’s garment district, where she spent over a decade designing for singer-songwriter Grace Jones.
Additionally, Donna was a member of the Rodeo Caldonia artistic collective of female creatives, a group that produced groundbreaking art across multiple media. This experience paved the way for her work as a film costume designer on notable projects such as Malcolm X, Mo’ Better Blues, U-571, Frailty, The Box, Peeples, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Da 5 Bloods. Most recently, she contributed to the film Ezra. Her television portfolio includes work on seasons two and three of Hemlock Grove and season six of Game of Thrones.
Stephan concluded his heartfelt tribute by highlighting Donna’s lifelong artistic spirit. “Donna embodied the ideals of the artist she has been since high school, through her career as a film costume designer. As the eldest child of our equally amazing parents, Hermine and Norman Berwick, she embodied all that was great about them and our family. My brother Jeffrey, and I, and our first siblings from our mother, Beverly and Jimmy, can only dream to uphold where we come from and who we are, as Donna did with ease.”
