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Wicked Threads Designer Roberta Thompson and nightclub owner Don Hill attend the Rock'N'Roll Birthday Bash Spectacular! at Don Hill's in 2009.Don Hill, a legendary figure in the New York nightclub scene, died Thursday. He was 66.
The club owner was a permanent fixture in New York's late-night party scene for decades, first as manager of the former East Village Cat Club and then the iconic rock 'n' roll hangout Don Hill's on Greenwich St.
Tributes poured in yesterday from across the entertainment world as people remembered a man who hosted epic nights of debauchery while retaining a decent, down-to-earth attitude and profound respect for performers.
"He was a wonderful guy," said Ramones manager Danny Fields.
"He was the last of the great hosts of that era. A gentleman."
Hill was raised in New Jersey and moved to Manhattan at 18 where he first worked at Kenny's Castaways on the upper East Side, and also lived in the neighborhood.
In 1985, he started managing the Cat Club, where up-and-coming bands like LA Guns, Poison and Soundgarden made a name for themselves.
He opened Don Hill's in 1993, and it became a legendary haven for rock and punk bands, socialites and hipsters.
"Don respected artists," said comedian Murray Hill, who first met Hill in 1997.
"He was totally hip, always sitting by the bar watching the show, loving everything and buying drinks for the artists."
"So many careers started there," Hill added.
"It's the end of an era."
Hill relinquished control of his namesake club last year, and it was reopened in September under the management of Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny.
"He was a dear friend of mine for over 20 years," Khan said in a statement.
"I am honored and proud to carry on his legacy."
Hill's cause of death was not immediately known but a pal, Bebe Buell, said he was rushed to hospital in the afternoon and died Thursday evening.
cboyle@nydailynews.com
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