In Memory of Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)

Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)

Hey, this is Film Guru Lad here. I have some sad news. Richard D. Zanuck, the man responsible for producing "Jaws", "Cocoon", and "Driving Miss Daisy", has died of a heart attack at age 77.

He was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of the legendary head of 20th Century Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck and actress Virginia Fox. He had studied at Stanford University and began his career in the movie industry, working in the story department of 20th Century Fox. The first picture that Richard produced in 1959 was "Compulsion". Then, in the 60s, he became president of Fox for one year of his tenure. In 1971, after disastrous failures like the 1967 version of "Doctor Doolittle", Richard got forced out of the studio and later joined Warner Bros. as Executive Vice President. A year later, he formed an independent production company called The Zanuck/Brown Company at Universal Pictures with David Brown. The two men had begun with "The Sting" and produced two of Steven Spielberg's early movies. The latter would be "Jaws". They produced box office hits like "Cocoon" and "Driving Miss Daisy" before ending their partnership in 1988.

In 1990, Richard and David were jointly awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Working with director Tim Burton, from the 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes" to the latest picture, "Dark Shadows". Surviving Zanuck are his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck and his children from his previous marriages, including Dean and Harrison.

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