Richard Zanuck 1934-2012

Richard D. Zanuck was, perhaps, one of the most influential producers Hollywood has seen outside its Golden Age and early beginnings. The producer has died at the age of 77 of a heart attack today. Zanuck, who was the son of Darryl Zanuck, the first chief of 20^th Century Fox, spent his life in the movies, producing his first film in 1959. He became Fox’s studio head in the late 1960’s, which during his tenure saw the release of such classics as The Sound of Music, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and MASH. With these few films, Zanuck’s influence helped redefine Hollywood as its culture began to change in the late 1960’s early 70s. But after a string of flops including the big budget Doctor Dolittle, he was fired by his own dad. That led to a stint at Warner Bros before forming the independent, and now legendary, production company, Zanuck/Brown in 1972. Over the next forty years, Zanuck/Brown helped reshape the way films are made and marketed. By having faith in a little know film director named Steven Spielberg, the blockbuster tent-pole films that dominate the studios these days may not have been born. They produced his debut film The Sugarland Express and then went on to help bring Jaws to the screen, and thus the blockbuster era began. In a statement, Spielberg called Zanuck a "cornerstone" of the industry and reflected on the often troubled path Jaws had to maneuver to make it to the big screen. "In 1974, Dick Zanuck and I sat in a boat off Martha's Vineyard and watched the mechanical shark sink to the bottom of the sea," Spielberg said. "Dick turned to me and smiled. 'Gee, I sure hope that's not a sign.' That moment forged a bond between us that lasted nearly 40 years. He taught me everything I know about producing. He was one of the most honorable and loyal men of our profession and he fought tooth and nail for his directors." Other hits of that decade include The Eiger Sanction, McArthur and Jaws 2. In the 1980’s was The Verdict, Driving Miss Daisy, Cocoon and its sequel followed by Mulholland Falls, Deep Impact in the 1990’s. He also produced, with director Tim Burton, Planet of the Apes, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeny Todd, Alice in Wonderland and this year’s Dark Shadows.