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

Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)

Hey, this is Film Guru Lad. I have some sad news. Richard D. Zanuck, the producer of "Jaws," "Cocoon," and "Driving Miss Daisy," has died of a heart attack. He was 77 years old.

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

In 1990, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences jointly awarded Richard and David the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. He worked 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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